2026

Whereas local governments are key partners in the implementation, administration, and enforcement of provincial legislation and regulatory changes; And whereas provincial legislation introduced under accelerated or urgent timelines can have significant financial, operational, planning, and service delivery impacts on local governments; And whereas meaningful consultation with local governments supports improved policy outcomes, reduces unintended consequences, and strengthens collaborative governance between the Province and local governments; And whereas local governments may have limit

Whereas the Province of British Columbia implements changes to legislation in anticipation of providing benefit to all British Columbians; And whereas not all rural, remote communities are provided with capacity to fulfill new legislative requirements: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request that the Province provide a more fulsome consultation process with municipalities of all sizes prior to making sweeping legislative changes.

Whereas the Village of McBride and surrounding region rely heavily on outdoor recreation activities such as snowmobiling, skiing, hiking, camping, and horseback riding that attract visitors and support local businesses including hotels, restaurants, fuel stations, grocery stores, and retail shops; And whereas the decommissioning of forest service roads in the Robson Valley, for example areas such as Castle Creek, Dore River, and McKale River, limits access to these recreational areas and negatively impacts tourism and the economic sustainability of rural communities: Therefore be it resol

Whereas the Province of British Columbia has been faced with an increasing number of natural disasters annually and the downturn of the Forestry Industry has resulted in forest service roads deteriorating; And whereas many remote communities rely on forest service roads to serve as emergency egress routes in the case of natural disaster evacuations: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM petition the Ministry of Forests to review and identify forest service roads that serve as community emergency egress routes; And be it further resolved that the Ministry of Forests incorporates increased ma

Whereas the Province of British Columbia is responsible for the management of forest service roads FSRs and associated infrastructure on Crown land, and declining forest harvesting activity has resulted in the closure and decommissioning of many FSRs and bridges across the province, limiting public access to backcountry areas; And whereas forest service roads provide essential access for outdoor recreation, tourism, search and rescue, wildfire suppression, emergency response, and resource-based economic activity, particularly in rural, remote, and destination communities; And whereas the

Whereas the Province of British Columbias Get on Board!

Whereas local governments with populations under 10,000 people are predominantly rural in nature, characterized by low population density, dispersed development patterns, and limited ridership potential; And whereas these smaller rural communities lack the tax base and ridership volumes necessary to offset operating and capital costs through fares or local revenues; And whereas provincial transit funding models tend to favour large urban centres, leaving rural communities to shoulder a disproportionate share of transit costs through local taxation resulting in lowridership rural transit s

Whereas BC Transit operates regional bus services in partnership with municipal and regional districts across BC; And whereas affordable private interregional bus services have been greatly reduced since the withdrawal of Greyhound and similar private bus lines: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask BC Transit and the Ministry of Transportation and Transit prioritize to their efforts to bring forward actionable policies and programs, based on the commitment by the provincial government to support interregional transit, and that includes equitable funding provisions for interregional conn

Whereas remote port facilities are essential services, defined by Transport Canada as serving isolated communities where marine transportation is the primary mode of transportation; And whereas Transport Canada has ongoing efforts to divest remote port facilities simultaneous with commitments to maintain remote ports despite the remaining remote port facilities in BC not being conducive to transfer according to Transport Canadas 2020 evaluation of its Port Asset Transfer Program: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM and FCM request Transport Canada and the federal government to cease furthe

Whereas the Department of Fisheries and Oceans is mandated to divest non-core small craft harbours to local governments or other interested parties, or alternatively to decommission them; And whereas the Department of Fisheries and Oceans retains responsibility for ensuring public safety at all federal harbours, including non-core small craft harbours: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM urge the Province of BC to oppose the divestiture of non-core small craft harbours without adequate funding and to call upon the Government of Canada to commit sufficient, long-term funding for the mainten