WHEREAS the Province is the landlord for many properties within local government boundaries through leases it fails to enforce; AND WHEREAS local governments are forced to respond to resident complaints of unsightly premises, illegal building and alteration of property and a failure to pay taxes and service fees: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM request that the Province review its holdings within local governments, determine its responsibilities as a landlord and duly enforce lease agreements with its tenants.
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND LANDS It is the understanding of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands that the vast majority of Crown land leaseholds comply with community standards and provide benefits to these communities. However, the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands is contacted periodically by local government over unsightly premises, illegal building and alteration of property. In these instances the Ministry responds to these requests in a timely manner subject to available funding. The Ministry of Agriculture and Lands is not aware of issues with local government with respect to the failure to pay taxes and service fees. The Ministry of Agriculture and Lands conducts compliance and enforcement reviews in an audit type manner. It would be impossible to conduct complete compliance reviews of all crown lands in the Province of British Columbia in a manner that ensures that no property has an unsightly premise, illegal buildings and altered property. Unless circumstances change, the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands will continue with its current approach to compliance and enforcement of Crown land leaseholds.