2024

Whereas events can support the feasibility of farming in BC; And whereas current Agricultural Land Reserve ALR Use Regulations are permitting events that hinder farming, and further local regulation is hindered by large geographic areas and limited resources, especially in Regional Districts: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the Agricultural Land Commission ALC to work with local governments to update event rules to ensure that farming is the primary use of ALR Lands, and that events avoid disruption of farming activities on nearby parcels, considering changes including but not limi

Whereas the Agricultural Land Commission ALC has unilaterally changed their interpretation of the ALC regulation, requiring a notice of intent for the import of soil or fill onto properties and its subsequent approval prior to construction of any detached ancillary residential structure; And whereas local governments are prohibited from issuing building permits prior to receipt of such approvals, creating an unnecessary regulatory burden on both land owners, local governments, and ALC staff for structures which are regulated through size restrictions in local government zoning bylaws: The

Whereas the Agricultural Land Commission ALC is the administrative tribunal that adjudicates applications in the Agricultural Land Reserve ALR, the provincial zone in British Columbia that preserves agricultural land; And whereas the ALC ultimately determines the usage of the ALR land, taking precedence over other legislation and bylaws applying to the land; And whereas the responsibility for ALC decisions, including rectifying violations and enforcing decisions, often falls to local governments, regardless of whether the local government supports the decision, which transfers provincia

Whereas core funding for public libraries in British Columbia has remained unchanged since 2009, limiting their ability to expand and evolve their programming as demand for their services increases; And whereas the operational requirements of public libraries increasingly require significant and diverse resources to provide front-line community services, including supporting patrons with mental health and addiction issues as well as barriers to housing, providing critical locations of refuge during extreme weather events, providing services to new Canadians, and supporting the process of r

Whereas the Agricultural Land Reserve ALR plays a critical role in protecting and promoting food security for all British Columbians; And whereas distances between agricultural parcels makes the cost of maintaining infrastructure to those properties disproportionately expensive and cannot be recovered from farm-class property taxes; And whereas as a result, the cost of servicing farmland for the benefit of all British Columbians falls unfairly on residential taxpayers within agricultural communities and limits the ability of the local governments of those communities to adequately serve t

Whereas the City of Port Moody advocated for more equitable distribution of gaming revenues, and was subsequently asked by the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General to provide viable options for the Ministrys review and consideration to remedy significant funding inequities created by revenue sharing agreements with local governments hosting casinos; And whereas more broadly and equitably sharing gaming revenue with municipalities will reduce the financial inequity that has been inadvertently created by providing significant revenue windfalls to host municipalities and support no

Whereas local governments collect taxes through the Municipal and Regional District Tax Program MRDT; And whereas the current restrictions on what this money can be spent on are restrictive: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the Province to investigate expanding the eligible expenditures of the funds collected through the Municipal and Regional District Tax Program, to allow each local government to have a larger say in what projects these funds should go towards to directly support their community and impacts of tourism, allowing for better long term planning and the ability to ada

Whereas the Municipal and Regional District Tax MRDT serves as a vital revenue source for communities in British Columbia, particularly in resort areas, through its application to short-term accommodations; And whereas recognizing the evolving needs of communities, there is a growing demand for flexibility in utilizing MRDT funds to address critical infrastructure projects: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM advocate to the Province for a comprehensive overhaul of the Municipal and Regional District Tax funding framework to expand the allowable usage of funds, including directing a portio

Whereas offering permissive tax exemptions to non-profit societies is a valuable tool to support the creation of non-market housing; And whereas municipalities have the authority to grant permissive tax exemptions to non-profit societies which create non-market housing but regional districts do not: Therefore be it resolved the UBCM urge the Province to amend the Local Government Act to expand regional districts authority to include granting permissive tax exemptions to not-for-profit societies for non-market housing.

Whereas regional districts are not taxing authorities and not able to change the tax multipliers, unlike municipalities that are allowed to adjust to swings in assessments between residential and business classes; And whereas municipalities are able to change the multiplier which creates a consistency in taxes from year to year, while regional districts are not; And whereas the taxpayers within a regional district are charged by the Province a 5.25 collection fee, which for the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen is over 900,000: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the Ministry