2026

Whereas Section 644 of the Local Government Act is outdated and fails to include modern communications servicessuch as cellular, broadband, fiber-optic, and satellitethat increasingly rely on municipal rights-of-way; And whereas municipal infrastructure costs are soaring while revenues under Section 644 have stagnated, failing to keep pace with inflation or the technological growth of the utilities industry: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM urge the Province of British Columbia to modernize Section 644 of the Local Government Act by including all modern communications services and adjus

Whereas intact old-growth forests provide province-wide public benefits including climate regulation and mitigation, biodiversity conservation, watershed stability, fresh water, clean air and reduced hazard risk e.g.

Whereas Provincial Parks serve a vital recreational, cultural, social and economic role in the lives of many British Columbians; And whereas the Province of BC closes many of its parks to campers in September each year, limiting the ability of British Columbians access to those parks at a time of year when they continue to be functionally usable: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the Province of BC to keep our Provincial parks, including campgrounds, open until the end of October to enable the access to parks for all visitors to enjoy these recreational benefits for a longer period a

Whereas many farmers are diversifying their operations into agri-tourism accommodation in order to remain financially solvent and there are financial and temporal costs associated with registering with the provinces Short Term Rental Accommodation Registry that further stress agricultural producers with agri-tourism accommodations; And whereas short-term rentals on Agricultural Land Reserve ALR land are already regulated by the Agricultural Land Commission through the Agricultural Land Commission Act and Regulations, as well as local government bylaws and planning processes: Therefore be

Whereas only 5 approximately 4.6 million hectares of the Provinces land base is dedicated to agriculture through the Agricultural Land Reserve ALR, and the Farming Income Thresholds the minimum gross income a farm must generate from qualifying agricultural products to be eligible for Farm Class status are low and outdated, and further, property within the ALR is partially exempt from school tax, hospital, regional district, Transit Authority, BC Assessment and municipal financial authority fees, regardless of Farm Class status; And whereas the Agricultural Land Commission ALC employs only

Whereas the Agricultural Land Commission ALC has recently been informed of budget cuts made by the Province to its operating budget; And whereas the Agricultural Land Reserve ALR continues to see increases in violations of the Agricultural Land Commission Act, raising concerns that the ALC cannot adequately meet its ALC Act application processing, compliance and enforcement mandates: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM urge the Province that all application fees and the proceeds of all monetary penalties and fines in relation to the ALC Act be returned by the Province to the ALC operatin

Whereas the Agricultural Land Commission ALC is a cornerstone of protecting British Columbias finite and irreplaceable agricultural land base, yet has been compelled to reduce staffing levels solely as a result of inadequate and insufficient provincial funding; And whereas these staffing reductions significantly impair the ALCs ability to fulfill its legislated mandate, weaken regulatory oversight, and reflect a serious failure by the Province to prioritize agricultural protection amid escalating pressures on food security, farmland loss, and the long-term viability of the agriculture sect

Whereas the Agricultural Land Commission ALC plays a critical role in preserving British Columbias agricultural land base and supporting the long-term viability of farming and food security across the province; And whereas the ALC has recently been required to lay off staff to remain within its budget, demonstrating a level of provincial underfunding that undermines its mandate and signals a lack of adequate provincial commitment to farmers and the agricultural sector: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM call upon the Province of British Columbia to immediately provide adequate, stable, a

Whereas public libraries in British Columbia are primarily funded by local governments, and the Provinces 14 million in core funding for BCs 71 library systems has not increased since 2010, even as both the population and inflation have grown dramatically over the years; And whereas libraries continue to shoulder growing expectations without the necessary provincial support and libraries have taken on an ever-expanding role in advancing provincial objectives for community well-being: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM call on the provincial government to immediately increase the annual

Whereas public libraries in British Columbia are primarily funded by local governments, the provincial governments financial contribution is also critical to ongoing library operations; And whereas the Provinces 14 million in core funding for BCs 71 library systems has not increased since 2010, even as the population has grown by nearly 30 percent and inflation by more than 35 percent; And whereas libraries have taken on an ever-expanding role in advancing provincial objectives for community well-being: helping job seekers and small businesses, providing safe spaces during emergencies and