Whereas Acquired Brain Injury is a condition that affects the cognition, personality, mental and physical health, and future of British Columbians. There are currently over 1.5 million Canadians living with an acquired brain injury; 180,000 of these in British Columbia, with brain injury often being the underlying cause of mental health, addictions and overdoses, incarceration, violence and suicide.
Whereas many youth and adults struggle financially to obtain an education; And whereas post-secondary education is the best way to become established in society with the ability to obtain employment in higher paying jobs, maintain long term rewarding careers and contribute to the economy; And whereas the burden of student loan debt can be debilitating and can take years to pay off: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM lobby the British Columbia Provincial Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills Training to make all post-secondary education free tuition for all BC residents at BC institutio
Whereas British Columbias coastal communities rely on healthy waterways and healthy marine ecosystems for economic, social and ecological well-being and where microplastic debris on land and in both marine and freshwater systems has become an emerging threat creating a growing need to understand the impacts of microplastics; And whereas a number of organisms, both vertebrates and invertebrates have been found to ingest microplastics and become exposed to contaminants absorbed to the plastic which may then transport concentrated contaminants to other organisms including people; And whereas
Whereas Canada Post Corporation currently has no plans in place for replacing its aging vehicle fleet, the largest in the country, with zero emission electric vehicles; And whereas Canada Post Corporation has 6,400 depots nationwide that are powered and heated by non-renewable sources contributing to a large carbon footprint: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM petition the Government of Canada to adopt the proposals described in CUPWs program Delivering Community Power, and mandate that Canada Post Corporation adopt the policy of replacing all fossil fuel vehicles with zero emission elect
Whereas crime rates have dropped in the Province in recent years while rates of sexual assault have continued to rise; And whereas statistics show that Indigenous women and girls are between 12 and 16 times more likely to experience violence than non-Indigenous women and the Province is committed to implement United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples UNDRIP and has an obligation to respond to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Inquiry: Therefore be it resolved that the Province of British Columbia take action to provide dedicated, predictable and secure funds
Whereas the municipalities and regional districts that provide firefighting services must provide certified Fire Apparatus and regulatory compliant Firefighter Personal Protective Equipment to meet insurance standards and WorkSafe BC regulations; And whereas the cost of providing the specialty apparatus and equipment has become an onerous challenge for large and small fire departments alike: Therefore be it resolved that the provincial government be requested to provide an exemption from provincial sales tax for fire protection equipment and supplies for Fire Departments within the provi
Whereas direct interaction and discussions between local government elected representatives and the Premier, Provincial Government staff from Ministries, Agencies, Commissions and Corporations MACC at UBCM conventions are key to understanding important unique and collective local government issues, goals and priorities; And whereas low revenue and rural communities find it cost prohibitive to incur the costs of flights, accommodation, registration and per diems required in order for local government elected officials to attend: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM implement a travel cost e
Whereas Development Cost Charges, designed to help pay for the cost of off-site infrastructure required to deliver community services that are needed to accommodate growth, are currently restricted by the Local Government Act to areas of sewage, water, drainage, roads and parks, And whereas the current Development Cost Charge structure does not support the flexibility local governments require to make effective off-site infrastructure investments to deliver community services needed to accommodate growth, or reflect other important infrastructure services delivered by local governments imp
Whereas results from the 2018 BC Adolescent Health Survey, Balance and Connection in BC: The Health and Well-being of our Youth McCreary Centre Society show that 21 of BC students have used a vaping product with nicotine in the past month and while the long term effect of using e-cigarettes and vapour products are being assessed, the effect of nicotine on youth are known to be detrimental to brain development; And whereas e-cigarettes and vapour products are being specifically marketed to youth through fruit and candy flavours and easily concealed products: Therefore be it resolved that
Whereas local governments, with limited and competing resources, must address traffic safety challenges to ensure the well-being of our residents; And whereas traffic speed enforcement in residential areas, playgrounds, and school zones is labour intensive and the ability to use photo radar as a deterrent has proven to be effective and efficient in the management of speed: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM lobby the provincial government to permit local governments to independently implement photo radar, with the focus on changing driver behaviour, on local roads at the local governmen