UBCM

Pouce Coupe is 1st BC municipality to demand @bcndp govt uphold fee simple property rights. “It’s important to me as many municipalities as possible sign on to it, to send a really strong message," says Pouce coun. James Wall. My latest for @BeatNorthern northernbeat.ca/news/pouce-cou…

400 police files. 67 convictions. Back on our streets For a judge to release someone they must believe 3 things: He will not commit more crimes He will show up to court He will not undermine public safety How with this record could anyone believe that? castanet.net/news/Kelowna/6…

UBCM's ED Gary MacIsaac has announced plans to retire following the Convention in Sept. “Gary has provided exceptional advice and guidance to a generation of local government leaders who have served on UBCM’s Executive,” said UBCM President Cori Ramsay. ubcm.ca/about-ubcm/lat…

The Heritage Conservation Act webinar has been moved to April 2. UBCM member communities are invited to hear from Ministry of Forests staff on how feedback from local governments has been incorporated in some of the proposed policy changes for the Act. ubcm.ca/about-ubcm/lat…

Community Excellence Awards applications are open! Has your local government worked on an exemplary program or project this year? Consider nominating it for UBCM’s 2026 Community Excellence Awards. Apply before May 29, 2026 buff.ly/NNO9XSh

On a quarter where 🇨🇦 total population declined by 103,000, the number of asylum claimants in the country ROSE by 14,000. 1 in every 77 people residing in Canada today are asylum claimants. Program needs a massive overhaul. Low hanging fruit for policy makers @LenaMetlegeDiab

Serious statement by Union of BC Municipalities on #BillM216 Professional Reliance Act (*not dead yet*). 'Because of its wide-ranging, significant defects, @UBCM strongly encourages Committee to recommend back to the House that Bill M216 not proceed.' #vanpoli #bcpoli

Bill M216 is a flawed bill that was developed without technical input from the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs. Local governments, housing practitioners, and members of the public have been unequivocal in their opposition to the legislation. It’s disappointing the committee did not agree with a motion to set the bill aside. The Legislature must vote to defeat this.

“Having a gov member bring housing leg. without the input of the Minister responsible for housing is a sign of a distracted gov that has lost its focus on the public interest”–UBCM President “It's time for Min. Boyle to tell BC whether she supports M216." ubcm.ca/about-ubcm/lat…

Bill M216 Professional Reliance Act continues to move forward despite significant risks it would pose for public safety and liability issues. This week the NDP committee chair cast a deciding vote to keep the bill in motion, defeating a Conservative motion to set the bill aside.

Les Leyne: MLA says assessment change aims to stop value drop after Aboriginal title decision dlvr.it/TRPWgp

UBCM has directed our solicitor to apply to act as an intervenor in the Cowichan Tribes v. Canada appeal. Our goal is to ensure the Court understands the unique implications this ruling will have on local government’s ability to regulate, tax and service within its jurisdiction.

Squamish's 100-unit affordable rental project left in limbo after province pauses key housing fund #Squamish #bcpoli squamishchief.com/local-news/squ… via @squamishchief

In this piece, Prof. Dwight Newman outlines several significant legal and policy implications arising from what has been published so far about Canada’s new Rights Recognition Agreement with the Musqueam Indian Band. He explains that while the agreement is not a treaty, it legally binds Canada to recognize Musqueam rights and title in much of Metro Vancouver, sets a framework for ongoing negotiations, and may have consequences for private property, overlapping Indigenous claims, and future litigation. As Prof. Newman concludes: “In the present climate, we need Canadian federal and provincial governments to be much more transparent concerning ongoing negotiations with Indigenous communities, to show leadership in engaging with the public (both non-Indigenous and Indigenous) about choices they are making, and to take approaches that have a prospect of furthering good paths forward together rather than potentially fostering harmful consequences and negative reactions.”

.@Dave_Eby to #bcleg today on Musqueam agreement: "I received no briefings about the content of this agreement, no heads-up from the federal government." Fed min @RebeccaAltyNWT to CTV: “The federal government did brief the provincial government, it was a number of weeks ago."

Metro Vancouver municipalities have recently approved more than 60k units of new housing, contrary to complaints from developers and the @bcndp But many aren't being constructed, given the downturn in the real-estate cycle. 1/3 vancouversun.com/opinion/column…

Both @McInnis_4MLA & @TrevHal pressing @Dave_Eby & @SChandraHerbert about when they learned of the Fed govt-Musqueam agreement "acknowledging Musqeum's Aboriginal title." The premier deflected to Chandra-Herbert who wouldn't answer the ques.

#VanRE ⁦@TheresaMcManus⁩ At city council’s Feb 23 meeting, BC Housing provided an overview of its plan to build Lower Mainland’s first tiny home village at 502 20th St. in New West. The project will provide transitional housing for up to six years. share.google/0zW8lk5m4y5OYH…

The govt put $1.4B in funding on hold for affordable housing development. @UBCM president Cori Ramsay says there was no notice on the cut, it will leave many non-profit and housing developers in a lurch, & download more provincial responsibilities onto municipalities.