2026

Whereas in BC food waste contributes to landll emissions and economic inefficiency, and many edible food products are discarded before consumption; And whereas food affordability challenges continue to affect British Columbians and voluntary retail markdown systems remain inconsistent; Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the Government of British Columbia to develop legislation requiring large grocery retailers to implement progressive, mandatory price reductions for perishable food products approaching best-before or expiry dates, alongside complementary food waste reduction and food

Whereas escalating wildfires and climate change are increasing in intensity and cost across British Columbia and Canada threatening the unceded territories of many First Nations and impairing the ability of Indigenous peoples across Canada to exercise their rights protected under Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, including rights related to land, culture, and traditional practices and resulting in mounting economic costs and greater risk to life and critical infrastructure, demanding bold and timely action; And whereas larger fires emit greenhouse gases and black carbon smoke that

Whereas enacting legislation prohibiting Canadians under 16 from accessing social media platforms and Artificial Intelligence AI chatbots, and requiring technology companies to implement secure, privacy compliant age verification systems to enforce these minimum age restrictions supports online safety; And whereas requiring platforms to report to appropriate Canadian law enforcement authorities any credible threats of violence, criminal activity, exploitation, or other dangerous conduct involving users over 16 that result in suspension or removal, and establish meaningful, proportionate fi

Whereas social media platforms, gaming platforms, and generative artificial intelligence systems are widely used by Canadians, including youth, and certain platform design, algorithmic, and monetization practices can create foreseeable risks of harm, including exploitation of children and vulnerable populations, manipulation of public discourse, and foreign interference; And whereas Canada currently lacks a clear and comprehensive legislative framework establishing accountability standards for digital platforms, while other jurisdictions have adopted statutory duties of care and regulatory

Whereas Canadians lose hundreds of millions of dollars annually to fraudulent listings on online marketplaces, and current consumer protection frameworks provide limited recourse for users of peer-to-peer platforms, as marketplace operators and payment processors typically disclaim responsibility for fraudulent transactions; And whereas other jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom and the European Union, have established mandatory platform obligations such as seller verification, fraud prevention measures, and accessible dispute resolution supported by independent regulatory oversight

Whereas concerns have been raised by health professionals, First Nations, local governments, and other stakeholders regarding the potential cumulative health impacts associated with liquefied natural gas LNG development in British Columbia; And whereas provincial and federal governments are considering further expansion of LNG facilities and related infrastructure in British Columbia, including a proposed expansion of the Tilbury LNG facility; And whereas the Health Officers Council of British Columbia has expressed support for an independent review of the potential health impacts of LNG

Whereas Public Safety Personnel Network PSPNET is delivered through the University of Reginas Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment CIPSRTICRTSP and is funded by the Government of Canada through Public Safety Canada; And whereas public safety personnel in rural, volunteer, and Indigenous communities face significant geographic and financial barriers to specialized care which is necessary due to disproportionately high rates of mental health disorders due to frequent exposure to traumatic events, similar to all public safety personnel: Therefore be it resolved that UB

Whereas all British Columbians deserve access to high-quality healthcare when they need it; And whereas healthcare workers deserve to be provided with safe workplaces when workers are not safe, neither are patients; And whereas minimum nurse-to-patient ratios are an evidence-based solution that improve patient outcomes, provide nurses with manageable workloads, help facilitate safe workplaces; And whereas unsafe work environments for healthcare workers heighten risks of them leaving the sector, which worsens staffing shortages, can compromise patient access to and quality of care and ma

Whereas Employment Insurance EI sickness benefits administered by the Government of Canada provide temporary income replacement for workers who are unable to work due to illness or injury, with benefits available for up to 26 weeks under the Employment Insurance Act; And whereas healthcare system wait times for diagnostic services, specialist consultations, and surgical procedures in Canada and British Columbia frequently extend for several months and, when combined with medically required recovery periods, may exceed the 26-week duration of Employment Insurance sickness benefits, particul

Whereas infant loss, including miscarriage, stillbirth, and the death of an infant can result in profound and long-lasting mental health impacts for parents and caregivers; And whereas access to timely, specialized, and trauma-informed mental health supports following infant loss varies across the province, leaving many families without adequate care during an acute period of grief: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM call on the Province of BC to ensure ongoing provincial funding for research related to pregnancy loss and bereavement care, to provide standardized education and training f