www.ubcm.ca | September 24, 2025 | View in browser

Province pauses Heritage Conservation Act changes

UBCM issued a press release this morning calling on the Province to pause progress on changes to the Heritage Conservation Act until meaningful consultation can be conducted with local governments.

Hours later, Minister of Forestry Ravi Parmar announced his government’s decision to pause progress on the Act’s changes until mid-November. Speaking to reporters, he agreed there needed to be more consultation, but asserted that more consultation has occurred. Read more.

Voting Notice: Paper ballots to vote for UBCM Executive

Due to challenges with the online voting system, UBCM has moved to paper ballots for the UBCM Executive elections. Ballot boxes are located in the Lower Level where the Registration desk was located. Voting for Table Officers was open Wednesday 2:30-5:00pm and will be open Thursday 8:00-9:00am.

UBCM President Trish Mandewo's address

Mayors and Council calling for action to address street disorder

Winners of the 2025 Community Excellence Awards

UBCM is pleased to announce the winners of the 2025 Community Excellence Awards. These recipients stood out for going above and beyond the purposes of local government in BC. They are innovative, provide direct benefit to their community, and demonstrate leadership in their field. Read more.

Resolutions framework to be amended

Members endorsed four resolutions at the first resolutions session of 2025 Convention. An extraordinary resolution to amend the framework for evaluating resolutions was endorsed (ER1) and will be implemented for 2026. Three special resolutions were endorsed. They call for: a coordinated regional approach to homelessness (SR1); local government participation in negotiating the next RCMP contract (SR2); and increased library funding (SR3). Resolutions debate will resume at 8:50 am on Thursday, with the remaining Special Resolutions starting with SR4.

Address from Minister of State, Brittny Anderson

“One initiative, which is still in its early stages, is a plan to raise local government awareness within the public service. And a huge thank you to UBCM for pushing us in that direction. We started the conversation about the importance of engaging with local government and we're working on tools to support those efforts.”

– Minister of State for Local Governments and Rural Communities, Brittny Anderson

Third intake for LGDAP confirmed

Minister of State Anderson confirmed that a third intake for the Local Government Development Approvals Program, which is administered by UBCM, will be funded. LGDAP supports the implementation of established best practices and innovative approaches to improve development approvals processes. Program materials will be available later this fall and the application deadline will follow in 2026.

IN THE NEWS

The Vancouver Sun covered the day’s development on the Heritage Conservation Act.

Glacier Media’s Rob Shaw provided additional analysis of the plenary session on the state of BC’s economy with Finance Minister Brenda Bailey

The Times Colonist reported on concerns about “‘endless accommodation’ of antisocial behaviour”

CONVENTION PROGRAM

EVENT APP

COMING UP AT CONVENTION

8:35 AM • Address from Green Party leader Emily Lowan

11:10 AM • Leader of the official Opposition, John Rustad

1:30 pm • Delegates are invited to join Deputy Speaker Mable Elmore for a flag-raising ceremony for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Join at the westside walkway of the Legislative Precinct between the Knowledge Totem Pole and the buildings.

2:30 PM • Session on the Cowichan Tribes Aboriginal title court decision*

2:30 PM • Session on the Heritage Conservation Act*

*Video recordings from these concurrent sessions will be available.

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