Latest News

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With the call of the provincial election today, there will be an added dimension as we welcome addresses from the three main party leaders at our annual convention. These speeches will be more closely watched than ever and will provide an early window into the direction of each…
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UBCM is very pleased to welcome an address by the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, to delegates attending the 2020 Convention on Thursday September 24, 9:00 am (Pacific time). Minister Wilkinson has served as the Member of Parliament for…
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The Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia are working together to contribute close to $540 million in funding to support local government operations. Today’s announcement also includes details on an additional $418 million for community infrastructure, along…
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Plan partners of the Municipal Pension Plan are proposing changes to update the Plan. The proposed changes have been guided by an approach focused on: improving equity for members; aligning benefits with how the majority of members use them; setting a strong foundation for…
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The provincial government is seeking feedback on proposed changes to licensing of first responders (FR) to ensure that all emergency medical assistants (EMAs) are examined to the same standards. Currently, training institutions or fire departments can administer the practical…
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On September 11th the Province announced the release of A New Future for Old Forests: What we Heard. The report by panel members Al Gorley and Gary Merkel, outlines a four-phased process that the Province should undertake to develop and implement an old…
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The Province is moving to approve bylaws banning single-use plastics for Richmond, Victoria, Saanich, Tofino and Ucluelet, which would allow those communities to implement their bans. The Province will also consider other bylaws as they are submitted.  Under the Community…
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The RCMP has introduced an ongoing modernization project in advance of its 150th anniversary in 2023. Vision 150 focuses on internal RCMP modernization, as well as initiatives to enhance overall policing services. Recently the RCMP publicly released its results tracker…
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The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing has developed guidelines for local governments in the process of creating a Housing Needs Report for their community. These guidelines are intended to provide additional clarity on several aspects of the requirements and…
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Many of the disruptions introduced by the pandemic will have a lasting impact on the economy, how we work and the way we design our communities. To explore the road ahead, UBCM has invited a panel of experts to a 2020 Convention workshop to share their thoughts on the challenges…