Council advocates at annual UBCM Convention

Last week, Fort St. John City Council attended the annual Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) Convention, engaging with provincial ministries, collaborating with other local governments, and advocating for the priorities of northern communities.

During meetings with provincial ministries, Council addressed various critical issues spanning health care, housing, public safety, forestry, and economic development. Key topics included:

• The impacts of Emergency Room and Hospital Diversions
• Health Care recruitment and training
• Solutions for unhoused individuals with addictions
• Adding a third unit at Peace Villa long-term care facility
• Closure of the Canfor sawmill
• Salvage logging of wildfire-impacted areas
• Year-round forest fire management program
• The impact of recent housing legislation changes
• The success of the VRS Communities project in Fort St. John
• The importance of consultation with local governments during legislation changes
• Improving the foreign worker program
• Registering latecomer and local area services fees on property titles
• Enacting the Community Safety Act and the Community Safety Amendment Act

Fort St. John also submitted four advocacy resolutions at the convention. Three were successfully passed during the convention, while the fourth was not considered due to its similarity to another approved resolution. The resolutions covered:

• Enacting the Community Safety Act
• Supporting salvage logging of wildfire-impacted areas
• Establishing a year-round forest fire management program
• Ensuring consultation with local governments on provincial legislation

Additional highlights from the convention include:

• Councillor Gord Klassen was elected as a Director at Large to the UBCM Executive
• Milo MacDonald, Chief Administrative Officer, provided a northern perspective as a panellist in the plenary session on Public Safety, Mental Health, and Addictions.
• Council met with Canfor representatives regarding the decision to close the Fort St. John Sawmill, where Canfor cited delays in the provincial permitting process for timber harvesting as a key factor.

Attending the UBCM Convention is a vital strategic initiative for Fort St. John City Council. It ensures that the voices of our community are heard on issues that affect us all.

About UBCM

The Union of B.C. Municipalities has been the voice of local government in British Columbia since 1905. The annual Convention provides a forum for our members to establish policy and engage with provincial leaders on matters of common concern.