Bill M216 Professional Reliance Act continues to move forward, despite the significant risks it would pose for public safety and liability issues. After passing second reading with unanimous NDP support, the Bill is now being considered at the Committee stage, where earlier…
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The Office of the Fire Commissioner (OFC) is reminding local governments that all fire inspectors and investigators designated under the Fire Safety Act must meet the required training standards by September 30, 2026. More information is available in a recent OFC bulletin.
The…
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As part of the ongoing Environmental Assessment Act (EAA) review, the Environmental Assessment Office is proposing an expedited pathway for Provincially designated projects under the Infrastructure Projects Act. The proposal is intended to support the Province’s broader effort…
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UBCM held its quarterly Executive and Committee meetings on February 26-27, 2026 in Richmond. In addition to these meetings, two workshops were held on February 25, 2026:
A detailed presentation concerning the Cowichan Tribes v. Canada decision was delivered by Reece Harding, a…
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The Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM) has provided approval for its solicitor to apply to the Court of Appeal to intervene in the pending proceedings related to Cowichan Tribes v. Canada.
In its decision last summer, the British Columbia Supreme Court granted…
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UPDATE as of March 18: This webinar has been rescheduled for Thursday, April 2, 9:00 - 10:30 am. Those registered for March 20 have automatically been registered for April 2. The same registration link will be used.
UBCM members are invited to a webinar where Ministry of…
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Each month, we provide an update on funding programs administered by UBCM along with and information on other programs, events, and resources of interest to local governments and First Nations. Most of the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund 2025-26 intakes are now open.
Local…
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The provincial Cabinet has approved regulatory amendments to the Water Sustainability Regulation and Riparian Areas Protection Regulation as part of a broader initiative to update natural resource permitting processes. The Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship will…
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The Ministry of Transportation and Transit is considering changes to the BC Motor Vehicle Act to improve transportation safety and affordability, and is inviting local governments to participate in an informal working group.
Priority areas include:
Commercial vehicle…
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As part of Budget 2026, the Province of BC has announced $15 million in funding to support the FireSmart Community Funding & Supports (FCFS) program. The additional funds will support the 2026 Winter/Spring closed intake.
When the transition from an open intake to a closed,…