Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Annual UBCM Conference starts....

Yesterday, the annual Union of BC Municipalities or UBCM 5 day conference launched in Victoria.

Yesterday a number of study sessions or "Meet and Greets" were held.  Today's agenda includes a number of forums will be occurring as well as an address by the FCM or Federation of Canadian Municipalities President Karen Leibovici, a Edmonton City Councillor.  In addition a Provincial Policy session covering small water systems, community poverty reduction, improving employment for those with disabilities and the BC Policing Plan will occur.  View the full Agenda for the week here

Meanwhile - yesterday, the Kamloops Daily News interviewed Bill Bennett, the Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development and he told them:

"I won't be saying, 'You're wasting your time, there's no money,' " said Bennett. "What I'll be saying is, 'We want to understand what your needs are. We want to understand what your challenges are.' Then we'll try to help people solve their problem.

Read more of the article here

Also - a couple of stiring moments prior to the UBCM Conference:

1) Saanich Mayor Frank Leonard gives a sobering look at what BC Premier Christy Clark will tell UBCM delegates during her speech on Friday by stating:

“There’s no hope for anything in Christy’s speech,” said Saanich Mayor Frank Leonard, a past UBCM president. “Anything that needs legislation is not on. What could she deliver on?”

Read more here

2) Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts accused of using the BC Mayors' Caucus as a platform into provincial politics.  Read more here.  Like Burnaby's Mayor Derek Corrigan, let's take Dianne Watts at her word that Mayors' of BC have a unique role on their local Councils' and this is a way to discuss similar issues and potential solutions and this is no "stepping stone" in provincial politics and I, for one, believe her, unless I'm presented with information to the contrary - read more here

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