SILGA Convention 2017 – Sun Peaks

Monday – Tour of the Alberta Oil Sands. SILGA Delegates by invitation of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers were invited on a tour of the Fort McMurray oil sands. Leaving from Kamloops airport early in the morning and returning in the evening. CAPP covers all transportation costs and meals. 45 spots available to Convention Delegates.

SILGA Binder

SILGA Nomination Package

SILGA Program of Events

Tuesday – Arrived for the 2017 SILGA (Southern Interior Local Government Association) Annual Conference at Sun Peaks. I love this community and their infrastructure and services which I will be getting a closer look at in the next few days. Sun Peaks incorporated in 2010 and have made unique and innovative advances in the  delivery of services to their 6oo -700 permanent residents.  Transportation in the Village is also varied from Segways to the school children taking a chair lift to school and skiing home, gotta love it.

Segway Tours – Learn how to ride a Segway, a two-wheeled, self balancing, battery-powered electric vehicle while travelling through the wonderful alpine scenery of Sun Peaks. Depending on the number of participants, your ride will be 15 minutes or more.

Wednesday – I toured the new Health Center still under construction. With an ambulance response time of close to an hour their circumstances for patient care is very similar to the North Westside. The tour also included the local school.

The Health Center occupies the lower floor of the building with a construction cost of half of the 2.1 million dollar construction cost for the two-story building. The top floor is occupied by a ski hill operating company. With geo thermal heating, five stretcher bays and plenty of room for the future needs this is an ideal facility for a community with a long BCAS response time. When complete, the new Health Care Facility will be a full service medical centre designed for a doctor, x-ray capabilities, on site physio, chiropractic and massage services. The Sun Peaks ski patrol will also be housed in the building.

 

 

Tour the @Kool School – the only ski in-ski out school in the world – which is designed for children to work independently who are homeschooled or live in remote locations. By fundraising, the Sun Peaks parents took this distance learning model and adapted it by adding a teacher who supervises the children at all times. Older students also rely on computer programs such as Skype to communicate with another off-site teacher. Rob Bremner will be your tour guide.

WORKSHOPS

These are just a few of the more relevant workshops for small communities that I attended during the conference.

Legalization and Regulation of Cannabis: Current and Future Strategies for BC Communities The federal government has announced plans to table legislation this week, and is targeting July 2018 as the implementation date. What does the new legislation mean for your community? Should local governments expect a proliferation of cannabis cultivation, retail sales and tasting rooms? What strategies are being employed by local governments in Canada and in other jurisdictions? What works? What doesn’t? What’s at stake? Denise McCabe and Kaitlyn Cumming will provide a legal update and facilitate a group discussion around various strategies being employed.

UBCM Session on the Working Group on Responsible Conduct: The issue of questionable conduct is an emerging policy area for local governments in BC and across the country. The issue is multi-faceted and includes elements of education, advice, investigation and enforcement. Due to the complex nature of this subject matter UBCM, the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development and the Local Government Management Association of BC have formed a working group to examine responsible conduct of local government elected officials. The working group will conduct an analysis and undertake policy work on this issue, and that work will inform UBCM Executive’s policy paper for consideration of members at the 2017 UBCM Convention. This session will provide an update on the work of the committee to date. Gary has spent 25 years working in the local government field with experience in small, medium and large-sized local governments. As the Executive Director, Gary is responsible for overseeing the administration, advocacy, funding programs and strategic direction of UBCM. Advice to the UBCM President and Executive is a critical element of this position. Gary currently serves as Chair of the Gas Tax Management Committee, Trustee on the Municipal Pension Plan Board of Trustees and Co-Chair of the Green Communities Committee.

Through the Eyes of a Child – Darlene Morgan: This is a true story about my experience in residential school – the primary focus is truth & reconciliation; my presentation shows how I am having to reconcile with myself about what happened to me, what I have done & continue to do to help other survivors, I try to speak for those who cannot speak about what happened to them and I vocalize their stories for them; I try to bring to the forefront why first nations are the way they are today; i.e. extreme alcohol & drug abuse, violence in the home, parents unable to care for their own children, the loss of language & culture, extreme sexual abuse, families unable to live in a family environment (institutionalized) resulting in living in the streets – homelessness, many children did not go back home, many children died in residential schools or died trying to run away; in essence a Canadian First Nation genocide that no one wants to talk about; can be a very emotional presentation but I believe it brings true meaning to the truth & reconciliation process.

Active Transportation – Shuswap Healthy Communities Coalition: Citizens throughout the Southern Interior are calling for improved walking, cycling, and transit options within our communities and along rural roads to make travel easier, safer, healthier, more environmentally accountable, and visitor attractive. Compelling research suggests economic resilience will be closely tied to our ability to grow more people-centred, walkable communities over the next 20 years. As a result, many Southern Interior communities are implementing a variety of Active Transportation strategies, but a wholesale shift to implement comprehensive Active Transportation plans, particularly in our rural communities, is often challenged as an impossibly expensive “big city” retrofit. Is this really true? The Shuswap Healthy Communities Coalition brings the question currently in their sights to the wider Southern Interior leadership, asking: How might we better work together to share knowledge, learn from each other, and leverage our collective voice to support a more comprehensive approach to Active Transportation development throughout the Southern Interior – particularly in the face of unprecedented opportunities like the twinning of our major highway corridors, growing provincial and federal support for Active Transportation, and the substantial body of global shared knowledge available? The Shuswap Healthy Communities Coalition is a multi sector collective representing local governments and organizations committed to impacting health and wellbeing in the settings where people live, learn, work and play in the Shuswap. It focuses on an upstream approach to addressing the issues that have the greatest influence on our health using the social determinants of health as a guiding reference. Phil McIntyre-Paul – Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Shuswap Trail Alliance, the organizational body through which local and regional leadership in the Shuswap are working together to develop and implement the Shuswap Trails Strategy, including Active Transportation objectives.

Understanding the basics when applying for grants. With Brian Bedford, Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, Helen Patterson, SIDIT and Brant Felker, UBCM Brian Bedford is Director, Local Government Infrastructure and Engineering, with the BC Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development. Brian has a background in environmental science and a focus on sustainable infrastructure. His role with the Province is administering infrastructure funding programs for BC local governments, encouraging innovative infrastructure solutions and supporting the development asset management and sustainable service delivery. Brian is an active participant with Asset Management BC and has been since its inception. Helen Patterson, the Controller for the Southern Interior Development Initiative Trust, holds a CPA, CMA accounting designation and oversees all fiscal operations for the Trust. She has an extensive work history with local government and understands the complexity and challenges that Municipal government’s face. She brings a great mix of leadership, operational experience and technical breadth to SIDIT. She also oversees the grant programs for the Southern Interior and has a commitment to achieve maximum funding for the programs each year. Brant Felker is the Gas Tax Program Manager with the Union of BC Municipalities. Over his eight years in this role, Brant has overseen the administration of a number of Gas Tax funding programs, including the Strategic Priorities Fund, Innovations Fund, Regionally Significant Project Fund, and the Community Works Fund.

Thursday –  Today was the AGM portion of the convention where the executive and board positions are filled for the 2017-2018 period. As well Resolutions were put forward to the delegates for approval (or not, one of twenty-four failed) and debate. The resolutions that survived this process will be moved to the UBCM (Union of BC Municipalities which also represents Electoral Areas such as EA West) Conference later in the year for ratification by that provincial organization. If successful there they will then be moved to the different Provincial Ministries for their approval and hopefully adoption as legislation by the Provincial Government.

2017 SILGA RESOLUTIONS

 Provincial/Federal Funding Resolutions

1. RDNO                 Police Based Victim Assistance Services – Carried
2. Princeton           BC Conservation Service Funding – Carried
3. Sicamous           Quagga and Zebra Mussel – Carried

 Financial Resolutions

4. Oliver                   Local Government Infrastructure Project Funding – Carried
5. Ashcroft               Local Government Campaign Financing Act – Carried
6. RDNO                  Buy Local – Carried
7. SLRD                    Emergency Recovery Costs – Carried
8. Vernon                 Federal GST charges on Provincial Carbon Tax – Carried
9. West Kelowna     Staffing Levels – Integrated RCMP Detachments – Carried
10. Logan Lake          Doctor Issues – Carried

Safety and Environmental Resolutions

11. Coldstream         Provincial Private Moorage Program – Carried
12. CSRD                  Dock and Buoy Regulations – Carried
13. RDOS                  Mandatory Certification and Licensing of Asbestos an

Hazardous Material Removal Contractors

14. SLRD                        Ban on Sale of Invasive Species – Carried
15. SLRD                        Disposal of Drywall/Gypsum Board – Carried
16. West Kelowna         Province-Wide Rat Reduction Strategy – Carried

Miscellaneous Resolutions

17. Penticton             Advertising – Carried
18. Penticton             Business Registry – Carried
19. Penticton             Recall Process – Carried
20. Cache Creek        BC Ambulance Services – Carried
21. Clearwater           Review of 4 year terms for Local Government Councils – FAILED

(1) TITLE: Funding for Police-Based Victim Assistance Services

SPONSOR: RDNO

WHEREAS costs for providing police-based victim assistance service continues to escalate; AND

WHEREAS the responsibility for providing victim services rests with the Victim Services and Crime Prevention Division of the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General;

AND WHEREAS the Province of BC continues to download additional responsibilities such as security checks, information technology and reporting requirements without corresponding funding:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities advise the Province of BC, through the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, that local governments reject the additional responsibilities of security checks, information technology and reporting requirements without the Ministry’s commensurate funding to local governments to cover the cost of those additional responsibilities.

SILGA Recommendation: Endorse

UBCM comments:

The UBCM membership has not previously considered a resolution requesting the provincial government to cover the cost of meeting the requirements imposed upon police-based victim services, including security checks, information technology, and reporting requirements.

UBCM would note, however, that provincial government funding for victim services programs is a long-standing issue, with members consistently endorsing resolutions calling on the Province to increase funding for victim services programs (2015-B4, 2014-B4, 2011-B14, 2010-B12, 2008-B4, 2006-B9, 2003-OF1, 2001-B12, 1994-B35, 1998-A11).

(2) TITLE: BC CONSERVATION SERVICE FUNDING

SPONSOR: PRINCETON

WHEREAS the provincial government is responsible for managing Conservation Service, and the British Columbia Conservation Service has not been able to adequately address public safety, focus on natural resource law enforcement, human and wildlife conflicts prevention and respond to wildlife human conflict;

AND WHEREAS underfunding is having a negative impact on the ability of the BC Conservation Officer Service to meet the needs of the communities served;

AND WHEREAS the reduction in service has reduced the number of Conservation Officers in the field, while expecting them to adequately monitor and enforce activities throughout large Management Units;

AND WHEREAS Conservation Officers should be protecting our fish, wildlife and environment by helping to ensure healthy game populations; clean land, air and water; and should be the first responder to human-wildlife conflicts where public safety may be at risk;

AND WHEREAS the Conservation Services has lacked the ability to:

1. Periodic reviews of their risk assessment models for response and making appropriate amendments;
2. Deliver awareness training to RCMP and Municipal Police Forces;
3. Provide effective zone coverage practices, where officers should be responding to complaints and concerns;
4. Review the call centre’s response criteria, and make appropriate changes;
5. Provide public education and partnerships with local communities; and
6. Protect wildlife from illegal poaching and other illegal activities that weaken wildlife populations, health and security.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Provincial Government be requested to provide adequate funding and staffing in order for the BC Conservation Service to provide public education and partnerships with local communities, deliver awareness training to RCMP and Municipal Police Forces and review their risk assessment models and call centre response criteria.

SILGA Recommendation: Endorse

UBCM comments:

The UBCM membership has consistently endorsed resolutions calling on the provincial government to provide financial and staff support to the BC Conservation Service (2016-B30, 2015-B26, 2012-B21, 2012-B22). Most recently, members endorsed resolution 2016-B30, which called for the Province to provide “adequate funding, offices and staffing to fully support the BC Conservation Service to be more active and proactive in effectively managing wildlife-human conflicts.”

In response to the 2016 resolution, the provincial government explained that the Conservation Officer Service uses a zone coverage and deployment approach. The Province acknowledged that it had not increased Conservation Service staffing levels.

(3) TITLE: QUAGGA AND ZEBRA MUSSEL FUNDING

SPONSOR: SICAMOUS

WHEREAS British Columbia’s lakes generate international tourism business totaling millions of dollars each year;

AND WHEREAS the Zebra and Quagga mussel infestation poses a serious threat to the economic welfare of British Columbia’s tourism industry;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government provide increased educational funding and increased monitoring efforts to combat the invasive mussel infestation threatening the pristine lakes of British Columbia’s tourism areas.

SILGA Recommendation: Endorse

UBCM comments:

The UBCM membership has consistently endorsed resolutions calling on the provincial government to promote awareness and education, increase funding, and establish vigilant monitoring for quagga and zebra mussels (2016-B60, 2015-B60, 2014-B21, 2013-B76, 2012-LR2).

Most recently, members endorsed resolution 2016-B60, which proposed that the provincial government should implement specific measures:

• restrict all non-BC registered watercraft from entering into British Columbia; and
• 30-day quarantine and ministry approved inspection and/or decontamination for BC-registered watercraft that leave the province, or are purchased by BC residents from outside BC.

In response to the 2016 resolution, the provincial government pointed out that Transport Canada, a federal agency, is responsible for registration of certain powered watercraft, while other types of watercraft are not required to be licensed or registered. The Province indicated that it would not consider a “zero tolerance” policy for out-of-province watercraft in BC waters, and instead was focused on an expanded Mussel Defence Program and efforts to intercept, inspect, quarantine and enforce penalties for non-compliance.

(4) TITLE: LOCAL GOVERNMENT INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT FUNDING

SPONSOR: OLIVER

WHEREAS the Province of British Columbia and the Government of Canada have taken a leadership role by investing in local government infrastructure projects, however exclude funding programs that supports irrigation water capital infrastructure that serves the agricultural sector;

AND WHEREAS local governments across Canada responsibly manage and deliver irrigation water service to the agricultural sector through infrastructure that supports the economic health of the community:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM call upon the Province of British Columbia and Government of Canada to replace restrictive funding initiatives with funding criteria that supports local government capital infrastructure project funding for irrigation water services that serves agriculture.

SILGA Recommendation: Endorse

UBCM comments:

The UBCM membership has not previously considered a resolution asking the provincial and federal governments to amend the criteria for infrastructure funding programs, to enable use of existing infrastructure funding programs for development or improvement of local government infrastructure for agricultural irrigation purposes.

In terms of resolutions, UBCM notes that members endorsed 1999-B77, which called on the Province to provide funding for irrigation of farm properties in the Agricultural Land Reserve, “as an integral part of its commitment to preserve farm land for future generations of British Columbians.” At the time, the provincial government expressed willingness to advocate for inclusion of water development for agriculture in the eligibility criteria for future infrastructure initiatives.

In general, UBCM would acknowledge that both federal and provincial capital funding programs have expanded eligible project categories in recent years. As an example, the Gas Tax Fund identifies 17 eligible project categories, focused on the majority of core local government services. However, providing standalone agricultural irrigation is not considered a core service provided by the majority of local governments. In circumstances where potable water and agricultural irrigation exist in a single system, improvements to the system would likely be eligible. UBCM would note that both federal and provincial programs have supported ’twinning’, or separation of domestic and agricultural water systems, as the most cost-effective way to provide potable drinking water, resulting in significant savings in overall infrastructure, operation and maintenance costs for both drinking and agricultural water systems.

 (5) TITLE: LOCAL GOVERNMENT CAMPAIGN FINANCING ACT

SPONSOR: Ashcroft

 WHEREAS local elections are conducted under the Local Government Act, the Local Government Campaign Financing Act, the School Act and other bylaws and legislation;

AND WHEREAS effective in 2014 Elections BC administers campaign financing and advertising rules under the Local Government Campaign Financing Act;

AND WHEREAS all candidates putting their name forward for local government elections must abide by the Local Government Campaign Financing Act regardless of the size of the jurisdiction in which they are running and the amount of funds used in their campaign, which can be expensive, time-consuming and intimidating, which could result in some potential candidates deciding not to put their name forward for local office;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Local Government Campaign Financing Act be amended to recognize that requirements to run a campaign in a community of 2,000 voters is considerably different from those required for a large center;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that changes to the Local Government Campaign Financing Act be in place prior to the 2018 General Local Election.

SILGA Recommendation: No recommendation

UBCM comments:

The UBCM membership has not previously considered a resolution calling on the Province to amend the Local Government Campaign Financing Act to reduce the stringency of the regulations for candidates in smaller communities.

(6) TITLE: Require Taxpayer-Supported Institutions to Source Food Purchases from Local Producers

SPONSOR: RDNO

WHEREAS it is a stated goal of the Provincial Government to support Buy Local initiatives; AND

WHEREAS taxpayer-supported institutions with on-site food services, such as universities and hospitals, are not required to Buy Local:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Provincial Government institute a policy whereby taxpayer-supported institutions with on-site food services be required to source a targeted portion of their food purchases from local producers.

SILGA Recommendation: Endorse

UBCM comments:

The UBCM membership has not previously considered a resolution calling on the provincial government to require taxpayer-supported institutions with on-site food service to purchase a portion of their food from local producers.

However, UBCM notes that members have consistently endorsed resolutions supporting local agriculture and food production (2011-B53, 2011-B55, 2011-B56, 2010-B47, 2010-B96, 2010-B100, 2009-B132).

(7) TITLE: EMERGENCY RECOVERY COSTS

SPONSOR: SLRD

WHEREAS the cost of recovering from emergencies is a hardship experienced by many small communities and rural areas;

AND WHEREAS pursuant to the Emergency Program Act’s Compensation and Disaster Financial Assistance Regulation, the current cost-sharing percentage split for emergency recovery costs, being 80% for the Province and 20% for local governments, contributes to the financial component of the hardship;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province increase its share of emergency recovery costs, so that the Province is responsible for 90% and local governments are responsible for 10% of emergency recovery costs.

SILGA Recommendation: Endorse

UBCM comments:

The UBCM membership endorsed resolution 2007-B76, which called on the provincial government to amend the cost share of emergency recovery costs from 80 per cent borne by the Province and twenty per cent borne by local government, so that the Province would provide 100 per cent funding for emergency recovery costs.

UBCM would observe that the 2017 resolution makes a different request, asking the Province to bear 90 per cent of emergency recovery costs, with local government bearing ten per cent of costs.

UBCM would also note that a review of the Emergency Program Act is currently underway. In the context of this review, UBCM pointed out to the Province that local governments may not have the capacity to assume additional responsibilities, even if the provincial government were to provide corresponding funding to local governments.

(8) TITLE: FEDERAL GST CHARGES ON PROVINCIAL CARBON TAX

SPONSOR: VERNON

WHEREAS the Government of British Columbia instituted a “carbon tax” in 2008;

AND WHEREAS, the Government of Canada imposes GST on the “carbon tax”, essentially a tax on tax;

AND WHEREAS, the carbon tax and subsequently the GST on the carbon tax applies widely on carbon fuels and affects the cost of living for British Columbians;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that SILGA and UBCM lobby the provincial and federal governments to eliminate the GST being charged on the provincial carbon tax.

SILGA Recommendation: recommend

UBCM comments:

The UBCM membership has not previously considered a resolution asking the provincial and federal governments not to charge federal GST on the provincial carbon tax.

(9) TITLE: STAFFING LEVELS – INTEGRATED RCMP DETACHMENTS

SPONSOR: City of West Kelowna

WHEREAS RCMP ‘E’ Division uses, in some areas, an integrated detachment model (two or more municipal or provincial RCMP units housed in one building) to provide policing to combined municipal and provincial areas;

AND WHEREAS municipalities authorize and fund increases to the number of municipal officers at the integrated detachments, but the number of provincially funded officers does not automatically change, possibly resulting in a potential imbalance and financial subsidy to provincial/rural areas by the municipalities:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities lobby the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General to initiate a review of the number of provincial officers serving at an integrated detachment when the municipal component of the detachment is increased to ensure that the municipal and provincial areas are being funded fairly.

SILGA Recommendation: Endorse

UBCM comments:

The UBCM membership has consistently endorsed resolutions calling on the provincial government and the RCMP to fund and staff the provincial component of combined or integrated detachments, to ensure that rural areas outside of municipal boundaries are provided with the same service and responsiveness as areas within municipal boundaries (2016-B82, 2009-B67, 2006-B12).

UBCM would note, however, that members considered but did not endorse resolution 2016-B81, which suggested that municipalities’ per capita police costs may be significantly higher than those borne by rural areas, and asked the provincial government to develop an “equitable funding program” for all BC municipalities and regional districts including those served by integrated detachments.

(10) TITLE: DOCTOR ISSUES

SPONSOR: Logan Lake

WHEREAS the provincial Practice Ready Assessment program is attracting new physicians to rural communities;

AND WHEREAS rural communities, including Logan Lake, have benefitted from the program;

AND WHEREAS the Doctor is encouraged to establish a private practice by securing patients, but is reluctant to do so because:

• patients have secured physician services elsewhere (given the lack of a doctor for several years in their home community) and are hesitant to sign-on with the new local doctor as they fear losing the service once the return to service program concludes;
• due to lack of staff, is hesitant to hire additional staff and begin a private practice due to a lack of patients;
• existing staff are unable to respond to the influx of calls from new patients due to workload
• they have limited understanding/knowledge of how to run a business in the province (i.e. the current health care billing system or the sharing of patient files);

AND WHEREAS the new doctor looks forward to moving on after 3 years to establish practice elsewhere  where there are more patients;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Ministry of Health increase funding for the rural doctor program and establish a new support model for health provision for rural communities, including other possible solutions:

• re-establishing a local advisory council or ensuring site managers attend facilities in a timely and on a more regular basis, particularly during the transitional period of the arrival of a new doctor, during staff changeover, or to provide leadership and support to existing staff, so that IH is better informed about what is happening in their rural communities;
• incentivizing rural community graduates seeking health care training whereby a student obtains a specified number of years free post-secondary education in exchange for returning to their home community for a specified number of years;
• providing additional and adequate support to rural doctors in the form of additional office staff and/or seed money to bridge establishing a private practice.

SILGA Recommendation: Endorse

UBCM comments:

The UBCM membership has consistently endorsed resolutions that have called on the provincial government to provide increased funding and innovative service and support models for rural and remote health care delivery (most recently, 2016-B44, 2016-B124, 2014-B130, 2013-B43, 2013-B44, 2013-B45, 2013-B46, 2013-B47, 2012-B38, 2012-B39, 2012-B91, 2012-B93, 2012-B103, 2011-B60, 2011-B61, 2010-B43, 2010-B44, 2010-B112, 2009-B148, 2008-B49, 2006-B48, 2006-B50, 2006-B154, 2006-B156, and 2005-B146).

(11) TITLE: PROVINCIAL PRIVATE MOORAGE PROGRAM

SPONSOR: COLDSTREAM

WHEREAS the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations has amended the private moorage program permitting residential docks to be authorized under a “General Permission” rather than an application-driven Crown land tenure;

AND WHEREAS residential docks authorized under a “General Permission” will not require a referral to the local government for compliance with local government requirements:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations amend the Provincial General Permission for the Use of Crown Land for Private Moorage to explicitly require that a General Permission for private moorage requires compliance with any local government regulation pertaining to the construction, placement and use of private moorage;

AND THAT Front Counter BC reinstate its practice of referring Private Moorage applications to municipalities;

SILGA Recommendation: Endorse

UBCM comments:

The UBCM membership endorsed resolution 2008-B115, which called on the provincial government to “retain administration of water leases and licenses for all docks, to ensure control and management of its waterways and public life safety.” The resolution also requested that the Province increase its staffing resources for enforcement and compliance regarding water leases and licenses for docks.

In response to the 2008 resolution, the provincial government observed that it had consulted with local governments and First Nations during revision of the private moorage program. The Province highlighted tools that can be used to address problems with private moorage:

• agencies and local governments can designate areas with sensitive values or the potential for user conflicts, so that an application would be required, regardless of dock size;
• where cumulative impacts are a concern, local governments may submit community moorage proposals for shared use by area residents; and
• local government retains the ability to manage private moorage through zoning and bylaw or head lease.

The Province confirmed that the federal government regulates private buoys.

UBCM would acknowledge a January 2017 letter to local governments, in which the provincial government clarified the scope of amendments to the private moorage program. This letter is available online on the Community Economic Development policy page of the UBCM website. The letter confirms that “… changes to private moorage policy do not affect local government zoning or bylaws. Prospective dock owners must continue to adhere to all local government requirements.”

(12) TITLE: DOCK AND BUOY REGULATIONS  

SPONSOR: CSRD

WHEREAS local governments in the Province of BC have limited enforcement options, staff resources and cost-effective legal tools to deal with the significant number of unlawfully placed docks and buoys on lakes and rivers;

AND WHEREAS the Province of BC is responsible for the management of Crown lands, including lakes and rivers, for the benefit of the public, and is responsible for the enforcement of provincial regulations pertaining to the placement of structures such as docks on lakes;

AND WHEREAS the Government of Canada, through the Department of Transport Canada and the federal Navigable Waters Protection Act and Canada Shipping Act, is responsible for the regulation and enforcement of mooring buoys on lakes;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province of BC be requested to work with the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) to better address this multi-jurisdictional dock and buoy issue, by consulting with local governments to align areas of overlapping regulation (e.g. zoning and provincial dock permissions), and to increase provincial enforcement resources to deal with illegal docks on lakes;

AND FURTHER that the Province of BC and UBCM lobby the Government of Canada with regard to increasing Transport Canada’s resources to more effectively regulate and remove buoys on lakes and rivers in BC that have been illegally placed, are unsafe, or are undocumented or of unknown ownership.

SILGA Recommendation: Endorse

UBCM comments:

The UBCM membership endorsed resolution 2008-B115, which called on the provincial government to “retain administration of water leases and licenses for all docks, to ensure control and management of its waterways and public life safety.” The resolution also requested that the Province increase its staffing resources for enforcement and compliance regarding water leases and licenses for docks.

In response to the 2008 resolution, the provincial government observed that it had consulted with local governments and First Nations during revision of the private moorage program. The Province highlighted tools that can be used to address problems with private moorage:

• agencies and local governments can designate areas with sensitive values or the potential for user conflicts, so that an application would be required, regardless of dock size;
• where cumulative impacts are a concern, local governments may submit community moorage proposals for shared use by area residents; and
• local government retains the ability to manage private moorage through zoning and bylaw or head lease.

The Province confirmed that the federal government regulates private buoys.

UBCM would acknowledge a January 2017 letter to local governments, in which the provincial government clarified the scope of amendments to the private moorage program. This letter is available online on the Community Economic Development policy page of the UBCM website. The letter confirms that “… changes to private moorage policy do not affect local government zoning or bylaws. Prospective dock owners must continue to adhere to all local government requirements.”

(13) TITLE: Mandatory Certification and Licensing of Asbestos and Hazardous Material Removal Contractors

SPONSOR: RDOS

WHEREAS

• Health and safety risks have been identified for local government employees engaged in building inspection and landfill operations due to hazards from demolition and renovation materials;
• Asbestos exposure is the leading cause of work related deaths in BC;
• WorkSafe BC found 43 per cent of all hazardous material surveys done by contractors renovating or demolishing homes were inadequate;
• WorkSafe BC lacks the tools for enforcement and monitoring of existing hazardous material regulations;
• There is currently no provincial certification or licensing in BC of asbestos abatement professionals to ensure standards and allow for the suspension of non-compliant contractors; and
• Mandatory provincial certification and licensing of demolition and environmental remediation contractors would allow local governments in BC to require these licenses from contractors as a condition for issuing demolition and renovation permits:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government require mandatory licensing, certification and enforceable compliance in safely handling asbestos and other hazardous material for all demolition, renovation and environmental remediation contractors.

SILGA Recommendation: Endorse

UBCM comments:

Due to time constraints, resolution 2016-B143 with the same enactment clause as this 2017 resolution, was not debated at the 2016 Annual Convention, and was referred automatically to the UBCM Executive. Upon consideration, the UBCM Executive endorsed resolution 2016-B143. Because the resolution was endorsed subsequent to Convention, and was conveyed to the Province later than the other resolutions, a response from the provincial government has not yet been received.

(14) TITLE: BAN ON THE SALE OF INVASIVE SPECIES

SPONSOR: SLRD

WHEREAS the introduction and spread of invasive plant species within British Columbia bring adverse impacts to the environment and economy;

AND WHEREAS significant financial and human resources are being allocated to control treatments, labour and research while at the same time the commercial sale of known invasive species continues to occur through retail outlets in British Columbia;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province ban the sale of known invasive species (plants and seeds) at retail outlets.

SILGA Recommendation: Endorse

UBCM comments:

The UBCM membership endorsed resolutions 2011-B44 and 2008-B71, both of which called on the provincial and federal governments to develop a strategy to prevent the sale of invasive plant species and seeds.

In response to the 2011 resolution, the provincial government indicated that the Inter-Ministry Invasive Species Working Group was in the process of reviewing legislation and policy regarding sales of invasive plant species and seeds, and that the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations was open to “examining and proposing opportunities for improving the Weed Control Act and Regulation.” The Province also referenced education and awareness efforts in collaboration with the Invasive Plant Council of BC, such as the “Grow Me Instead” program.

(15) TITLE: DISPOSAL OF DRYWALL/GYPSUM BOARD

SPONSOR: Squamish Lillooet Regional District

WHEREAS illegal dumping is a significant issue affecting all areas of British Columbia;

AND WHEREAS the illegal dumping of construction/demolition waste in forested/wilderness areas warrants a more effective and comprehensive approach by the Province than what currently exists;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province develop/implement an Extended Producer Responsibility program regarding the disposal of drywall/gypsum board and given the impacts of illegal dumping on the environment as well as on human health of pre-1990 drywall/gypsum board, do so on a fast-tracking basis; and

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Province provide assistance to local governments with respect to the disposal of pre-1990 drywall/gypsum board (and other building materials which contain asbestos) through measures such as:

• Providing subsidies towards the costs of transporting hazardous waste to authorized landfills, resulting in lower tipping fees and possibly removing, or reducing, what some residents may perceive as an incentive to engage in illegal dumping activities; and
• Increased enforcement activity by ministries and agencies having jurisdiction over illegal dumping;
• Implementing legal surveillance techniques; and
• Education and public awareness campaigns.

SILGA Recommendation: Endorse

UBCM comments:

The UBCM membership endorsed resolution 2012-B81, which called on the provincial government to “establish options to assist local governments to dispose of asbestos contaminated gypsum;” or include gypsum as a product category in the Recycling Regulation, thereby triggering the process to develop a stewardship plan for this material.

In response to the resolution, the provincial government cited its commitment to the 2009 Canada-wide Action Plan for Extended Producer Responsibility, and stated that the BC Ministry of Environment Service Plan would include extended producer responsibility for “construction and demolition materials, as well as furniture, textiles and carpet, and appliances (including ozone-depleting substances)” by 2017/18. The Province projected that this would include construction and demolition waste such as gypsum wall board.

(16) TITLE: PROVINCE-WIDE RAT REDUCTION STRATEGY

SPONSOR: City of West Kelowna

WHEREAS in recent years, the Province of BC has seen an increase in the population and distribution of rats for which no provincial strategy exists;

AND WHEREAS rat infestations lead to damage to buildings, electrical wiring and stored food supplies and rats carry diseases that could be transmitted to humans;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities lobby the Ministry of Environment to develop and fund a strategy to reduce and/or control the rat population in BC.

SILGA Recommendation: Endorse

UBCM comments:

The UBCM membership has not previously considered a resolution requesting the provincial government to develop and fund a province-wide rat control strategy.

(17) TITLE: ADVERTISING

SPONSOR: PENTICTON

WHEREAS Section 94 of the Community Charter prescribes public notice provisions through a newspaper distributed at least weekly;

AND WHEREAS other forms of media have a far greater reach than newspaper publications;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development be requested to conduct a comprehensive review and evaluation of the statutory advertising provisions with a view to amending such provisions in response to the technological advances of recent years.

SILGA Recommendation: Endorse

UBCM comments:

The UBCM membership endorsed resolutions 2016-B1 and 2015-B88, both of which called on the provincial government to amend the Local Government Act and Community Charter to provide greater flexibility for local government publication of statutory required public notices.

In response to resolution 2016-B1, the provincial government pointed out that the Community Charter already supports use of “alternative means” where it is not practical to publish a public notice in a newspaper. The Province also clarified that once a local government meets the minimum statutory requirement to publish a notice in a newspaper, the Community Charter “explicitly authorizes additional public notices, including by the internet or other electronic means.” The provincial government expressed willingness to engage in future dialogue with UBCM regarding changes to public notice requirements.

(18) TITLE: BUSINESS REGISTRY

SPONSOR: PENTICTON

WHEREAS local governments wish to improve economic drivers and help local and BC companies grow in our region;

AND WHEREAS a listing of all registered businesses as collected by BC Registries and Online Services would facilitate as a mechanism to understand the existing businesses and potential economic opportunities;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM lobby the Ministry of Technology, Innovation & Citizens’ Services, the Ministry responsible for BC Registries and Online Services and request that a business registry census be provided to municipal and regional governments annually.

SILGA Recommendation: Endorse

UBCM comments:

The UBCM membership has not previously considered a resolution asking the provincial government to provide annually to each local government a list of provincially registered businesses located within that local government’s boundaries.

(19) TITLE: RECALL PROCESS

SPONSOR: PENTICTON

WHEREAS constituents may believe local government elected officials are in breach of integrity and/or eroding public confidence;

WHEREAS the recently extended term of office for local government elected officials in British Columbia negatively affects the ability of the local electorate to vote for change in their local government;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM request the Province of British Columbia amend legislation to include a recall process for local government elected officials.

SILGA Recommendation: No recommendation

UBCM comments:

The UBCM membership endorsed resolution 2015-B93, which requested that the provincial government make legislative amendments to provide a mechanism for voter recall of local government elected officials.

In response to the resolution, the provincial government indicated that it was not at the time considering recall legislation for local governments. Further, the Province cited local government elections as “the fundamental democratic framework around which elected officials are ultimately held accountable for their decisions and actions.”

(20) TITLE: BC AMBULANCE SERVICES

SPONSOR: CACHE CREEK

WHEREAS the BC Ambulance Service provides emergency response in rural areas to those who experience serious trauma accidents or life threatening medical emergencies; and

WHEREAS most rural ambulance stations are staffed with paramedics trained to the Emergency Medical Responder or Primary Care Paramedic levels; and

WHEREAS most of the better trained Advanced Care Paramedics and Critical Care Paramedics are stationed in larger urban centers whose residents benefit from tertiary care facilities within relative proximity compared to rural residents’ health facilities;

NOW THEREFORE, be it resolved that the provincial government require the BC Ambulance Service to staff rural ambulance stations with much-needed Advanced Care or Critical Care Paramedics whose skills and training are necessary for life support where tertiary care is often hours away rather than minutes away as it is in urban centers.

SILGA Recommendation: Endorse

UBCM comments:

The UBCM membership has not previously considered a resolution calling on the Province to require the BC Ambulance Service to staff rural ambulance stations with personnel who have completed advanced care or critical care training, rather than the more basic emergency medical responder or primary care training.

(21) TITLE: REVIEW OF 4 YEAR TERMS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCILS

SPONSOR: CLEARWATER

WHEREAS on February 25, 2014 after the Election Reform Whitepaper was distributed the BC government announced that legislation would be changed to move local elections from a three-year to a four-year cycle beginning with the 2014 elections; and

WHEREAS in the fall of 2014 the local government elections including regional districts, municipalities and school districts were held to elect officials to a four-year term – 2014-2018; and

WHEREAS the current four-year term appears to impact rural community representatives, causing issue for retention in many rural communities;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Southern Interior Government Association request that UBCM review the effectiveness of the four-year term versus the three-year term for local governments.

SILGA Recommendation: No Recommendation

UBCM comments:

The UBCM membership has not previously considered a resolution asking UBCM to review the effectiveness of the four-year term for local governments.

UBCM would point out that the provincial government, through legislation and regulations, is the body that determines the rules, processes and mechanisms for local government elections. The Union of BC Municipalities does not regulate local government elections. UBCM would suggest that the request made in this resolution, to review the effectiveness of the four-year term for local government elected officials, should be directed to the provincial government, because the provincial government actually holds the authority to amend provincial legislation and regulations.

UBCM would observe that the UBCM membership endorsed resolution 2013-B94, which called on the provincial government to “increase the interval between civic elections from three years to four years.”

There were three late resolutions they are:

(1) TITLE: Regulation of Ride-Shari.ng Services in Small, Rural, and Remote Communities

SPONSOR: City of Enderby

 

(2) TITLE: Forest Stewardship Plans – Request for Improved Consultation

SPONSOR: CSRD

 

(3) TITLE: ALC Regulation: Small On-farm Breweries and Meaderies

SPONSOR: CSRD