Whereas many of our smaller and remote rural communities are served by independent fire services; And whereas many local governments are receiving legal advice that offering funding or other supports to independent fire services can expose the local government to legal and financial risk: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM lobby the provincial government for specific legal and statutory measures designed to remove any and all legal or financial risk from local government for providing financial or other supports to independent fire services.
Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General The majority of fire suppression and prevention services are provided through local government services, and in that context the establishment of a local fire department is solely determined by the local government with the support of the residents who benefit from this important local government service. The Office of the Fire Commissioner OFC is committed to continuing the provision of training supports to all firefighters and groups in the province in the effort to enhance community fire safety. Emergency Management BC EMBC and the OFC are continuing to work with the UBCM, the Local Government Management Association LGMA, BC Wildfire Service BCWS, and the Fire Chiefs Association of BC FCABC on a variety of funding and training initiatives that can assist fire departments and local authorities that have less resources. Proposals to protect local governments from risk of liability raise complex policy questions that affect many interests. There are, however, measures that local governments can put in place that may help reduce their risk of liability. For instance, where local governments make a financial contribution to the provision of a service by a third party, such as an independent fire service, the local government has the ability to set terms and conditions on its contribution aimed at managing its own liability.