The UBCM Executive held its quarterly Committee and board meetings in Richmond on July 14-16. The July meeting provides closure on a number of year-end matters but also establishes direction for the year ahead. In addition to a full slate of Committee meetings, members met with the Honourable Josie Osborne, Minister of Municipal Affairs, and received a delegation from the co-chairs of the Short-Term Rental Advisory Committee.
Highlights of the July 16th Executive meeting include:
- Received a report on the President’s activities since the last Executive meeting.
- Received a report on new provincial legislation put forward in the current sitting of the House of interest to local governments.
- Received an update from the Working Group on Responsible Conduct.
- Received an update on the housing file noting the completion of the work of the Advisory Group on Short-Term Rentals, and discussing the conclusions of the final report of the BC-Canada Expert Panel on Supply and Affordability.
- Received a report on the work of the Select Committee on Local Government Finance including a draft of its pending report recommendations coming to the 2021 UBCM Convention for member consideration.
- Received reports on the annual review of MOUs and Agreements; Financial Statements for the month and the year ending May 31, 2021; annual statutory compliance report; a year-end status report of the 2020-21 annual work program; and the proposed work plan for 2021-22. It was noted that due to the pandemic, adjustments had been made to the past year’s work plan to accommodate emerging matters and advocacy work on the part of the Secretariat.
- Received a report providing an analysis of the 2021 Advocacy Days Program.
- 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; 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; RCMP collective agreement; Emergency Program Act review; Police Act review; RCMP auxiliary program – BC model; vessel operation restriction regulations; railway grade crossings; and NAV Canada’s Level of Service Study.
- Received an update on UBCM’s involvement in the FCM International Program.
- Approved tentative dates for 2021-2022 Executive meetings, subject to approval by the incoming Executive in September.
- Received a report from the 2021 Nominating Committee advising that the nominations and elections process has been revised once again to accommodate a virtual Convention; that the Call for Nominations had been issued with a July 30th deadline; and that the Chief and Deputy Chief Scrutineer had been appointed to oversee the Executive elections.
- Received a status report on UBCM’s legal assistance fund.
- Approved the annual allocation of $7,500 to the Board of Examiners in support of the Jeff McKelvey scholarship fund.
- Received a financial statement on the UBCM-FCM Small Communities Travel Fund.
- Received a staff report on recent activities and updates for the Local Government Program Services and the Gas Tax Fund.
- Approved the Preliminary Budget for 2021-22 noting no member dues increase for the coming year.
- Received the financial report for the period ending May 31, 2021.
- 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 May meeting.
- Received correspondence from the ADM Police Services advising of the redeployment of some policing services to address wildfire emergencies.
- Received a delegation from Minister of Municipal Affairs, Hon. Josie Osborne and discussed: responsible conduct; Provincial Re-Start Program as it relates to the tourism sector; impact of heat wave/dire weather conditions; status on work by the Select Committee on Local Government Finance; and the UBCM Convention.
Highlights of the July 14th – 15th Committee meetings include:
Presidents Committee
The Presidents Committee received the financial statements; reports on staffing and a new UBCM Hybrid Workplace Policy; UBCM Reserves; group benefits and member services; and discussed a number of year-end matters such as the preliminary budget for 2021-2022, and approved awarding of the 2021 Community Excellence Awards. Delegations were received from KPMG (UBCM auditors) who discussed the Audit Findings Report, and from PionMatifat representatives who shared an update on UBCM’s investments. The Committee received an update from the Trustees to the Municipal Pension Plan and Plan Partner Working Group.
The Committee authorized the approval of a project proposal to conduct a UBCM governance documents review; will seek to appoint a local government representative to the provincial Decriminalization Core Planning Table; and approved the Committee’s report for inclusion in the 2021 Annual Report.
Community Economic Development Committee
The Community Economic Development Committee received reports on forestry, notably the provincial intentions paper, “Modernizing Forest Policy in BC,” and a series of local government webinars with FLNRORD to discuss the intentions paper; as well as the establishment of an independent Old Growth Technical Advisory Panel. Staff indicated that the Outdoor Recreation Council had reached out regarding the Provincial Trails Strategy. Connectivity reporting included updates on the progress of the internet speed study; the latest meeting of the Regional Connectivity Knowledge Network; local government roundtables on northern connectivity and passive infrastructure with the Minister of Citizens’ Services; and the most recent connectivity roundtable with FCM and the provincial/territorial local government associations. The Committee discussed correspondence from provincial Parliamentary Secretary for Aquaculture, Fin Donnelly, responding to UBCM concerns about provincial and federal decisions on aquaculture without prior consultation with affected local governments.
Members discussed participation in an upcoming BC Economic Plan 2021 engagement session with the Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation. Upon review, the Committee approved its 2021 Annual Report. The Committee further decided to:
- write to express concern about the lack of local government representation on the new Old Growth Technical Advisory Panel;
- add to its 2021/22 workplan the impacts of climate change and wildfires on local economies; and
- arrange a delegation with the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC to discuss the Provincial Trails Strategy and other areas of common interest related to the outdoor recreation sector.
Community Safety Committee
The Community Safety Committee received a delegation from Police Victim Services BC regarding the duties performed by its members in support of police-victim services. Members considered reports on emergency management, including the ongoing wildfires throughout the Province; the tentative collective agreement for RCMP members; and the status of auxiliary policing in British Columbia. Other issues discussed included various policing issues of relevance; federal firearms legislation (Bill C-21); cannabis policy; liquor policy; rail safety; and the 2021 Annual Report.
Health and Social Development Committee
The Health and Social Development Committee received a delegation from the BC Association of Community Health Centres to discuss community health centres and receive information about the organization. Reports were received on the accessibility legislation, called the Accessible BC Act; the project, Small Town Leaders in Active Transportation; and on recent provincial actions to improve child care in BC. The Committee also considered a request from the BC Alliance for Healthy Living for a contribution towards their 2021-2022 advocacy efforts on physical activity, tobacco and vaping reduction, and healthy eating/food security. The Committee’s Annual Report was considered and approved.
Environment Committee
The Environment Committee received two delegations from the the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change. The first delegation addressed extended producer responsibility (EPR) and the CleanBC plastics action plan; and the second delegation addressed the provincial climate preparedness and adaptation strategy. An update was received on the climate action file. The Committee’s Annual Report was considered and approved.
Indigenous Relations Committee
The Indigenous Relations Committee discussed a near final version of the MOU with the Province on engagement with local government on Indigenous issues, and provided feedback for staff to proceed with renewal of the MOU in September. The Committee received updates on federal legislation on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples that has now been adopted, recent residential school discoveries, the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls National Action Plan, and the draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act Action Plan. Finally, the Committee received and approved its Annual Report.
Convention Committee
The Convention Committee received a report on the program details and planning timeline. The draft long program was approved, and continues to be updated as planning progresses, and workshops will be announced shortly. The Committee reviewed the speaker gift report and selected two charities to support with this year’s speaker gifts: the Indian Residential School Survivors Society, and the Angel Flight Network British Columbia. The Committee also received an update on sponsorship for the 2021 Convention.
Resolutions Committee
The Resolutions Committee met to review the package of resolutions from the membership, as well as three Special Resolutions sponsored by the UBCM Executive. The process for handling resolutions in a virtual environment will be similar to 2020. This year’s Convention has two three-hour sessions scheduled for debate of resolutions which will allow for consideration of more resolutions than in 2020.