2019

Whereas BC Ferries vehicle traffic levels in 2018 were the highest ever experienced by BC Ferries and traffic demand is forecast to continue to grow; And whereas coastal ferries are an extension of the provincial highway system relied upon to transport people and goods, safely, efficiently and on time, and are therefore crucial to the economic and social health of coastal communities and the BC tourism industry: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM urge the provincial government to review the Coastal Ferry Services Contract and implement changes to increase Core Service Levels for coastal

Whereas passenger traffic levels on BC Ferries in 2018 were the highest experienced in the past 20 years and the trend for growth is forecast to continue; And whereas the provincial Climate Change Accountability Act and CleanBC Plan include commitments for collaboration with all sectors to prepare for and adapt to climate change as well as support the growth of low carbon economies in communities throughout British Columbia; And whereas BC Ferries Business Plan commits to meeting changing and evolving customer travel needs and growing and diversifying their revenue base, including explor

Whereas the federal government has committed itself to the Paris Accord to limit climate warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius and the provincial government has committed itself to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 80 below 2007 levels by 2050 and has committed to an active transportation strategy which outlines a path to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; And whereas the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure are the responsible authority to ensure safe and reliable road infrastructure throughout rural and unincorporated areas in BC: Therefore be it resolved that the provincial government

Whereas moose populations are in decline across the province and measures should be taken to increase populations, not to decrease them; And whereas the increase in the cowcalf moose Limited Entry Hunt LEH announced by the Province in the Limited Entry Synopsis 2019-2020 in Regions 4 and 7, will put unnecessary pressure on already shrinking moose populations: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM lobby the provincial government to stop the cowcalf moose Limited Entry Hunt until moose populations recover; And be it further resolved that the provincial government be encouraged to undertake e

Whereas emissions of diesel soot are responsible for the significant lifetime cancer risk from air pollution and the reduction of diesel emissions from older diesel-powered machines and equipment is important to improve air quality and public health; And whereas Tier O and Tier 1 Non-Road diesel-powered machines and equipment are not regulated outside of Metro Vancouver Regional District and Port Metro Vancouver lands, and will be prohibited in Metro Vancouver after January 31, 2020 with exceptions for engines less than 25 HP, those used in agricultural farm operations, personal recreatio

Whereas Section 1 of the Community Charter confirms that municipalities and their Councils are democratically elected, autonomous, responsible and accountable and must operate under strict statutory conditions associated with public consultation and public interest; and that Section 1 of the Local Government Act grants local governments the powers and flexibility required to fulfill their purpose and respond to the needs of their communities within that mandate; And whereas the Government of BC has shown a willingness to overrule municipal land use regulations, dispense with public consul

Whereas pursuant to the Local Government Act, regional district elected officials are designated as electoral area directors and assigned roles and responsibilities that mirror those of municipal elected officials designated as councillors under the Community Charter; And whereas in the corporate community the designation of Director is conceptually disassociated with an elected position and the roles and responsibilities assigned to that official by statue: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM work with the provincial government in advance of the 2022 General Local Elections to establish

Whereas the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing has deemed that municipal boundary extensions into adjacent electoral areas of a regional district be guided by the principle of consultation with those affected, including First Nations whose traditional territory encompasses the proposed area of extension; And whereas the discretionary nature of municipal consultation with adjacent electoral area residents who are most affected by a municipal boundary extension with impacts to taxation, revenues, infrastructure and overall service provision by regional districts is inequitable to th

Whereas local governments and the private sector are facing reduced or no access to recycling for the Industrial Commercial and Institutional sector due to recent changes in the global commodity market as a result of the Chinese National Sword; And whereas British Columbia requires a solution to avoid valuable resources like cardboard ending up in the landfill due to the high cost and lack of access to recycling: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request the that the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy expand the scope of the Recycling Regulation for Printed Paper Packi

Whereas the Province, in response to the 2018 AbbottChapman Report, is exploring a number of means to mitigate wildland fire frequency and severity and it is widely understood that one significant strategy is to develop a more wildfire resilient forest landscape that includes promoting the use of indigenous broadleaf species that typically reduce fire behaviour; And whereas current provincial forest management regulations and policies create barriers towards the development of a more wildfire resilient forest landscape: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request the Province review its