2024

Whereas a large and growing proportion of our citizens has hearing loss, including three quarters of seniors; And whereas hearing loss leads to delayed speech and language development in children, as well as affecting social development; And whereas a significant factor contributing to lack of hearing aid usage is the high cost of hearing aids, with BC lagging behind other provinces and territories when it comes to consistent hearing health coverage: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM lobby the provincial government for improved access to hearing health care, including funding support fo

Whereas the wait time for diagnostic assessment for children and youth who are suspected of having an Autism Spectrum Disorder or other neurodevelopment conditions is unacceptable at 2 years; And whereas these extended wait times puts delays on youth getting the support they need and deserve and puts pressure on other institutions to fill the gaps while families wait: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM lobby the provincial government to reduce the wait time for diagnostic assessment for children and youth who are suspected of having an Autism Spectrum Disorder or other neurodevelopment co

Whereas access to regular routine mammogram screening is inadequate within the Province of BC; And whereas an increasing number of women are being diagnosed with more aggressive breast cancer between the ages of thirty to forty; And whereas early detection of breast cancer is paramount to diagnosis and treatment: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM call upon the provincial government to increase the number of mobile mammogram screening units available to rural and remote communities; And be it further resolved that UBCM call upon the provincial government to lower the age of MSP coverage

Whereas the 2024 British Columbia Building Code contains updated accessibility features for universal washrooms and that they must contain full-sized adult changing tables; and no new updates were made to the provincial Building Code and Occupational Health and Safety Regulations to include accessibility features for free menstrual supplies or sanitary disposal bins for those who menstruate; And whereas equity-based policies around access to menstrual products as a health and human rights imperative will support inclusion, accessibility, mobility, reduce stigma, and promote gender equality

Whereas almost one quarter of Canadian menstruators say they have struggled to afford menstrual products for themselves or their children period poverty, and that people who are menstruating but do not have menstrual products available to them experience social isolation, financial instability and increased mental health concerns by not being able to attend school, work, or community activities without experiencing stigma and shame; And whereas the United Ways Period Promise is a campaign that calls for increases to access to menstrual products in our community, and that local governments

Whereas the Ministry of Health set a guideline that residents in senior long-term care facilities should receive, on average, at least 3.36 hours of direct care daily; And whereas direct care hours include all care provided by registered nurses RNs, licensed practical nurses LPNs, health care assistants HCAs and professional and nonprofessional allied health providers such as physiotherapists; And whereas not-for-profit facilities delivered 93,000 more direct care hours than they were funded to deliver, and for-profit facilities failed to deliver 500,000 hours of direct care they were fu

Whereas a recent report by the Office of the Seniors Advocate highlights the significant challenges faced by seniors aged 65 or older living in rural regions of British Columbia BC, including limited access to healthcare, lower incomes, and inadequate options for long-term care and affordable housing; And whereas rural seniors constitute a significant portion of BCs population, with projections indicating a further increase in their proportion by 2032; Whereas the resilience of rural seniors is admirable, but it is evident that they face substantial barriers due to the lack of resources a

Whereas a recent report by the Office of the Seniors Advocate highlights the significant challenges faced by seniors aged 65 or older living in rural regions of British Columbia BC, including limited access to healthcare, lower incomes, and inadequate options for long-term care and affordable housing; And whereas rural seniors constitute a significant portion of BCs population, with projections indicating a further increase in their proportion by 2032; Whereas the resilience of rural seniors is admirable, but it is evident that they face substantial barriers due to the lack of resources a

Whereas regional hospital districts are empowered to direct capital funding grants only to hospitals and hospitals facilities named by the Ministry of Health; And whereas rural, remote and Indigenous communities often rely upon community health clinics for medical care in the absence of any nearby health-authority owned and operated facilities: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request that the Province of BC review the Hospital District Act to provide enhanced authority to regional hospital districts to direct capital and operational grants to non-profit community health clinics and ce

Whereas health care in British Columbia is inadequate to meet the needs of the population as shown by closures of beds in local hospitals and closures of emergency rooms at times when no qualified staff are available to work; And whereas since 2001, Health Authorities have governed the provision of health care in their respective areas but are not held accountable for poor policy decisions and the negative impact those decisions have on local communities: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM petition the provincial government to consider augmenting Health Authorities with Regional Hospital