The BC-FCM Travel Fund provides financial support to local government elected officials from B.C. attending Federation of Canadian Municipalities board and standing committee meetings.
Eligible Recipients
To be eligible for reimbursement of travel expenses recipients must be:
- A local government elected official, and
- Elected to FCM’s Board (or) appointed to an FCM Standing Committee.
Eligible Expenses
- Airfare (including associated luggage fees)
- Hotel accommodation
- Mileage, parking and ground transportation
Ineligible Expenses
The Fund does not reimburse meals, per diems, etc. The Fund does not cover any costs associated with attending the FCM’s Annual Conference or ad hoc Committees. These expenses are the responsibility of the elected official or their local government.
Fund Contributions
FCM collects voluntary annual dues from BC local governments of $0.01 per capita. Contributions are turned over to UBCM, where the Fund is administered.
Background
This fund was designed in 1989 to help small BC communities cover travel costs to participate in FCM governance since FCM does not reimburse travel expenses for board members attending meetings. The Fund was administered by FCM with voluntary annual dues from UBCM members.
UBCM Executive reviewed the Fund’s policy and design in 2023-24, and enacted the changes noted below.
- Transferred management of the Fund to UBCM from FCM
- Opened eligibility to elected officials from all BC communities, regardless of size and whether they have contributed.
- The Fund name was changed to BC-FCM Travel Fund (from UBCM-FCM Small Communities Travel Fund) to reflect the expanded eligibility.