Executive Meeting Highlights

The UBCM Executive held its quarterly committee and board meetings over February 16-19. Eight committees met to cover policy matters and provide direction on nearly 80 referred resolutions from the 2020 Convention. Executive members also welcomed a delegation from the Minister of Municipal Affairs, the Honourable Josie Osborne.

Highlights of the February 19^th Executive meeting include:

• welcomed the reappointment of Councillor Pete Fry to the UBCM Executive, as the City of Vancouver appointment.
• announced the appointment of UBCM President Brian Frenkel to the provincial COVID-19 Industry Engagement Table to explore opportunities to reduce transmission of the virus in the workplace and among the workforce.
• received a report from the President on his activities since the November Executive meeting.
• received an update from the Working Group on Responsible Conduct; endorsed the distribution of a guide to assist local governments develop and establish their own codes of conduct and directed that additional work be done with respect to enforcement; and that staff report back on the merits of further legislative changes, including the potential for mandated codes of conduct and the establishment of an integrity commissioner.
• received an update on the housing file noting no major policy or legislative changes since November but providing updates on the Land Owner Transparency Registry; provincial actions to address rising strata insurance costs; a report from a bilateral Expert Panel on Housing Supply and Affordability; the release of 2019 data on the Speculation Tax; and federal initiatives to address affordability. 
• Received a report on the provincial Police Act review; highlights of UBCM’s presentation and submission to that review including key recommendations that have been put forward on behalf of local governments.
• received an update on the work of the Select Committee on Local Government Finance noting three sub-committees have been established focused on housing; climate change and community safety with a timeline to deliver a report to Executive in July 2021.
• received an update on UBCM’s involvement in the FCM International Program and specifically UBCM’s work with the National League of Communities in Cambodia.
• received a report on new provincial legislation put forward in December.
• received a status and action report on a variety of policy areas that continue to be monitored by UBCM including: wrecked, abandoned or hazardous vessels; cannabis taxation revenue sharing; NAV Canada’s Level of Service Study; auditor general for local government; the Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Act; federal additions to reserve policy; federal comprehensive and specific land claims policy; national inquiry into murdered and missing aboriginal women and girls; revitalization of the ALR and ALC; new RCMP labour relations regime; Emergency Program Act review; Police Act review; RCMP auxiliary program; vessel operation restriction regulations; and, railway grade crossings.
• received the financial report for the period ending December 31, 2020
• received reports on Victoria Operations including status of the Gas Tax Funding Program as well as various Local Government Program Services.
• received a report on staff activities since the last meeting in November.
• received correspondence from the Lower Mainland Local Government Association related to responsible conduct; from Comox Valley RD on BC’s child care system; and from Vernon and Coquitlam on the issue of BC Hydro’s 2020 street lighting rate application.
• received a status report on UBCM’s 2020-2021 Work Plan, noting the reactivation of areas of work in 2021 that had been put on hold in 2020 due to COVID-19.
• received a report out on the Electoral Area Directors Forum held in early February.

Highlights of the February 16-18 Committee meetings include:

Presidents

The Presidents Committee met with Convention Committee to discuss the 2021 Convention (see report from Convention Committee on direction).  Members received reports on: financial statements, UBCM investments, staffing, Municipal Pension Plan – Plan Partner update; member services and the group benefits programs.  Updates were also provided on intergovernmental relations including UBCM’s 2021 Advocacy Days plan; 2021 Community Excellence Awards Program and provided direction on 29 referred resolutions from the 2020 Convention (see summary below).  

The Committee also brought forward recommendations for appointment which were approved by the Executive:

• BC Road Safety Strategy Steering Committee – Councillor Cyra Yunkws, Village of Warfield

• Provincial Auxiliary Policing Working Group - seek nominations for appointment through the Compass.

Community Economic Development Committee

The Community Economic Development Committee met and provided direction on two, 2020 referred resolutions; received an update on UBCM advocacy on connectivity and related funding programs; reported out on meetings with the Minister of Forests and the Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation; discussed a number of UBCM involvements related to energy / BC Utilities Commission regulatory matters and directed that a delegation be received from the BC Chamber of Commerce to learn more about their Small Business, Restart and Transition to Recovery Playbook to help small business pivot and transition during COVID.

Committee members discussed a number of aquaculture matters.  In response UBCM will be writing to the federal government to express concern about the lack of consultation with communities prior to the announcement of a phase – out of operations in the Discovery Islands.  UBCM will also be seeking clarity on the federal government’s plan to transition the aquaculture sector by 2025.  UBCM will also ask the Province what actions will be taken by both governments to support communities affected by the sector’s transition.

Community Safety Committee

The Community Safety Committee considered referred resolutions pertaining to a variety of relevant issues, as well as options for ongoing communication between UBCM and the Province regarding emergency management issues. Additional reports received by the Committee related to police dispatch costs; RCMP collective bargaining; other key policing issues; cannabis policy; the decriminalization of illicit drug possession; and, federal and provincial minister mandate letters.

Health and Social Development Committee

The Health and Social Development Committee considered six referred resolutions from the 2020 UBCM Convention and provided recommendations to Executive. Updates were received on the Province’s Poverty Reduction Annual Report; two active transportation initiatives; and a child care planning resource guide and webinar for local governments. The Committee also discussed the Strengthening Communities Grant program which provides support for unsheltered homeless populations and addresses related community impacts. Correspondence was received from the City of Vancouver regarding youth vaping; and from the Resort Municipality of Whistler in support of a resolution on the opioid crisis. 

Environment Committee

The Environment Committee received a delegation on the Water Sustainability Act from the Ministry of Environment staff. It was noted that a discussion paper on the WSA objectives will be circulated in the UBCM Compass for local government feedback. The Committee also reviewed and considered twenty-four referred resolutions from the 2020 UBCM Convention. Information reports were received on the caribou recovery program; the federal 2 Billion Trees initiative; and on Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE). Mandate letters for related Ministries was also shared with the Committee. 

Indigenous Relations

The Indigenous Relations Committee considered the renewal of an MOU with the Province on engagement with local governments and UBCM on treaty agreements, non-treaty agreements and Indigenous initiatives. The Committee also considered options for communications related to UNDRIP, and discussed a referred resolution on Indigenous peoples’ representation in regional governance. Additional reports received by the Committee addressed Federal UNDRIP legislation and follow-ups from the Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

Convention

The Convention Committee joined the Presidents Committee to receive a report about the format for the 2021 Convention given the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic.  The committee additionally received reports and provided direction on the Convention theme, keynote speaker, and workplan. They also received the financial statements for the period ending December 31st.

Resolutions

The Committee approved its Terms of Reference and the timeline for the 2021 resolutions process.  

The Committee reviewed delegate feedback from the 2020 Annual Convention.  Delegates shared substantive comments related to resolutions.  The comment raised most often was a desire by members to have more time for resolutions at Convention.  Other comments focused on the online voting process – seeking more clarity around the process and seeking improved hold music.  The Resolutions Committee will look for opportunities to address the comments raised by delegates to make their experience better in 2021.

The Committee will once again produce the Resolutions Book in a digital format only.  The Annual Report and Nominating Committee Report will also be produced digitally only in 2021.

Disposition of 2020 Referred Resolutions

The following is the disposition of resolutions referred to the Executive at the 2020 Convention.

^{1 Refer Back to Sponsor because the Executive felt the motion would benefit from full member debate.  Sponsor is encouraged to re-submit for consideration at 2021 Convention.}

^{2 Refer Back to Sponsor to inform of decision regarding endorsement of related resolution NR37.}

^{3 Refer Back to Sponsor to seek clarification of intent.}