The UBCM Executive held its quarterly committee and board meetings in Victoria from May 18-20 in conjunction with 2022 Advocacy Days. A full slate of Committee meetings was held and Executive members welcomed a delegation from the Minister of Municipal Affairs, the Honourable Nathan Cullen and also had an opportunity to share our Advocacy Priorities with Premier Horgan as well as MLAs.
Highlights of the May 20th Executive meeting include:
- received a report from President Roodenburg on her activities since the February Executive meeting.
- received a report on new provincial legislation, regulations and orders in council in the last legislative session affecting, or of interest to, local governments.
- received a status and action report on a variety of policy areas that continue to be monitored by UBCM.
- received a summary of the provincial responses to 96 provincially-relevant resolutions endorsed at the 2021 Convention. Recommendations for further action were adopted.
- received an update from the Working Group on Responsible Conduct on the development of a new educational module for local government elected officials
- received several housing policy updates addressing UBCM’s engagement with the Province on local government planning approvals, Federal budget updates, and ongoing work on the Development Approvals Process Review.
- received a report on the RCMP Collective Agreement. Following a series of meetings with UBCM and its members, Public Safety Canada will be considering local government input as part of the broader request for the federal government to absorb all retroactive costs.
- received a report from staff on a review being undertaken of the Province’s response to COVID-19.
- approved the reactivation of the Fire Safety Act Working Group in response to the Province’s reaffirmed commitment to move to a single standard of fire safety across BC, including unincorporated areas.
- received an update on UBCM’s participation in the FCM Partnerships for Municipal Innovation – Women in Leadership Program noting UBCM’s continued working relationship with the National League of Councils in Cambodia.
- received three reports from the Presidents Committee noting actions taken on the following matters in between Executive meetings:
- approved the Terms of Reference for the Local Government Policing Modernization Roundtable;
- provided direction on UBCM’s Governance Documents Review project;
- approved the reactivation of the Fire Safety Act Working Group and decided on the process and criteria for making appointments to the working group.
- confirmed various aspects of May Executive meeting plans, including MLA reception and Advocacy Days roll-out.
- approved the members of the Local Government Financial Review Working Group and its Terms of Reference.
- received a report on the Police Act review. UBCM, through the Local Government Policing Modernization Roundtable, will continue to engage with the Province regarding the recommendations recently published by the Special Committee on Reforming the Police Act.
- received a report on the Dispute Resolution Mechanism embedded within the Community Charter and discussed its potential application for provincial–local disputes
- received confirmation of the appointment of Richard Walton as UBCM’s representative to the Land Title Survey Authority.
- received the financial report for the period ending March 31, 2022
- received reports on Victoria Operations including the status of the Canada Community Building Fund as well as various Local Government Program Services.
- received a report on staff activities since the last meeting in February.
- received a report on the 2022 Spring Conferences either hosted or supported by UBCM.
Highlights of the May 18-19 Committee meetings include:
Presidents
The Presidents Committee received updates on the 2022 Excellence Awards Program; staffing; UBCM governance documents review; member services and group benefits program and received the March 31st financial statements. Members discussed the roll-out for the 2022 Advocacy Days; provided direction on the appointments to the Finance Technical Review Committee and approved its terms of reference. The Committee also received update reports on UBCM’s Cybersecurity Project; UBCM Governance Documents Review; and a Plan Partner review of the Municipal Pension Plan.
Committee members provided direction concerning appointments to the Fire Safety Act working group and PRIME Corp; confirmed the 2022 Executive nominations and elections process, and approved KPMG as UBCM’s auditors for the next 4 years subject to member approval at the 2022 Convention. In follow up to a delegation from UBCM’s Investment Manager PionMatifat, UBCM will amend its Statement of Investment Policy to hedge against rising inflation, preserve fund capital and ensure growth in the longer term.
Community Economic Development Committee
The Committee received updates on forestry, aquaculture, internet and cellular connectivity, and the provincial government’s new economic plan, as well as a package of recent media coverage related to economic development in BC. The Outdoor Recreation Council of BC shared their provincial proposal for a BC Trail Fund, and the BC Social Procurement Initiative (BCSPI) provided an overview of its efforts to support social procurement as part of local government operations.
Community Safety Committee
The Community Safety Committee discussed 911 emergency services, including gaps and challenges associated with the implementation of Next Generation 911 technology. Additional reports received by the Committee pertained to policing issues of relevance, including body-worn cameras, the Surrey Policing Transition, and prolific offenders; cannabis policy; liquor policy; emergency management; and, bylaw adjudication.
Health and Social Development Committee
The Committee received a delegation on the provincial homelessness strategy and discussed the components of the homelessness strategy, the Budget 2022 commitment of $633 million over 3 years, engagement to date, and the next steps. Reports were received on the Accessible BC Act, child care and climate action and health.
Environment Committee
The Environment Committee received a delegation on provincial environmental protection initiatives from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy staff. The group discussed a range of initiatives that address several ongoing and emerging local government concerns, including contaminated and brownfield sites, plastics and single-use items, and rodenticides. Reports were received on upcoming Community Energy Association events; provincial climate action initiatives and investments; and climate change and health.
Indigenous Relations
The Indigenous Relations Committee received a delegation from the First Nations Summit addressing potential areas for collaboration and work towards reconciliation. The Committee also received updates on the recent Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) webinar and survey on Indigenous relations, and discussed correspondence with the Province regarding engagement on DRIPA.
Convention
The Convention Committee approved the draft long program for the 2022 Convention in Whistler, BC. They also received reports and provided direction on the 2022 budget, entertainment, delegates’ lunch and Keynote speaker. A report outlining the process for the session proposals was also received for information. The committee provided direction on the Childminding program for Convention, which will be offered to UBCM members for $30 per day per child. This will open for registration at the same time as Convention registration in July. Reports on catering, accommodations, and the Convention logo were also received.
Resolutions Committee
The Resolutions Committee confirmed their intention to continue to use the streamlined categorization of resolutions first used at the virtual conventions: Endorse Block (EB), Not Endorse Block (NEB) and No Recommendation (NR). The Committee also expressed the intention to rename category C to Referred Resolutions (RR). Within the RR category resolutions recommended “Refer to UBCM Executive” will now be included. To maximize clarity around the continued use of categories EB, NEB and NR and the re-naming of category C to RR, staff will engage with the membership to promote awareness and gather feedback.