BC Budget 2026/Impacts on BC Local Governments'

On February 17, 2026 - the BC Provincial Government released its 2026 Budget (and related 2026-2029 3 Year Financial Plans).  Full background can be viewed at https://www.bcbudget.gov.bc.ca/2026/

The reaction of provincial opposition parties (BC Conservatives, BC Greens) was swift and predictable -- rejection of the budget plan as lacking any direction for back to balance and misguided priorities... 

As far as BC Local Government priorities go -- 

1) Investment of $15 million more dollars into the FireSmart Community Funding and Supports program for the current intake ending April 2026

2) Involuntary Care --$131 million for intensive mental-health and addictions treatment, including increasing spaces for those who need involuntary care through new facilities in Prince George, Maple Ridge and Surrey

3) Appropriations for BC Local Government services and transfers will drop by $10 million in 2026/27 from $218 million to $208 million

The Union of BC Municipalities/UBCM which is the provincial advocacy body for all 191 BC Local Governments' (27 Regional District, First Nation Members and 161 Municipal Councils) does a deep dive into the 2026 BC Budget and full impacts upon BC Local Governments here

As it stands currently -- the current BC NDP Government do have the numbers to pass the budget (failing no absent MLA from any necessary confidence votes in relation to budget bills or passage of the budget votes) by a count of 47 NDP to 46 combined Conservatives, BC One, BC Greens and Independents

First Nations Leadership Council & UBCM both call for withdrawal of Bill 15

Courtesy of the BC Union of Indian Chiefs:

The First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) and its member organizations joined with the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) today to call on the Province to withdraw Bill 15 – the Infrastructure Projects Act.

If passed into law, Bill 15 would give greater powers to Cabinet to expedite the approval of projects it deems to be “provincially significant”. First Nations and local governments have expressed concern with the lack of consultation prior to the legislation being drafted. First Nations leaders have also highlighted the Province’s failure to fulfill its constitutional, legislative, and environmental obligations and commitments, including those under the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, the Interim Approach on the Alignment of Laws, and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

First Nations Chiefs and leadership recently met with Premier Eby to express their collective opposition to Bill 15 which has the potential to greatly impact First Nations’ inherent and Aboriginal rights, title, and jurisdiction. Local governments also met with Infrastructure Minister Bowinn Ma and have expressed concern that Bill 15 would provide Cabinet with extraordinary powers to override local regulations, including local government Official Community Plans, zoning bylaw amendments and subdivision approval processes.

Bill 15 has passed second reading and moved to Committee last week, slated for completion of Committee and a third reading in the legislature next week before final vote

UBCM President Trish Mandewo stated:

“The provisions in Bill 15 constitute an unnecessary over reach by the Province into local decision making. Local governments welcome provincial efforts to expedite project development, but not through transferring power from communities to Victoria. If the goal is to reduce the regulatory burden on major projects, local governments are more than willing to work with the province to improve the system – let’s work together. It’s time for the Province to withdraw Bill 15 and find a new path forward”

While Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President, Union of BC Indian Chiefs said:

"It is time for the Eby government to action their commitments to reconciliation and uphold their own laws and processes. Despite repeated earnest efforts to reason with Premier Eby, Minister Ma, and others within the Province, the Province continues to stubbornly advance Bills 14 and 15 regardless of the political and relational costs. First Nations are not opposed to responsible development, and we understand the need to expedite the approval and construction of hospitals, schools, and other critical infrastructure. But Bills 14 and 15 go well beyond that, and the process that led to their development flouted First Nations’ basic human rights and the Province’s own law, policy, and processes. There’s only one way forward: the Province must withdraw the bills as currently drafted, and we must work on principled solutions to the myriad of crises we face together.”

Cariboo RD has success with its' UBCM Resolutions

Courtesy of the Cariboo Regional District:

Five "made-in-the-Cariboo" proposals were sent in, and five came out as official policy for the Union of B.C. Municipalities. The Cariboo Regional District Board’s original resolutions will now form part of the UBCM’s work to advocate for changes in provincial law and programs to better support citizens of B.C.

The resolutions endorsed at UBCM included calls to:

Empower property owners to make exclusion applications to the Agricultural Land Commission directly rather than through local governments;

Provide additional funding and support for the reconciliation efforts of local governments;

Require provincial approving officers to notify rural residents of subdivision applications in their area;

End the use of the Canadian Black Book as the basis for setting PST on used vehicles based instead of actual sales prices; and

Include local governments in the planning process for broadband/internet improvements.

Margo Wagner, Chair of the Cariboo Regional District, said “I am pleased that all of our resolutions submitted to the UBCM convention were endorsed by the delegates. By working together, we will achieve results that will benefit both the Cariboo region and the rest of the Province. These endorsements represent this collective vision.”

The North Central Local Government Association, which represents local governments from 100 Mile House north to the B.C. Yukon border and everywhere in-between, also endorsed the resolutions at their convention in May. This dual endorsement strengthens the advocacy efforts of the Cariboo Regional District to promote policy solutions that work for Cariboo residents. More information about UBCM can be found on their website, www.ubcm.ca.

UBCM 2023 - Day 5 of 5

Today is the Final Day (Day 5) of the 120th Annual Convention of the Union of BC Municipalities being held in Vancouver, BC.  The Convention guidebook and other related material can be viewed at https://www.ubcm.ca/convention-resolutions/2023-convention/program.  

For #UBCM2023/#UBCM23 Delegates - today is also Orange Shirt Day! After Resolutions Debate concludes this morning, UBCM Delegates will hear from the Hon. David Eby - Premier of British Columbia -- UBCM Delegates will head back home to their local communities

Once home from the UBCM Convention -- I will post my usual Post Event Report respecting my attendance at the 2023 UBCM Convention for my constituents... 

Have a great Friday, 

~SF

UBCM 2023 - Day 4 of 5

Today is Day 4 of 5 of the 120th Annual Convention of the Union of BC Municipalities being held in Vancouver, BC.  The Convention Guide can be viewed at https://www.ubcm.ca/convention-resolutions/2023-convention/program

As to my Agenda today:

* Resolutions Debate cont. 

* Meetings with Ministries of Emergency Management and Forests re: burnt out property on Lagerquist Rd in McLeese Lake as well as former Wildwood Elementary School property 

* Annual UBCM Banquet Dinner

Steve 

Local or Indigenous Governments' receiving funding for local emergency-evacuation, public-notification planning

Courtesy of the Government of BC:

Editor's Note -- Cariboo Regional District received funding of $29,500 for Evacuation Route Planning for the 108 Mile Ranch and Surrounding Area.  It was the only Cariboo-Chilcotin Local or Indigenous Government to do so

To keep people safer and more informed during emergencies, the Province is providing funding to 19 communities to develop and upgrade emergency-evacuation-route plans and public-notification plans. 

“Recent wildfires in remote regions of B.C. have put communities at risk of being cut off from the rest of the province, highlighting the need for good, advanced planning to ensure residents are able to evacuate safely,” said the Hon. Bowinn Ma, BC's Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness. “We also know that First Nations and local governments have the most up-to-date information to provide to people to keep them safe. These funds will help ensure British Columbians can leave the area safely when a disaster hits, and will improve emergency notification, alerts and communication to people during emergencies.”

More than $880,000 is being provided through the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF) to communities to develop and update plans, such as local emergency-alerting systems, that provide information to people in the event of an emergency.

“When emergencies happen, First Nations and local governments are on the front lines,” said Jen Ford, President of the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM). “This pool of funding is instrumental in supporting local communities to prepare and resource themselves for disaster response and mitigation unique to their circumstances.” 

Projects throughout B.C. receiving funding include:

developing and reviewing evacuation route plans, geography, modes of transportation and other factors affecting the availability of evacuation routes in the Cowichan Valley Regional District;

strengthening tri-municipal operational readiness for evacuations and enhancing overall integrated community resilience across the North Shore in the District of North Vancouver;

identifying evacuation routes and transportation capacity, and developing an effective notification system to clearly communicate evacuation procedures to the community in the Kitasoo Xai'xais First Nation

assessing the existing road network connecting 108 Mile Ranch to the surrounding area, identifying potential bottlenecks and obstacles, and proposing alternative routes, where necessary, in the Cariboo Regional District.

In February 2023, the Province provided $180 million to CEPF, bringing the total provincial investment in the program to $369 million since its establishment in 2017. More than $164 million has been provided to First Nations and local governments through CEPF for more than 1,500 projects that help communities mitigate and prepare for disasters and climate-related emergencies. The CEPF is administered by the UBCM on behalf of the Province.

Full list of successful recipients can be accessed here 

New investments from the Government of Canada support 45 local infrastructure projects across BC

Courtesy of the Union of BC Municipalities:

Editor's Note -- the City of Quesnel was the ONLY local government in the Cariboo-Chilcotin to receive funding in this latest round of funding from the Federal Government.  They are receiving $6 million for repairs to the Johnston Bridge in Quesnel

Today, Terry Beech, Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Member of Parliament for Burnaby North—Seymour, the Honourable Anne Kang, B.C. Minister of Municipal Affairs, and Councillor Jen Ford, President of the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM), announced a federal investment of more than $103.5 million to support 45 community infrastructure projects.   

In Colwood, funding will go towards building a multi-use waterfront pathway along the Esquimalt Lagoon. Work will include natural infrastructure to safeguard the peninsula from sea-level rise and the restoration of riparian vegetation in the salt marsh. This will improve local habitats, support biodiversity, stabilize soils, and filter pollutants. The work will guide visitors thoughtfully through sensitive areas while protecting and enhancing important natural resources. In addition to encouraging a healthy and active lifestyle for residents of all ages and abilities, this project will also support climate action and clean initiatives that strengthen the local economy and build a resilient community.  

Investments in Fraser Lake will help build new water lines along Carrier Crescent and Tunasa Drive. A new water line will provide a dedicated supply from the reservoir to improve safety of the community’s drinking water. As well, a new storm sewer will be installed to collect water from household sump pumps, and a new sidewalk will be constructed along Tunasa Drive. Once complete, the project will provide safe, clean water to the community for a healthier and better quality of life.  

Other projects to receive funding include new fire halls, water and wastewater treatment plant upgrades, airport expansions, and bridge and road upgrades.   Empowering communities to determine how best to direct funds enables them to plan strategically for their present and future needs and will help ensure British Columbia remains among the best places in the world to live, work, and raise a family.   

By investing in infrastructure, the Government of Canada is growing our country’s economy, building resilient communities, and improving the lives of Canadians.  

The Hon. Anne Kang - BC's Minister of Municipal Affairs stated:

"B.C. communities are expanding services to meet the needs of a growing population. The federal government is to be commended for the continuing renewal of local infrastructure through the Canada Community-Building Fund. This program has delivered over $4.6 billion to thousands of projects across B.C. like Colwood’s multi-use pathway.” 

While Jen Ford - the President of the Union of BC Municipalities also commented:

"This accessible multi-use pathway will allow visitors to enjoy the spectacular waterfront in Colwood, while protecting sensitive ecological and archaeological shoreline areas. The pathway will inspire people to get outdoors and active as they walk or cycle from Colwood’s town centre to the waterfront and beyond to the vibrant seaside village envisioned at Royal Beach.” 

Quick Facts:

• The Government of Canada is investing $103,565,997 in 45 projects across British Columbia.  

• The Government of Canada’s funding comes from the third application-based intake of the Strategic Priorities Fund stream of the Canada Community-Building Fund, formerly known as the federal Gas Tax Fund.   

• The Canada Community-Building Fund is a permanent source of funding provided twicea-year to provinces and territories, who in turn deliver this funding to local governments for local infrastructure priorities.  

• In B.C., the Canada Community-Building Fund is administered by UBCM. 

• The Canada Community-Building Fund delivers more than $2 billion every year to 3,600 communities across the country. In recent years the funding has supported approximately 4,000 projects each year.  

• The Canada Community-Building Fund has 19 project eligibility categories, including capacity building, sport infrastructure, and broadband connectivity.  • Infrastructure Canada, which distributes this funding, helps address complex challenges that Canadians face every day—ranging from the rapid growth of our cities, to climate change, and environmental threats to our water and land.  

The full list of successful applicants can be viewed here

2022 UBCM Nominations Committee Report for 2022-2023 UBCM Executive

Editor's Note -- I am a member of the UBCM Nomination Committee however I am sharing what is publicly available

Yesterday - the Union of BC Municipalities' (UBCM) released a report from its' Nomination Committee outlining advanced nominations, as received by July 29th at 4pm

For President -- Councillor Jen Ford of the Resort Municipality of Whistler

For 1st Vice President - Mayor Ange Qualizza of the City of Fernie

For 2nd Vice President - Councillor Claire Moglove of the City of Campbell River

For 3rd Vice President -- Councillor Pete Fry of the City of Vancouver vs Councillor Trish Mandewo of the City of Coquitlam

For Director at Large - 9 candidates but elect only 5:

* Mayor Merlin Blackwell of the District of Clearwater

* Councillor Debbie Haggard of the District of Port Alberni

* Councillor Sadie Hunter of the City of Kamloops

* Councillor Gord Klassen of the City of Fort St John

* Councillor Cori Ramsay of the City of Prince George

* Councillor Jenna Stoner of the District of Squamish

* Mayor Sarrah Storey of the Village of Fraser Lake 

* Councillor Gerry Taft of the District of Invermere

* Mayor Gaby Wickstrom of the Town of Port McNeill

For Small Community Representative (voting restricted to municipalities with populations no larger than 2,500) - Councillor Sarah Fowler of the Village of Tahsis

For Electoral Area Representative -- elect 1 (voting restricted to Electoral Area Directors') -- Director Ian Morrison of the Cowichan Valley Regional District vs Director Brad Sperling of the Peace River Regional District 

For Vancouver/Metro Area Representatives -- elect 2 (voting restricted to those who come from Metro Vancouver municipalities) -- Councillor Tracy Miyashita of the City of Pitt Meadows

Therefore, an election is required for 3rd Vice President, Directors' at Large and the Electoral Area Representative

On Wednesday, September 14th -- Election and Voting of Table Officers (President, 1st, 2nd and 3rd Vice Presidents') and voting will continue into Thursday, September 14th. Nominations from the floor for the table officer will be accepted at 11:55am on September 14th

On Thursday, September 15th -- Election and Voting of Directors' at Large, Small Community Representative, Electoral Area Representative and Vancouver/Metro Area Representatives and will continue into Friday, September 16th.  Nominations from the floor for Directors' at Large, Small Community Representative, Electoral Area Representative and Vancouver/Metro Area Representatives will be accepted from 11:30-11:35am on September 15th

The remainder of the positions on the UBCM Executive are appointed (Immediate Past President, UBCM, Vancouver Rep, Metro Vancouver Rep and Area Association Representatives: AKBLG, AVICC, LMLGA, NCLGA & SILGA (typically the Area Association Presidents').. 

Best of luck to all of the candidates!

SF

Province/UBCM commit to review Local Government Finance System

Courtesy of the Government of BC:

The Province and Union of BC Municipalities will work together to review the local government finance system in B.C.  to ensure that municipal governments and regional districts remain resilient in the face of economic changes.

Municipal Affairs Minister Josie Osborne, Finance Minister Selina Robinson, and UBCM president Laurey-Anne Roodenburg have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Local Government Financial Resiliency.

“From the COVID-19 pandemic to recent extreme weather events, we are all facing new challenges that did not exist a decade ago,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Municipal Affairs. “Through this new agreement, I look forward to making progress together on matters of mutual interest as we work to gain a greater understanding of local government financial resiliency.”

The MOU will guide the Province and UBCM in a review of the local government finance system. This will include discussions about cost pressures local governments may be experiencing around attainable housing, community safety and climate change, and the impact of the new economy. These issues were identified in a UBCM membership-endorsed report and published in August 2021. The report included 20 recommendations that focused on strengthening the municipal and regional district finance system. 

This MOU responds to a UBCM report recommendation for government and UBCM to work together to strengthen the local government finance system. The UBCM report states that its recommendations are aimed at identifying potential solutions to priority issues that are common to both local governments and the Province. The working group will review the recommendations and develop a work plan for short- medium- and long-term consideration.

“The finance system for local government is facing increasing pressure due to the challenges posed by housing attainability, community safety and climate change,” said Laurey-Anne Roodenburg, president of UBCM. “These issues impact all levels of government, and are best addressed through co-operation and collaboration. The decision by the Province of B.C. to join with local government to examine these challenges and explore solutions is good news for B.C. residents and the sustainability of communities.”

Progress under the MOU will be made through a local government financial review working group made up of staff from the Province and UBCM. The group will review the local government finance system in B.C., analyze the recommendations in the UBCM report and discuss matters of mutual interest.

“I know from first-hand experience the role local governments play in delivering vital services and infrastructure. We serve the same people and share many of the same priorities,” Robinson said. “This MOU is about two orders of government working together to advance our mutual interest – ensuring the strength of the local government finance system to deliver on the needs of people in communities across B.C.”

Quick Facts:

• The MOU will be reviewed three years from the date of signing, unless the parties agree to an earlier review.
• The ministers of Municipal Affairs and Finance and the president’s committee of UBCM will meet at least once a year, no later than June 30 of each year, to discuss the work program for review of the August 2021 UBCM report and to assess progress.
• The UBCM report, Ensuring Local Government Financial Resiliency – Today’s Recovery and Tomorrow’s New Economy, published in August 2021, builds on the local government advocacy group’s report from 2013, Strong Fiscal Futures: A Blueprint for Strengthening BC Local Governments’ Finance System.

Learn More:

To see the MOU, visit: https://www.ubcm.ca/about-ubcm/who-we-are/mous-agreements-protocols/memorandum-understanding-local-government-financial (can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com)

To see the UBCM policy paper, visit: https://www.ubcm.ca/sites/default/files/2021-09/Policy_Finance_Ensuring%20Local%20Government%20Financial%20Resiliency_2021-09.pdf

Regulation urged for short-term accommodations industry

Courtesy of the Union of BC Municipalities:

The Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM) has made 13 requests of the province to consider in order to establish a regulatory framework for the short-term accommodations industry, similar to those in place for ride-hailing and other regulated industries.

While local governments in B.C. have tools to regulate short-term rentals for vacationers and others, most lack the capacity to enforce them.  

The ever-expanding online accommodation bookings industry has reduced long-term rental housing capacity at a time when housing availability and costs are already under pressure. At the same time, a property’s earning potential from short-term rental use leads to higher prices in the market than local incomes can support.  

On top of this, local governments are unable to obtain complete and accurate data needed to understand exactly what is happening with short-term rentals in their own community.

At the province’s request, a Joint UBCM-Province Advisory Group conducted an analysis and asked local governments to make recommendations for the province’s further consideration.

Key among local governments’ requests for action:

• Introduce a provincial regulatory framework, similar to those in place for ride-sharing and other regulated industries, for platform accountability and information validation for online accommodation platforms and short-term rental hosts.
• Require all online accommodation platforms to make data available through a provincial interface from which local governments can pull information on property listings, hosts, bookings, and complaints in their community.
• Require online accommodation platforms to publish business license or permit information with local governments directly on the platform to prevent false information in listings.
• Introduce legislation to make tax collection of PST and the Municipal and Regional District Tax (MRDT) at the point of booking a requirement for online accommodation platforms.
• Investigate changes to the MRDT to increase consistency across the province and expand the use of that tax revenue to offset impacts to housing and neighbourhoods.

“These requests for action would significantly reduce the regulatory burden for local governments, while continuing to offer flexibility to balance regulation with the benefits of having short-term rentals available,” says Jack Crompton, Whistler mayor and co-chair of the Joint UBCM – Province Advisory Group on Short-Term Rentals. "The report also acknowledges that there is a need for improved data on short term rentals in BC communities to support effective regulation, and the need for a provincial interface that is available to local governments.”

“Local governments recognize the need to protect the stock of long-term rental homes in B.C.’s communities,” said Councillor Laurey-Anne Roodenburg, UBCM President. “The report of the Advisory Group provides the province with priorities and ideas to address the range of local government concerns with the current weaknesses in short-term rental regulation. UBCM looks forward to provincial policy development and action keeping pace with the impacts resulting from this fast-growing industry.”
 
The province’s Rental Housing Taskforce recommended in December 2018 that the province work with local governments to collaborate on short-term rental rules to better protect long-term rental stock. The province and UBCM established the Joint UBCM – Province Advisory Group on Short-Term Rentals in the fall of 2019 to hear from local governments about the impacts of short-term rentals and the tools for addressing them. 

BC Premier commits to MOU on Study of Local Gov't Finance

Courtesy of the Union of BC Municipalities:

Premier John Horgan has committed the provincial government to work with UBCM to establish an MOU to review the local government finance system in British Columbia. Horgan indicated that he has asked Josie Osborne, the Minister of Municipal Affairs, and Selina Robinson, Minister of Finance and their staff to undertake this work. The Premier's commitment follows on the endorsement by UBCM delegates of a policy paper that proposed an approach to strengthening the local government finance system.

The Premier addressed delegates in a town hall format, a first for a B.C. Premier in recent memory.

During a taped address prior to the town hall, the Premier also said that he has directed George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy along with Osborne to create a new program to support local government climate action goals in the coming months. “You know how critical it is to have flexible, predictable funding to advance your climate action goals,” said the Premier. “We have heard your feedback.”

One of the Special Resolutions to the 2021 Convention (SR1) called upon the government for the creation of such a program.

2 Cariboo RD UBCM Resolutions pass at 2021 UBCM Convention

Courtesy of the Cariboo Regional District:

Two motions from the Cariboo Regional District (CRD) -- highlighting a need for improved broadband access and regulatory changes to assist independent fire halls, have passed at the 2021 Union of BC Municipalities convention.

Resolution EB47 (Ensuring Access to Broadband and Cellular Services in BC) directs the UBCM to “lobby the federal and provincial governments to directly invest in the ownership and development of the needed capital infrastructure to facilitate effective, efficient and cost-effective broadband services in rural and remote communities where a private sector business case does not exist.”

Resolution NR9 (Funding for Independent Fire Services) will see the UBCM “lobby the provincial government for specific legal and statutory measures designed to remove any and all legal or financial risk from local government for providing financial or other supports to independent fire services.”

“The CRD’s motions reflect the challenges we face in the region,” notes Cariboo Regional District Chair Margo Wagner. “But there are countless small, rural communities in British Columbia with similar concerns. It is our hope that lobbying efforts by the UBCM will help higher levels of government better understand the challenges faced in rural British Columbia and spur a timely, effective response.”

Time for mourning & call to action

Courtesy of the Union of BC Municipalities:

Following a report by Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc identifying the location of a mass burial site containing the remains of 215 children on the property of a former residential school, UBCM President Brian Frenkel is urging colleagues to take time to mourn the lost children and reflect upon the testimony of residential school survivors. Frenkel is also calling on the federal government to ensure the implementation of Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action that relate to missing children and burial information; and for the full disclosure of related records by the federal Government and churches involved in the administration of residential schools.

While it is unknown how many children died while attending residential schools in Canada, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Canada identified 3,200 deaths on its registers of named and unnamed residential school students.

Volume 4 of the Commission’s Final Report notes that:

“These findings are in keeping with statements that former students and the parents of former students gave to the Commission. They spoke of children who went to school and never returned. The tragedy of the loss of children was compounded by the fact that burial places were distant or even unknown. Many Aboriginal people have unanswered questions about what happened to their children or relatives while they were attending residential school. The work that the Commission has begun in identifying and commemorating those students who died at school and their gravesites needs to be finished.”

The TRC Calls to Action #71-76 address missing children and burial information, calling on the Federal Government to work with churches, Aboriginal communities and former residential school students to support the identification of sites and to respond to families wishes for appropriate commemoration and reburial. In 2015, UBCM membership endorsed resolution B106, calling on the Governments of Canada and British Columbia to review and move forward on the TRC recommendations. UBCM once again calls on the Federal Government to fully implement the TRC recommendations, including additional supports to address TRC Calls to Action 71-76.  

“I am immensely saddened by the loss of these children, and would like to express my deepest sympathy to the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc and Indigenous peoples across the province affected by this tragedy,” said Frenkel. “UBCM fully supports a renewed focus on the identification of all burial sites as highlighted in the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action. We are also calling for the federal government and churches involved in residential schools to disclose records related to the children that died in their care.” 

UBCM encourages its members to continue to seek opportunities to engage with neighbouring First Nations and Indigenous peoples in working towards reconciliation, and to build awareness in their communities of Indigenous history and culture. UBCM will reach out to its Indigenous partners to further discuss how it may best support them in light of the confirmation of this burial site.

BC Local Government Awareness Week - May 16-22, 2021

 

Gov't of BC Proclamation - Local Gov't Awareness Week 2021

Video of myself discussing BC Local Government Awareness Week 2021

Starting today (May 16th) and ending on May 22nd, 2021 -- we celebrate Local Government Awareness Week, a week to celebrate the work that BC's Local Governments, both Municipal Councils' and Regional District Board of Directors', do daily, whether providing fire protection, water/sewer, street lighting right up to land use decisions that affect you on a daily basis.  Shout-out to BC's Municipal Affairs Minister, the Hon. Josie Osborne who is the former Mayor of Tofino as well as the former Chair of the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District so I am sure she has great appreciation for the work of Mayors/Councillors' as well as the 158 Area Directors within the 27 Regional Districts in British Columbia

For those on Municipal Councils' (Mayors'/Councillors) -- they are our neighbours, family members, etc. that are accessible and are answerable to you for all that goes right/wrong, both every day and every 4 years at the ballot box at general local elections

For those in Rural Areas outside Municipalities (or Electoral Areas) -- you elect 1 individual, an Area Director, to represent you on a Regional District Board whose population can range from as little as 300 to as many as 8,000 people and can easily have as few as 1 or 2 unincorporated communities or as many as a dozen unincorporated communities.  Each unincorporated community will have its' own challenges, concerns and desires and the Area Director's role is to understand these and advocate for them at the Regional District Board table and elsewhere on the community's behalf

As an Electoral Area Director, my strategy is to remain as accessible as possible - whether at community events, meetings or on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) or via the traditional means - phone/email/text/in-person.  Each Regional District Area Director will decide which approach works best for them.  It is also important that Area Directors' maintain excellent relationships (fellow Area Directors', RD Chair, MLA's MP's, Provincial Gov't Staff, etc) as Area Directors' don't have access to the same amount of local government staff resources that Mayors/Councillors would have access to...

In addition -- local governments are part of political networks called Area Associations, the Union of BC Municipalities and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities

The Area Associations (North Central Local Government Association, Southern Interior Local Government Association, Association of Kootenay Boundary Local Governments', Lower Mainland Local Government Association and finally, the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities) -- lobby for local government issues relevant to that area of the Province of BC

The UBCM or Union of BC Municipalities lobbies the BC Government on behalf of the 190 Local Governments in BC for common local government issues

FCM or Federation of Canadian Municipalities lobbies the Federal Government for the thousands of local governments across Canada, urban/rural and small/large

BC Local Government Staff are also part of a separate organization called Local Government Management Association of BC who lobbies for the professional training, retention, etc of local government managers/administrators in BC.

As a Cariboo Regional District Electoral Area Director (and also serving on the North Central Local Government Association Board of Directors' as a Director at Large since January 2019 and currently as its' 1st Vice-President) -- I have been able to build my knowledge base, skill set and relationships over the last 5 years and a little bit to serve my Area residents' to the best of my ability at the Cariboo Regional District Board table, whether at workshops, seminars, conventions or visiting local governments' across BC (at my personal expense) or simply monitoring local government agendas and their priorities across BC, as time permits...

While there are days of frustration (and sometimes passion getting me into trouble) -- I have enjoyed my time in local government and thankful for many mentors in local government including RDFFG Chair Art Kaehn, Cariboo RD Board Chair Margo Wagner, Kamloops City Councillors Arjun Singh/Kathy Sinclair/Mike O'Reilly (who are all Thompson Nicola RD Directors as well), Columbia Shuswap RD Area Directors Paul Demenok (Area C) and Rene Talbot (Area D), Fraser Valley Area Directors Dennis Adamson (Area B) and Taryn Dixon (Area H) and too many others to list.... they help with issues that I may be dealing with and I am genuinely thankful for my own Area residents' who keep me grounded and share a laugh or two and allow me to "vent" in a respectful way when I need to, in order to stay healthy...

I have been (like many Area Directors in BC as well as my Cariboo RD colleagues) building my relationships with my indigenous neighbours at Xat'sull First Nation... While it will take many, many years to build up those relationships (and I'm sure I will stumble/fall from time to time) - I'm pleased to say that the Cariboo RD cooperates on a number of fronts with Xat'sull, whether support for Fire Protection/First Responder services from Wildwood VFD, Building Inspection, Solid Waste or contributing a small amount of money to the operation of the Xat'sull Heritage Village.  I look forward to future ways to cooperate more fully with them, as appropriate...

Also, in a special way -- I'd like to thank sincerely my Area's Alternate Director, Phyllis Webstad who also does great work with Orange Shirt Day.  While extremely busy with her personal life and the work on the Orange Shirt Day Society -- she is able to fit in representing me at the Cariboo RD Board table, when necessary from time to time or simply chatting over the phone when I need advice or feedback.  Especially useful when I need some advice on First Nations issues as she is a member of the Canoe/Dog Creek Band (Stswecem’c Xgat’tem) which they are one of the four Northern Secwepemc Bands -- the other three are:

i) Xat'sull (Soda Creek)
ii) T'exelc (Williams Lake)
iii) Tsq'escenemc (Canim Lake)

Finally - I would be remiss if I didn't thank my predecessor, Deb Bischoff, who served as the Cariboo RD Area 'D' Director from 2008-2014 and encouraged my participation in local government (at the time as a young person) whether on the Cariboo RD's Area D Advisory Planning Commission, as the Cariboo RD Area D Alternate Director from February 2013 until my election in November 2014 as the Cariboo RD Area D Director. If it wasn't for her and former Williams Lake Mayors' Rick Gibson and Scott Nelson (currently a Williams Lake City Councillor), I probably wouldn't be elected now...

Let's recognize all of the elected officials, local government staff and many others that make local governments tick in BC... you are all appreciated for what you bring to the table and please keep up the good work for the residents' of BC...

For more on Local Government Awareness Week 2021 in BC - click here

For more on Local Government Awareness Week 2021 from the City of Williams Lake -- click here

SF

#UBCM2020 - Day 2 of 3

Good morning - today is Day 2 of 3 for the virtual #UBCM2020 Convention (Union of BC Municipalities) being broadcast from Victoria, BC but UBCM delegates are participating remotely, whether in their Boardroom (Regional Districts') or elsewhere.... 

Everything you need to know is located here

On the Agenda today:

* Consideration of 2020 UBCM Resolutions (Cariboo RD has submitted 7 Resolutions for consideration while Williams Lake has submitted one) -- Resolutions Book here

* Two Education Sessions -- Confronting Systemic Racism & Economic Recovery: Building Back Stronger and Better

SF

End of Week News Wrap... Dec 23rd edition

In Prince George:

Residents in the Haldi and Leslie Rd areas initiate legal proceedings against the City of Prince George over rezoning changes to allow a women's recovery centre - see here.  Meanwhile - the City of Prince George explains what happened at the last PG City Council on this topic - see here.

Finally - the PG Free Press does a good editorial explaining why the letter from the City of PG does nothing to settle the Haldi Rd rezoning issue and why there is likely a lack of trust between PG residents/PG City Council on this or other rezoning issues in the future - see here

In Quesnel:

Phase 2 (Trades) at CNC (College of New Calendonia) opens - see here

In Williams Lake:

WL Mayor Kerry Cook initiates weekly column (and I'm glad to see this and hope it continues) - see her inaugural column here

Williams Lake Tribune states their "Santa list" for 2012 - read here

Local schools work towards preventing bullying - see here

Local RCMP reports breaking up fights at a local high school/CRD Library among other things in their weekly report - see here

Fire at local sawmill total $15-20,000 - see here

RCMP respond to shooting in 4000 block of Mackenzie Avenue - see here

Kamloops Daily News reported on the salary for School District #73's (Kamloops) Superintendent which you can read here.  You can look up your local school district information on pay for the local Superintendent here.  This is an additional requirement imposed on School Districts' in BC (report to Public Sector Employers' Council), if they make above $125,000 per school budget yr (July 1st - June 30th).  This is above/beyond the SOFI (Statement of Financial Information) (report out on staff salaries above $75,000).  SOFI requirement also imposed on all local governments

In School District #28 (Quesnel) - they report that Sue-Ellen Miller (Superintendent) made $159,764 for the school year ending June 30th, 2011.  She also made $158,072 for the school year ending June 30th, 2010 and $149,641 for the school year ending June 30th, 2009.  You can read the full details here

Meanwhile in School District #27 (Cariboo-Chilcotin) - they report that Diane Wright earned a salary of $165,908 for the school year ending June 30th, 2010.  For the school year ending June 30th, 2010 - she earned a salary of $169,035.28.  For the school year ending June 30th, 2009 - she earned a salary of $150,719.31 plus a principals' salary of $9,872.90.  She took over from Wayne Leckie who retired on July 31st, 2008 who made for the school year ending June 30th, 2009 - $72,319.29 - see more full details here

In 100 Mile House:

Local hemp projects facing financial and equipment challenges - see here
Recent decision by 100 Mile Council upsets local watershed stewardship group - see here
Parents at local Christian school "against clock" to save their school - see here
CRD Area 'L' Director Bruce Rattray reports on his website that the 2012 Area 'L' Town Hall is scheduled for Monday, February 6th at the Watch Lake Community Hall starting at 7pm

In Kamloops:

Kamloops City Councillor Arjun Singh explains at YourKamloops.com why he voted the way he did on the controversial "Solar Hot Water Ready" regulation - see that explation here

From UBCM (Union of BC Municipalities):

They report that techinical briefings on the new RCMP Contract for British Columbia will commence on Jan 11th in Richmond, Jan 12th in Prince George and Jan 18th in Kelowna. See full details here

Regional News Wrap - Dec 15th edition

In Prince George:

* PG Free Press congratulates Mayor Shari Green for her new Select Committee on Business (see here).  However, the City of PG will be the recipient of a lawsuit from Haldi Rd residents after PG Council adopted a bylaw to permit a women's recovery centre with next to little notice to the public - see here.  PG Free Press wonders where Cariboo-PG MP Dick Harris spends his time...? They have the answer here.  Finally - Macleans' looks at the top 100 Cities in Canada and who's the most dangerous City in Canada...? See the full list here.  But for the record in BC - Prince George made #1, Victoria made #2, Kelowna made #7, Surrey made #10, Nanaimo made #12, Chillwack/New West made #14/15 respectively, Kamloops made #16, Vancouver made #18, and Langley Township made #20.  Prince George RCMP take issue with the #1 ranking - see here and here.  Country wide - Nunavut was the most dangerous place to be in Canada, BC was sixth dangerous with Ontario being the most safest place to be in Canada

In Williams Lake:

* CRD Board: Not enough time to discuss Natural Resource Roads Act - see here.  Editor's Note - Like the Ministry of Natural Resource Operations... I wonder what the CRD was up to given the time to comment on this was from Oct 17th until Dec 15th?? Just asking...

* Ad-Hoc Committee seeks input on locations for dog park - see here.  Editor's Note - I believe the time to have properly discussed this was when the public was discussing the Parks, Trails and Outdoor Recreation Master Plan or PTORMP.  Is the City of Williams Lake now willing to re-open the OCP after its' adoption??  Sure sounds like it...

* TNG Tribal Chair Joe Alphonse/Xeni Gwet'in Chief Marilyn Baptiste comment on proposed changes to length of terms for First Nations' Bands - see here

* Independent MLA Bob Simpson comments on what he and his staff have been up to since the BC Legislature adjourned the Fall Session in November - see here

* Lots of letters discussing the "New Prosperity" mine proposal - see here, here and here
* WL Sportsmens' Assocation President expresses concern about delay to pass new Federal Law to eliminate the Gun Registry - see here
* Local business owner complains that the City of Williams Lake takes too long to issue a building permit - see here.  Editor's Note - not the kind of positive press WL Mayor Kerry Cook and her Council needed, just after the recent election and also her comments on the new contract between the City/CRD for Building Inspectors which is partially likely as to why this owner waited so long for the building permit.  Still - the City should look into this, apologize for the delay and tighten things up to ensure a repeat of this situation doesn't occur again...

In Kamloops:

* Kamloops Councillor Donovan Cavers' proposal for standing votes at Kamloops Council meetings' was resoundly defeated in a 8-1 vote.  Meanwhile - Kamloops Daily News editor and former Kamloops Mayor Mel Rothenberger takes both Kamloops Councillors' Donovan Cavers/Arjun Singh to task for some of their proposals at recent Kamloops Council meetings' - see here

In BC:

* UBCM names members' to the new RCMP Management Committee that'll oversee the new RCMP Contract - see the press release from UBCM here.  Our local City Administrator Brian Carruthers was not appointed to the Committee.  In fact, the Committee seems to be dominated by elected or appointed officials in the Metro Vancouver or Vancouver Island areas.  Our closest reps is Mayor Lori Ackerman of Fort St John, Mayor Peter Milobar of Kamloops and Area 'C' Director Grace McGregor of the Kootenay Boundary Regional District

Also - UBCM Executive at their Nov 24th/25th meeting received a briefing from Langley City Mayor Peter Fassbender on status of the new RCMP Contract.  Approval-in-Principle was given, subject to approval by Federal/Provincial Cabinets (Executive Councils').  Local governments to receive briefings in 1st Quarter (Jan 1st - March 31st) of 2012.  Local governments above 5,000 in population to be askedpopulation would be given until March 31, 2012 to determine whether or not they wished to sign a Municipal Police Unit Agreement with the Province for RCMP services. He (Fassbender) pointed out that the Province is developing a Companion Document to go with the new RCMP agreement and intends to hold a technical briefing on the new RCMP agreement for local governments

City of Quesnel at 2011 UBCM Convention

From the City of Quesnel:

The City of Quesnel brought home some much deserved hardware from the
2011 Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) convention in Vancouver, including recognition for special
projects and being a special community as well as a cheque for $10,000 to upgrade our current trail
system.

The City won the UBCM 2011 Community Excellence Awards – Best Practices (General) for its
Interactive Web Mapping Sites and Interactive Tutorials. We updated our web mapping services for
the community and the corporation to provide easy access to the City’s Geographic Information
System (GIS). Visit our Q-City Map at http://www.quesnel.ca/Mapping-Splash.html.

Thanks to the Quesnel Community and Economic Development Office (QCEDC), the City of Quesnel
also received the Most Business Friendly Community award for the entire region from the Small
Business Roundtable. The QCEDC played an instrumental role in submitting the application and
works directly with the business community. The award recognized those efforts to promote small
business growth within British Columbia.

The City entered the Healthy Families BC Walking Challenge and won in their population category
(5,000 to 10,000), a cheque for $10,000. Residents were asked to go online and share their “trail”
stories and the community with the most posts, won. Thank you to those who posted their stories,
photos and maps online. Our Public Works Department has suggested using those funds to
upgrade our trail signage.

Meetings with various Ministers involved discussions around flood mitigation and diking, policing,
multi-centre, and the allocation of pine beetle funding.

$30 million dollars for Local Recreation Facilities in BC

In her speech yesterday to UBCM (Union of BC Municipalities) delegates - BC Premier Christy Clark announced Victoria would make available to local governments $30 million for their local recreation facilities.  See more details here

But there are a few things:

1) If divided equally among the 200 UBCM Members - it works out to $150,000 per community/regional district

2) The period to apply is October 14th - December 28th with municipalities being allowed to apply once but regional districts being allowed to apply multiple times

3) Until the thorny issue around fitness programs, including a possible review of same, at the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex is resolved (this will be discussed at the 5:00pm October 26th Central Cariboo Joint Committee) - the Joint Committee should not apply to this funding.  In addition - there is no plan for a new pool at this time so we are, as a community, not ready to apply to this funding for that project but the City of Williams Lake should look at the $30 million for other "recreation" purposes like assisting trail development at Scout Island or even any infrastructure needs at our local parks...

In fact - Quesnel is probably the most ready to lobby for its' Multi-Centre, given it only needs $10 million from Victoria and that would reduce the corporate goal from $20 million down to $10 million over 2 years which may be enough to get their Multi-Centre going before 2013

UBCM Resolution to eliminate MSP Fees causes kerfuffle

On August 23rd - Williams Lake City Council received a letter from Audrey MacLise, Chair of the WL and Area Seniors Advisory Council regarding a UBCM Resolution on the elimination of MSP premiums for all seniors - see the report from WL Mayor Kerry Cook, from the Sept 13th WL Council meeting, on this item here.  As well, read the letter from Audrey MacLise to the Cariboo Regional District Board here, a letter from Peter Coates of the provincial Old Age Pensioners' Organization or OAPO here and a letter from the Municipal Pension Retirees Association here - all on the topic of eliminating MSP Premiums for seniors'

Unfortunately (see video above to judge for yourself) - WL Council was unable to agree on a common position regarding the UBCM Resolution on eliminating MSP Premiums for seniors', at their Tuesday night meeting.  Mayor Cook and Councillors Laurie Walters and Surinderpal Rathor agreed to back the UBCM Resolution and the recommendation of Mayor Cook.  Councillors Tom Barr, Geoff Bourdon and Sue Zacharias were not prepared to support either the UBCM Resolution and the recommendation of Mayor Cook.  See the story from The Rush here

Yesterday - WL Mayoralty Candidate Walt Cobb accused current WL Mayor Kerry Cook of "playing politics" on the issue of not charging MSP Premiums to seniors, of which Mr. Cobb personally supports the UBCM Resolution.  In addition, Audrey MacLise weighed in on the issue, expressing disappointment that the City of Williams Lake can not move forward as a "aged-friendly community".  See the Rush story here.  I wonder if Mayor Kerry Cook will respond to the accusation of Mr. Cobb.  Also - will current WL Mayoralty candidate Scott Nelson weigh in on this issue...?

According to the 2011 UBCM Resolution Book - the following communities are bringing forward Resolutions on this subject:

a) City of North Vancouver
b) District of 100 Mile House
c) City of Vancouver
d) City of Kimberly

From City of North Vancouver:


WHEREAS the Premier of British Columbia has announced a policy of putting families first and
seniors are crucial members of our families;
AND WHEREAS seniors in BC are the only ones in Canada who pay provincial medical insurance
premiums:
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM call upon the Province of British Columbia to eliminate
medical insurance premiums for seniors in BC and to bear any associated costs.


From the City of Vancouver:


WHEREAS


• British Columbia is the only province in Canada where seniors must pay Medical Services
Plan (MSP) premiums;
• Many seniors in British Columbia are struggling to pay their bills for daily needs; and
• Many retirees of the Municipal Pension Plan are former employees of local and regional
governments:


THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM call on the Province of British Columbia to eliminate
the MSP premiums for medical insurance in the province of British Columbia to conform with the
situation for seniors in all other provinces;


AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that UBCM call on the Province of British Columbia that, upon
the elimination of MSP premiums, they contribute the present percentage of employers’ contributions
previously used for MSP premiums to assist in the payment of group health benefits


From the City of Kimberly:


WHEREAS all seniors living in British Columbia must pay Medical Service Plan (MSP) premiums
and with the elimination of MSP premiums, BC seniors would have more money for healthy living;


AND WHEREAS many retirees of the Municipal Pension Plan are former employees of local and
regional governments:


THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM support the elimination of MSP premiums for medical
insurance in the Province of BC for all seniors;


AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that UBCM support the retirees of the Municipal Pension Plan by agreeing to the elimination of MSP premiums for all British Columbia seniors (65 years and older).


From the District of 100 Mile House:


WHEREAS all BC seniors must pay Medical Services Plan (MSP) premiums, and if MSP premiums
were eliminated BC seniors would have more money for healthy living:


THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM request the Province of BC to eliminate Medical Services Plan (MSP) premiums for all BC seniors.


For the Record:


I support the elimination of MSP Premiums for seniors', provided it is a income-based test (for example - those who makes $60,000 or less, in a year, should not have to pay MSP Premiums).  I don't think high income seniors' should receive equal benefits as low income seniors', when it comes to the elimination of MSP Premiums