UBCM Executive Meeting highlights

The newly constituted UBCM Executive held its first, quarterly committee and board meetings virtually over November 17-20. The meeting set priorities and work plans for UBCM’s subcommittees for the coming year. The Executive as a whole also reviewed and adopted priorities for the year ahead. With all appointments now confirmed, 16 of the 21 positions are now held by women. A full list of Executive members can be found on the UBCM website.

Highlights of the November 20^th Executive meeting include:

• Welcomed all new and returning Executive members
• Welcomed the reappointment of Councillor Craig Hodge, Coquitlam as the Metro Vancouver appointment; and Mayor Clara Reinhardt, Radium Hot Springs as the new Association of Kootenay and Boundary appointment to the UBCM Executive.
• Announced and approved various UBCM Committee and external committee appointments. Any vacancies will be filled through prescribed processes. UBCM will be reaching out to the membership, through the Compass, to seek appointments to fill vacancies, as appropriate.
• Received a report from the President on his activities since the 2020 UBCM Convention.
• Approved conveyance of endorsed 2020 resolutions:
  • 95 sent to the Province;
  • 7 sent to the federal government;
  • 1 sent to FCM; and
  • 4 sent to other organizations.
• 74 resolutions not considered at the 2020 Convention due to a lack of time, were referred to Executive for consideration.  Of the 74 referred, 3 had the Resolutions Committee recommendation of: No Action Required.  The Executive agreed with the recommendation, and these 3 resolutions will not be referred to the policy Committees for further consideration.
• 1 resolution that was endorsed sought specific action from UBCM, so it was referred to the UBCM Executive for consideration.
• New for 2020, in advance of Convention, the Executive received requests to pull resolutions from both the Endorse and Not Endorse Blocks of resolutions.  Any resolutions pulled from the Blocks would be referred to Executive for individual consideration following Convention.  Executive considered all of the requests and agreed to pull:
  • 3 resolutions from the Endorse Block (EB) of resolutions, and
  • 2 resolutions from the Not Endorse Block (NEB) of resolutions.
• New for 2020, Late Resolutions would be accepted, but automatically referred to the UBCM Executive for consideration following Convention.  2 Late Resolutions were received and considered by Executive:
  • LR1 Black Lives Matter has been referred to the appropriate policy Committee for further consideration.

• LR2 Regulation of Anticoagulant Rodenticide was Endorsed by the Executive and will be conveyed to the Province.  The full text of LR2 is below:

LR2   Regulation of Anticoagulant Rodenticide                   Port Moody

Whereas anticoagulant rodenticides are highly toxic, persistent and bioaccumulative compounds used to eliminate rodent populations that pose serious threats to BC wildlife (including raptors, songbirds, coyotes, snakes, raccoons, owls) and the environment (including aquatic ecosystems) through primary and secondary poisoning of non-target species placing owls and raptors are at a particularly high risk of secondary poisoning because of their dependence on rodents as a food source;

And whereas anticoagulant rodenticides are an ineffective and counterproductive means of controlling rodent populations long-term because they fail to address the root of the infestation problems (ie access to food, shelter and other attractants) and kill predators that serve as natural and chemical-free methods of pest control (e.g. a single owl eats around 1,000 rats per year);

And whereas local governments have passed motions to ban the use of anticoagulant rodenticides on city-owned property and have petitioned the BC government to implement a province-wide ban because existing risk mitigation measures implemented by federal and provincial governments are inadequately addressing the threats that anticoagulant rodenticides pose to the environment, wildlife and human health:

Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request that the Province implement a province-wide ban on the sale, purchase and use of anticoagulant rodenticides, and call for the Minister of Health to initiate a special review of the regulation of anticoagulant rodenticides.

• A total of 78 resolutions have now been referred to the appropriate UBCM policy Committees for consideration and recommendations. The recommendations will be brought back to a future meeting of the Executive.
• Received a report on provincial announcements made in advance of the 2020 Convention which highlighted funding announcements under the Canada-BC Safe Restart Agreement.
• Received an update on the housing file discussing homelessness, recent provincial actions on housing supply, short-term rentals, and multi-residential insurance.
• Received a report on the provincial election results.
• Received an update on UBCM’s involvement in the FCM International Program and specifically UBCM’s work with the National League of Communities in Cambodia.
• Received a report on new and amended legislation and policy put forward in the last sitting of the House prior to the provincial election call.
• Received a status and action report on a variety of policy areas that continue to be monitored by UBCM including: wrecked, abandoned or hazardous vessels; cannabis taxation revenue sharing; auditor general for local government; the Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Act; federal additions to reserve policy; federal comprehensive and specific land claims policy; national inquiry into murdered and missing aboriginal women and girls; licensing of commercial dog and cat breeding; revitalization of the ALR and ALC; new RCMP labour relations regime; Emergency Program Act review; 911 emergency communication service delivery; RCMP auxiliary program; vessel operation restriction regulations; and, railway grade crossings.
• Received the financial report for the period ending September 30, 2020.
• Received reports on Victoria Operations including status of the Gas Tax Funding Program as well as various Local Government Program Services.
• Received a report on staff activities including numerous post-Convention responsibilities.
• Approved a request for legal assistance in an appeal by the District Sechelt to a legal case that could have broader application for local governments across BC.
• Received correspondence from Islands Trust thanking UBCM for its guidance and direction on the important work undertaken by the National Inquiry on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Calls for Justice and encouraging local governments to take action in their own communities.
• Confirmed upcoming conferences for 2020-21 including: EA Directors Forum (February 2-3); CAO-CEO Forum (TBA-March); and received highlights from the EA Directors Forum held on October 5, 2020.

Highlights from the Executive Priorities session:

Executive members reviewed the work plan set out in July 2020, and recognizing the impact COVID-19 re-confirmed the following as key priorities for the year ahead:

Strong Fiscal Futures

• Reactivate the Select Committee on Local Government Finance that had suspended activities in spring 2020 due to COVID; goal to refresh and repackage the 2013 Strong Fiscal Futures (SFF) Report; financial focus on Housing, Climate Change and Community Safety.

Post-Election Outreach

• undertake post-election outreach, advocacy and communications that will affirm UBCM as the voice of local government to the Province and Membership on the following identified priorities: infrastructure, economic diversification, transit, rural connectivity, opioid & mental health and climate action.

Public Transit

• Seek compensation for financial losses incurred due to COVID; revise the funding model to reduce reliance on fares to sustain and grow the system, rebuild ridership.

Post – Pandemic Economic Recovery

• Advocate for financial support to assist local governments address overall COVID-19 impacts and recovery effort.

Infrastructure + infusion of restart funding

• Continue to participate in the development / delivery of Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) and working with the Province on new Safe Restart Programs (Strengthening Communities Program – $100m and Development Services Program ($15m)

Housing

• Continuing to engage with the Province on implementation of their 30-point plan using the UBCM report “A Home For Everyone” as our policy tool including specific work on short term rentals, homelessness, development approvals, and addressing rising strata insurance rates.

Cannabis – Taxation revenue sharing

• Continue to advocate for a cannabis taxation revenue sharing agreement with the provincial government

Responsible Conduct Working Group

• Continued work with LGMA & Province on development of a guide to provide options for local governments dealing with elected official conduct issues.

Climate Change/ Climate Action

• Move forward with the recommendations adopted by the UBCM Special Committee on Climate Action, taking climate action to the ‘next level’.

UNDRIP legislation/Provincial Land Use Planning

• Engage with Province on UNDRIP & related initiatives, emphasizing the need for meaningful consultation with local governments on issues that impact their jurisdiction.

Municipal Pension Plan (MPP) Re-Design

• UBCM Plan Partner Working Group members, through direction from UBCM Presidents Committee, support the continued work on design changes to Plan.

Highlights of the November 17-19 Committee meetings include:

Presidents

Committee members confirmed the Terms of Reference; allocated Vice Presidents to specific duties; received updates on staffing, financial statements, UBCM investments, member services and group benefits programs.  Reports were considered on: intergovernmental relations; UBCM’s 2021 Community Excellence Awards Program; discussed UBCM’s post-election advocacy plan; and approved UBCM’s submission to the Police Act review.  The Committee recommended that UBCM seek intervenor status in a legal appeal between City of Coquitlam and Fortis recognizing the case has implications for the broader UBCM membership.  Support was also provided for the Municipal Pension Plan design changes and direction was provided to move from an Agreement in Principle to a final agreement.

The Committee also brought forward recommendations for the following appointments:

• Short-Term Rental Advisory Committee – Mayor Jack Crompton, Whistler

• PRIMECorp BC – Paul Thorkelsson, CAO, District of Saanich

• BC Road Safety Strategy Steering Committee – A call for interest through the Compass.

Community Economic Development Committee

Community Economic Development Committee members reviewed and approved their Terms of Reference.  Work plan priorities for the upcoming year were reviewed to ensure they were reflective of the broad scope of economic development opportunities for local governments including resource policy; tourism; technology, business and innovation.  Members received reports on broadband connectivity noting the launch of the federal Universal Broadband Fund (UBF); ongoing advocacy seeking the expansion of ATV/ORV trail networks that would connect communities and provide greater community access and identified top advocacy priorities recognizing the impact of COVID-19 on all communities and sectors.

Community Safety Committee

The Community Safety Committee reviewed its priorities for the upcoming year, focusing primarily on issues related to policing, non-medical cannabis, liquor policy and emergency management. Members also considered options for advocacy related to cannabis taxation revenue sharing. Additional reports received by the Committee related to RCMP labour relations and other relevant policing issues; liquor policy; emergency management; and, grant programs administered by UBCM.

Health and Social Development Committee

The Health and Social Development Committee reviewed and approved its Terms of Reference and Priorities for the year, which included a focus on mental health and addictions, homelessness and access to health care. The Committee also received a report on Local Government Program Service grants including age friendly communities, active transportation, child care, housing needs, and poverty reduction planning.

Environment Committee

The Environment Committee reviewed its Terms of Reference, history and committee priorities for the upcoming year. In addition to the ongoing work of the Committee, the three key focus areas will be climate action, water governance and management, and product stewardship. A report was also received on UBCM’s Special Committee on Climate Action, which presented a series of recommendations for buildings, transportation, solid waste, resilience, land-use planning, governance and social mobilization.

Indigenous Relations

The Indigenous Relations Committee reviewed its Terms of Reference and priorities for 2020/2021, noting the importance of the implementation of Provincial legislation on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and the need to support conversations on systemic racism and relationship building. The Committee also received an update on the Federal Government’s pending legislation on UNDRIP.

Convention

The Convention Committee reviewed its Terms of Reference and the Convention planning cycle for 2021.  The committee also received reports regarding the 2020 Convention including attendance, media relations, sponsorship, and the preliminary financial report.  The delegate evaluation report was also presented with the full list of comments submitted in the post-Convention survey.  The evaluations were predominately positive and provided constructive feedback for the first virtual Convention.

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