2024

Whereas burning carbon-based fuel causes climate warming with harmful socio-economic and environmental consequences; and in response Canada and BC have developed legislation, targets and incentive programs to rapidly decarbonize the economy; and local governments must assist in achieving these goals, and have developed Climate Action Plans and decarbonization programs to do so; And whereas the fossil-fuel industry funds conventions and meetings of local government associations, which benefits the industry while the rising costs of delay are borne by governments and society: Therefore be i

Whereas museums across British Columbia are providing tourist information services and promoting our province for free to thousands of visitors each year; And whereas without the designation of Tourist Information Centre, these museums do not receive funding from the province and must assume the costs involved with providing services to visitors: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the Province of BC to provide funding to museums that act as Tourist Information Centres and simplify and expedite the process for museums to receive Affiliate Information Centre status.

Whereas stumpage rates play a significant role in shaping the dynamics of the timber industry and local economies; And whereas while increases in stumpage rates may generate additional revenue for the Provincial Government, there is a risk of unintended consequences, including economic hardship and reduced revenue for local businesses and governments: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM advocate to the provincial government for equitable stumpage rates that balance the need for provincial government revenue generation with the economic sustainability of forestry-dependent communities.

Whereas BCs broader forest sector including harvesting, pulp and paper product manufacturing, and wood product manufacturing continues to make a vital contribution to BCs overall economic and social well-being, supporting some 44,000 direct jobs and close to 100,000 more jobs in total, generating billions of dollars in wages, exports, and government revenues, and forming the economic foundation of dozens of rural and remote communities; And whereas in the last two decades, BCs forest industries have experienced a perfect storm of repeated and interesting crises, and a combination of econom

Whereas assessing and appraising real estate is primarily an information business and the Assessment Act requires BC Assessment to value similar properties consistently and equitably recognizing that similar unsold properties are consistently under-assessed, sometimes for consecutive years; And whereas the Assessment Act has no meaningful consequences for withholding information vital to BC Assessment to obtain critical information necessary to properly assess properties and this results in taxation rates based on flawed assessmentvaluation data: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the

Whereas the Classification of Land as a Farm Regulation establishes minimum gross income requirements for farm operations to be classified as Farm under the Assessment Act, that were last increased in 1993; And whereas farm property tax reform that confers tax benefits to farm operations would help to encourage farming and support local food security: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM call upon the Province of BC to amend the Classification of Land as a Farm Regulation to increase the income thresholds to achieve Farm classification, to a single minimum gross farm income of 7,000; And b

Whereas local governments recognize the importance of fostering respectful and constructive dialogue within the community; And whereas personal and defamatory attacks on local government leaders, including both senior staff and elected officials, undermine the integrity of the democratic process and create a hostile working environment; And whereas current legislative and legal frameworks, including those of WorkSafeBC and Workers Compensation Act, do not provide adequate protection against such attacks, thereby hindering the ability of local government leaders to carry out their duties e

Whereas there is currently no legislation in place that effectively safeguards local government staff or elected officials from bullying, harassment, and other inappropriate treatment at the hands of other local elected official; And whereas Worksafe BC does not include local elected officials as workers pursuant to the Workers Compensation Act, thus preventing municipal or regional district staff and other members of council or the board from utilizing Worksafe BC policies, procedures, and safeguards against bullying, harassment, and other inappropriate treatment at the hands of a local e

Whereas in recent years, there has been an alarming rise in incidents of harassment, intimidation and acts of violence aimed at local elected officials, compounding the already strenuous work conditions faced by many local leaders and hindering their retention; And whereas severe abuse, both online and in-person, has the potential to discourage candidates for local governments from joining and remaining engaged in local politics, limiting the diversity of opinion needed in healthy democracies: Therefore be it resolved that the BC government, work with UBCM, to identify and implement measu

Whereas the Alternative Approval Process as a means to obtain approval of the electors as outlined in Section 86 of the Community Charter is lacking clarity as it relates to public notice requirements stated in Section 94.2; And whereas the document Alternative Approval Process: A Guide for Local Governments in British Columbia states that local governments may choose to allow electors to submit response forms by e-mail or by fax but provides no clear process or guidelines though noting that these electronic response forms are not covered by provincial legislation: Therefore be it resolv