The annual Union of British Columbia Municipalities Convention (UBCM) offers opportunities for First Nations and municipal governments to take local concerns to the premier, cabinet ministers, provincial government ministers and staff, agencies, commissions and corporations.
The Columbia Shuswap Regional District Board of Directors received letters from Premier David Eby and Municipal Affairs Minister Anne Kang inviting delegates to this year’s convention that will take place in Vancouver from Sept. 18 to 22.
“We all have a role to play in finding ways to ensure our communities thrive, and UBCM provides a wonderful opportunity to listen to one another, share ideas and find new approaches,” wrote Eby in his letter of May 24. “With local, provincial, federal and First Nations governments working together, we can continue to build a better BC and ensure high-quality and affordable housing for all.”
In her letter, Minister Kang made note of the 51-page Provincial Appointment Book, a document that lists all ministry, agency, commission, and corporation (MACC) staff available to meet with delegates at convention, as well as details on how to submit an online staff meeting request.
While this will be her first UBCM Convention as minister responsible for local government, Kang says she understands the importance of these opportunities to connect in person to hear more about challenges and accomplishments.
In order to meet the June 30 deadline, CSRD Chief Administrative Officer John MacLean urged directors from across the vast region to email their requests to him as soon as possible.
The corporate admin team will compile the requests, seek clarification on what each director is asking for, if necessary, and ask for one meeting to be attended by several directors if they share the same concern.
“There is a higher chance of getting a meeting then,” says CSRD’s deputy corporate officer Crystal Robichaud. “If there are too many individual requests, it gets watered down.”
All meetings for the 2023 UBCM Convention will take place in person only. Details will be provided to First Nations and municipal governments when meetings are confirmed.
Electoral Area A director Karen Cathcart has requested a meeting with the Ministry of Health regarding regulations concerning outdoor cannabis grow operations and the effects a legal grow operation in Parson is having on nearby residents.
“I’ve asked John (MacLean) to set up a meeting, and maybe even one with Health Canada to talk about this,” she says.”We keep getting pushed aside, sidelined or whatever you want to call it and now they (Health Canada) are asking for 500 signatures, which is ridiculous. It floors me that they want to keep pushing this aside.”
The Town of Golden has several requests. Among them is a meeting with Transportation Minister Rob Fleming regarding the Kicking Horse bridges and the addition of a flood wall section between the east terminus of the new wall and the abutment of the eventual new bridge.
Golden officials are also requesting a meeting with the Minister of Forests seeking a commitment to consider inviting an application from the Golden area for a Community Forest license, following the upcoming Timber Supply Review for the area and Minister volume apportionment process. In the meantime, work continues at the local level to solidify a final application and invitation from the minister to apply.
Since the Golden Court House burned down in the winter, services are now either scattered within the community in temporary accommodation and/or are not available in their former manner. With Golden’s municipal hall at staff capacity, officials are requesting a meeting with Ministry of Citizen Services and Attorney General staff to discuss capital funding and a long-term partnership arrangement between the province and the town to establish an expanded and jointly occupied building.
Mayor Ron Oszust and CAO Jon Wilsgard attended by invitation a video call that included the Minister of Citizens Services and the Attorney General, including executive staff from both, wherein the concept of a jointly occupied building was received positively in principle.
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