2024

Whereas the provincial government has only six permanent and two mobile watercraft inspection stations and these stations are the last point of potential inspection before a watercraft enters a body of water or waterway; And whereas stopping at watercraft inspection station is the obligation of the individual transporting the watercraft; And whereas the fine for failing to stop at an inspection station carries a maximum fine of 345; And whereas the cost to mitigate invasive zebra and quagga mussels exceeds the cost of the fine by millions of dollars: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM l

Whereas there have been barriers to uptake of alternatives to plumbed sewage disposal systems despite their allowance under the Sewerage System Regulation and the 2016 Manual of Composting Toilet and Greywater Practice; And whereas these barriers to uptake may include overly conservative requirements and their application for onsite application criteria for residuals in the Manual of Composting Toilet and Greywater Practice: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM call upon the Province of British Columbias Ministry of Health to review the Manual of Composting Toilet and Greywater Practice to

Whereas the province of British Columbia has stringent regulations governing the disposal of municipal solid waste; And whereas the transportation of waste containing recyclables to the United States serves as a loophole in these regulations, undermining their effectiveness: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM advocates to the provincial government that any waste being exported to landfills outside of British Columbia must have the same rules and regulations applied as waste being received at landfills within BC.

Whereas in January of 2023, the provincial government implemented Protocol 19 of the Environmental Management Act which increased the definition of contaminants in soil and fill provisions; And whereas since this legislation has come into effect, municipal infrastructure projects and housing projects have seen a 200 increase to civil costs due to unavailability of placement locations for fill deemed contaminated under the new legislation: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request that the Province of BC source regional contaminated soil fill locations, for the storage of contaminated soil

Whereas the BC Hydro Power and Authority Act and associated statutes references other Acts within its scope, including the Climate Change Accountability Act and Environmental Management Act; And whereas various communities have experienced that their operations do not fully comply with these Acts or the provincial governments Nature-Based 2030 Climate Change targets to protect land, preserve nature, and reverse diversity loss; And whereas the Authority does not allocate a budget for adequate eco-restoration in areas where its activities have harmfully impacted biodiversity, and financial

Whereas accurate understanding and management of British Columbias natural resources are essential for informed decision-making; And whereas there is a need for an updated and objective data on natural resources such as aquifers, lakes, rivers, streams and timber, for various aspects of the Provinces natural resource management and for sustainable development and environmental stewardship: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM requests the Province of BC allocate funding to ensure that objective data on natural resources is easily accessible by all stakeholders, ensuring transparency, inclus

Whereas glue traps are an ineffective method for controlling rodents as they fail to address the root causes of an infestation, including access to food and shelter, and they cause fear, pain and distress for captured animals, including rodents and non-target animals like birds, bats, small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and household pets; And whereas most users are not capable of humanely killing trapped animals, leaving them to suffer for hours, and even days, before dying of suffocation, dehydration, starvation, exhaustion, or exposure: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the Prov

Whereas the British Columbia Conservation Officer Service currently can independently decide how to handle black bears and cubs in conflict situations, without the oversight of an independent external public board; And whereas there is no mandate for orphaned black bear cubs to be taken to a Wildlife Sanctuary for health assessment and treatment by a qualified wildlife veterinarian, and be the sole authority to perform a humane euthanasia of black bear cubs if needed: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request the Province of British Columbia to initiate changes to the British Columbia C

Whereas the increasing cost of agriculture equipment has lead to agricultural producers having to finance and utilize equipment over longer periods of time, resulting in replacement parts no longer being available even before the lease or loan is paid off; And whereas there are currently limited legislative standards in only a few provinces that have legislation in place requiring manufacturers of agriculture equipment to have replacement parts available for a 10-year period, and this is placing increased financial hardship and, in many cases, affecting the overall financial viability of

Whereas farmers across British Columbia face escalating challenges due to climate change, including increasingly frequent and severe droughts, highlighting the urgent need for regionally relevant agricultural research to address these issues effectively; And whereas the government of British Columbia has demonstrated commendable leadership by allocating substantial funding, including an additional 80 million, to expand the Agricultural Water Infrastructure Program, aimed at enhancing water management practices and resilience in the agricultural sector; And whereas while investments in inf