2026

Whereas the provincial Local Government Climate Action Program LGCAP has provided vital, reliable, low-barrier, and predictable funding enabling local governments and Modern Treaty Nations of all sizes to fund essential sta capacity, meet CleanBC climate mandates, and build resilient infrastructure; And whereas the Ministry of Energy and Climate Solutions failed to renew LGCAP in its 202627 service plan, creating uncertainty amongst local governments and Modern Treaty Nations in funding for local climate adaptation projects and emergency hazard mitigation through which they are addressing

Whereas the Province of British Columbia established the Local Government Climate Action Program LGCAP in 2022 to provide stable, formula-based funding to local governments and Modern Treaty First Nations for climate action and resilience initiatives; And whereas no provincial funding commitment for LGCAP beyond 2026 has been confirmed, creating uncertainty that limits local governments ability to plan and deliver multi-year climate initiatives: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM call upon the Province of British Columbia to commit to the continuation and long-term renewal of the Local G

Whereas the Ministry of Energy and Climate Solutions 2026-27-2028-29 Service Plan does not include renewed funding for the Local Government Climate Action Program, despite increasing climate-related impacts such as wildfire, flooding and extreme weather affecting communities across British Columbia; And whereas predictable, continuous and non-competitive funding since 2009 through the Local Government Climate Action Program and its predecessor has enabled local governments to directly advance emissions reduction and climate resilience initiatives, and to leverage additional funding for the

Whereas local governments are on the front lines of planning for and responding to increasingly costly climate impacts and extreme weather events; have direct or indirect influence over more than half of British Columbias greenhouse gas emissions; and have relied on consistent, continuous and non-competitive funding since 2010 through the Local Government Climate Action Program and its predecessor to advance climate action, leverage significant additional funding, and contribute measurable progress towards Provincial emissions reduction targets and adaptation goals; And whereas the Ministr

Whereas the FireSmart Community Funding and Supports FCFS program provides essential funding to local governments to undertake wildfire mitigation, public education, and community preparedness activities that reduce wildfire risk in the wildlandurban interface; And whereas recent reductions and early closures of FCFS intake due to limited provincial funding have created uncertainty and reduced local capacity to deliver consistent wildfire risk reduction programs, particularly in smaller and rural communities: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM urge the Province of British Columbia to rest

Whereas climate change is real, and is accelerating faster than most climate scientists have predicted; And whereas climate change, coupled with the continued drought experienced in British Columbia is heightening wildfire risk particularly in the Interior of British Columbia; And whereas the BC Wildfire Service is comprised of highly skilled, trained and dedicated firefighters, additional equipment and resources are very costly to the taxpayers of British Columbia in a time when other costs are straining the livability of a large proportion of British Columbians; And whereas home harden

Whereas the UBCM-administered FireSmart Community Funding and Supports FCFS program provides critical funding to First Nations and local governments to undertake FireSmart planning and activities that reduce community wildfire risk including staffing, mitigation operations, and consistent implementation of wildfire risk reduction measures year over year; And whereas UBCM has advised applicants that the FCFS intake was closed on January 30, 2026 due to lack of funding, and that the program transitioned to a competitive, adjudicated intake beginning February 2, 2026, creating uncertainty and

Whereas the Rural and Northern Homeowner Benefit has historically provided important property tax relief to residents in rural and northern communities across British Columbia, including Campbell River; And whereas rural and northern communities often face higher costs of living, limited access to services, and economic challenges compared to larger urban centres; And whereas the elimination of the Rural and Northern Homeowner Benefit in the Provinces 2026 Budget will result in increased property tax burdens for eligible homeowners in 2027 and beyond, impacting affordability and financi

Whereas the housing crisis across the Province continues to cause measurable harm to renters, working families, seniors, and employers, with rental vacancy rates at or near zero across much of the region, creating serious challenges for workforce recruitment and retention in rural communities; And whereas the suspension of the Community Housing Fund has stranded shovel-ready affordable housing projects in every region of the province where non-profit societies and municipal partners spent years on public consultations, land contributions, rezonings, and pre-development work in good-faith r

Whereas under the authority of the Housing Supply Act, the Province of British Columbia has imposed mandatory housing targets on local governments to accelerate housing delivery, including affordable below-market expectations; And whereas In Budget 2026, the Province indefinitely paused new intakes to the Community Housing Fund, its main capital program supporting non-market and affordable rental housing delivered by local governments and non-profit housing providers, thereby stalling or cancelling projects and stranding pre-development investments; And whereas local governments rely on s