Messages from the UBCM President, general advocacy communications, and information about Local Government Week.
With the retirement last year of UBCM’s Marie Crawford, a new appointment to the Board of Examiners has been made. Jared Wright, UBCM’s General Manager of Policy and Advocacy, is now the UBCM representative to the board. Marie was a longstanding member of the BOE, and we thank her for her years of service.
Earlier this week, Bill 15 (Infrastructure Projects Act) passed second reading. Since UBCM’s initial commentary, Bill 15 continues to generate discussion concerning the powers it provides to the provincial cabinet to override local regulatory processes in order to fast-track permitting for major infrastructure projects that the Province designates as ‘provincially significant’.
The Province of BC has introduced legislation that would give greater powers to the Cabinet to expedite the approval of projects it deems a matter of provincial significance.
Local Government Awareness Week is a month away: May 11-17, 2025. This year’s theme is Infrastructure. UBCM members are invited to participate by identifying a key infrastructure story in their area and engaging with residents on the work being done to ensure sustainable service delivery for growing and changing communities.
In response to the trade war with the US, UBCM has engaged Oxford Economics to develop modelling on how escalating tariffs will affect GDP, employment and a host of other macroeconomic impacts in BC and Canada. Read the full report: Macroeconomic impacts of the US-Canada Trade War.
UBCM is saddened to mark the passing of Alice Maitland, BC’s longest-serving mayor. Alice served as the Mayor of Hazelton for 42 years, and was well known for her advocacy for rural communities, environmental causes, and women's participation in politics. Alice served on the Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine board since its creation in 1967 until she retired from politics in 2018.
With a trade war now underway, the BC Government introduced a budget earlier today that continues to invest in provincial services while attempting to shore up the provincial economy. Incremental new spending has been targeted for local government priorities, including homelessness response, addiction treatment, street disorder and affordable housing. Longer-term challenges lay ahead, however, with a growing debt and still unknown impacts from tariffs to the provincial economy and government revenue.
Premier David Eby’s new cabinet includes two designated roles relating to local government. Ravi Kahlon has been appointed Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs and Brittny Anderson has been tapped for Minister of State for Local Government and Rural Communities in the Office of the Premier.
UBCM has prioritized addressing local government cost pressures and securing new annual revenue streams for local governments in the 2024 provincial election. In Stretched to the Limit, we highlighted the need to address cost pressures linked to provincial service gaps and new legislative requirements in the areas of housing, infrastructure, community safety and climate action.
Sonia Furstenau, leader of the BC Green Party, outlined her vision for B.C.’s next government. Furstenau highlighted the need for long-term, stable infrastructure funding for communities. She also called for an approach to provincial policy aimed at inspiring hope in young people.