www.ubcm.ca | September 17, 2025 | View in browser

CONVENTION

Modest growth & big challenges: The road ahead for BC’s economy

The plenary session at this year’s Convention will focus on BC’s economy, given recent data on the province’s finances, debt and credit downgrades. Speakers will assess how serious the situation is and consider challenges to getting the economy back on course. BC’s Minister of Finance will provide opening remarks followed by an economic overview from a managing director with the National Bank of Canada. Panelists will respond to the overview and take questions from the audience. Read more

Minister Gregor Robertson to deliver federal address

We are pleased to confirm that the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure, Gregor Robertson, will give an address at the UBCM Convention in Victoria, on Friday at 9:00 am. Minister Robertson was elected as MP for Vancouver Fraserview-South Burnaby this April, and was appointed to the federal housing ministry in May. From 2008 to 2018 he served as mayor of Vancouver, and before that was the MLA for Vancouver-Fairview from 2005-2008.

Convention program is now live

Scan through study sessions, workshops, clinics and more to start planning your Convention week. New this year, add events directly to your calendar. Find the program on the Convention page, or access directly from the Event App.

Pin the Event App & sign in to vote

This year’s Event App is web-based and does not need to be downloaded from an app store, but can simply be pinned to your device home screen. Find instructions here.

The Event App is integrated with the voting portal. Voting delegates should have received an email from Data On The Spot (DOTS) on Monday with sign-in credentials and instructions. Please log in to complete a test vote before Convention.

UPDATES & INPUT

Build Canada Homes launched

The federal government has launched Build Canada Homes, a new federal agency intended to build and finance affordable housing and generate demand for new building methods including factory-built, modular and mass timber housing. Read more

FIFA World Cup 26™ public watch parties – expression of interest

The Province is seeking Expressions of Interest from local governments and First Nations governing bodies interested in hosting FIFA World Cup 26™ free public watch parties for over 1,000 attendees. Read more

Police Act and public safety review: Phase two concluded

Since 2022, local governments have been meeting with the provincial government as part of a Police Act and public safety review through the UBCM-PSSG Local Government Policing Modernization Roundtable. The review is directly related to the final report of the Special Committee on Reforming the Police Act which, following consultation with local governments, First Nations and other key stakeholders, delivered 11 recommendations to modernize policing and public safety in BC. Phase two of the Province's review included issues prioritized by local governments, outlined in this article.

ICYMI

UBCM Resolutions Book
Nominees for the 2025-26 UBCM Executive. Voting takes place at Convention
Infrastructure Projects Act implementation feedback: September 30
FireSmart Community Funding and Supports intake webinar: October 1
Community Emergency Preparedness Fund intake webinar: October 8