Whereas the BC Coroners Service attributes 526 deaths to the extreme heat events experienced in southern BC between June and August 2021; And whereas municipalities are on the front line in responding to extreme heat events in terms of providing cooling centres, communicating with the public, outreach to vulnerable citizens, and providing other heat mitigating measures such as misting stations and water sources; And whereas there is currently no mechanism for local governments to receive provincial support for these efforts: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request that the provincial government recognize extreme heat events as public health emergencies, similar to the Extreme Weather Response program, and fund local government response measures to ensure the public has access to cooling centres and other assistance during extreme heat events.
Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Government recognizes the public safety risks associated with extreme heat in British Columbia. The Province has developed policies to cover local government costs for the operation of cooling centres, staff wages and overtime, water distribution, and transportation to and from cooling centres, when heat criteria are met. The Province is interested in working with local governments to improve these policies for future events. In addition, the Province has launched the BC Heat Alert and Response System BC HARS, released the PreparedBC Extreme Heat Preparedness Guide, supported First Nations and local authorities by creating a new extreme heat funding stream under the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund, and provided guidance and funds for First Nations and local governments to proactively open cooling centers. British Columbia is also the first jurisdiction in Canada prepared to launch the Alert Ready system to warn the public of an extreme heat emergency.