2003 Resolutions

Year: 2003 Category: Extraordinary Resolutions Status: NOT Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Association Name Change

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the membership considers changing to: 1. Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Municipalities (AVICM) or 2. Vancouver Island and Coastal Municipal Association (VICMA) which would continue to represent local governments on Vancouver Island and the coast with the name better representing whom the association represents.

Year: 2003 Category: Referred Resolutions Status: Endorsed Resolution: Electronic Waste: Industry Product Stewardship

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities urge the provincial government to enact a regulation under the Waste Management Act requiring electronic product brand-owners to implement Industry Product Stewardship programs which will ensure the social and environmentally responsible handling of end-of-life electronics products.

Year: 2003 Category: Referred Resolutions Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Forest Service Recreation Sites

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities requests the provincial government to immediately reinstate a fee collection service for Forest Service recreation sites in order that sites and trails be maintained and kept open to the public.

Year: 2003 Category: Legislative Status: Endorsed Resolution: Tree Protection Bylaw

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities urge the provincial government to amend the Local Government Act to give Regional Districts the power to protect trees which have documented local, historical or ecological significance or which provide environmental protection against significant soil erosion and mudslides.

Year: 2003 Category: Legislative Status: Endorse Resolution: Development Permit Area – Enforcement

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that legislative changes be made to the Local Government Act to provide local governments the ability to levy fines and/or other enforcement tools, for use when development permit requirements associated with environmental protection have been violated.

Year: 2003 Category: Legislative Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Hands Free Cellular Equipment

AND FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the Province of British Columbia be requested to amend the Motor Vehicle Act to ban the use of hand held cellular phones and that local governments take the lead in this initiative by setting an example of safety by requiring municipal vehicles to be installed with hands free equipment.

AVICC 2003 Resolutions Year: 2003 Category: Legislative Status: Endorsed Resolution: Groundwater Protection

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities express to the Province its support for new groundwater protection legislation and further that the province must provide the resources and initiatives to implement its legislative responsibility and authority for the Province’s groundwater resource.

Year: 2003 Category: Finance Status: Not Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: ICBC Insurance Premiums – Public Transit

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities request the provincial government to add public transit system ICBC insurance premiums to the cost of private vehicle insurance in those areas that are serviced by public transit, and that no ICBC insurance premiums be applicable to public transit system buses.

Year: 2003 Category: Finance Status: Endorsed Resolution: Flood Hazard Management

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities express its concerns about the potential impact of the proposed flood hazard management model on local government resources and that if responsibilities for flood hazard management are transferred to local government, the province must provide ongoing financial assistance to local government to support these responsibilities.

Year: 2003 Category: Assessment/Taxation Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Strata VS. Fee Simple Residential Tax Rates

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities in conjunction with the province of British Columbia undertake a comprehensive study, including feasibility and potential impact to changes in the assessment regulations to allow a local government to set a variety of tax rates within the same classification.

Year: 2003 Category: Environment Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Dry Cell Battery Recycling

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities urge the Provincial Government to include dry cell batteries in the list of accepted materials in the Product Care Program.

Year: 2003 Category: Transportation Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Maintenance of Highway Boulevards

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities request that the provincial government resume maintenance of highway boulevards until consultation with local government takes place.

Year: 2003 Category: Land Use Status: NOT Endorsed by AVICC AVICC 2003 Resolutions Resolution: Private Marine Ways

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities request that the Provincial Government amend legislation in order to provide local governments with the authority to permit or deny the construction of private marine ways on a case by case basis.

Year: 2003 Category: Economic Development Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Provincial Legislation on Aquaculture

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the province also commit to direct consultation with Vancouver Island and coastal communities on this issue:

AND FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the Provincial Government’s mandate of job creation and revitalizing the economy consider all sectors of the economy that rely on coastal resources as well as implications for protection of the natural environment and the need to avoid conflicts with neighbouring uses such as residential settlement on the waterfront and other land uses that are currently recognized by local government Official Community Plans.

Year: 2003 Category: Energy Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Mainland to Vancouver Island Cable Crossing

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities strongly urge the Province of British Columbia to increase the electricity supply to Vancouver Island by installing a new cable crossing from the mainland to Vancouver Island.

Year: 2003 Category: Energy Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Columbia River Downstream Benefits

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities strongly urge the Province of British Columbia to invest the electricity from the Columbia River Downstream Benefits in the British Columbia economy by making that electricity available to British Columbia consumers.

Year: 2003 Category: Energy Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Critical Energy Shortage

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities urge the BC Government and BC Hydro to invest BC power from the Columbia Downstream benefits or another available power source on Vancouver Island, rather than export it to make jobs in the U.S. and we urge BC Hydro to realize the upgrade of the cable crossing to Vancouver Island to provide the necessary power to protect our current business and our quality of life and to attract future investment.

Year: 2003 Category: Elections Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Mail Balloting For Local Government Elections

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities request that the Local Government Act be amended to expand the reasons for which mail balloting can be used to cover registered electors who are absent from other voting opportunities. AVICC 2003 Resolutions

Year: 2003 Category: Elections Status: NOT Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Non-Resident Voter Status For Small Business Owners

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities request the provincial government re-examine the legislation affecting the right of small business property owners either sole proprietorships and/or partnerships in a municipality which have valid local business licenses to participate in the election process on the same basis as non-resident voters.

Year: 2003 Category: Selected Issues Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: BC Ferry Liquor Sales

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities request that the provincial government not introduce or permit the sale of alcohol aboard BC Ferries or at their terminals.

Year: 2003 Category: Selected Issues Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Manned Lighthouses

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that those light stations that have had staff reduced or eliminated be completely re-staffed immediately.

Year: 2003 Category: Selected Issues Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: North Island College Cutbacks

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that North Island College re-establish full service in Alert Bay and other abandoned communities.

Year: 2003 Category: Selected Issues Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Ministry of Human Resources Funding Cuts

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities appeal to the Provincial Government to make every effort to restore programs and services to the Ministry of Human Resources in order for those at risk, whether they be residents or transients, to seek timely, accessible, beneficial and fully funded health and welfare programs.

Year: 2003 Category: Selected Issues Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: School District Funding

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities request that the province examine the budgetary implications of the imposed contract, and provide School Boards with the necessary funds to pay for these educational funding shortfalls.

Year: 2003 Category: Selected Issues Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Liquor Regulations, Sales and Distribution

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that AVICC urge the provincial government to put a moratorium on its proposed changes to liquor regulations, sales and distribution; AVICC 2003 Resolutions

AND FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities ask the provincial government to provide a formal vehicle, perhaps through the appointment of a commissioner, a committee of MLA’s or similar means for public discussion and community input into these issues.

Year: 2003 Category: Late Resolutions Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Compensation For Removal Of Natural Resources

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the UBCM approach the Provincial Government to discuss opportunities for local government sharing of resource revenues.

Year: 2003 Category: Late Resolutions Status: Withdrawn Resolution: Gasoline Tax Increase

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities implore the provincial government to use a cost sharing as opposed to an across the board tax increase.

Year: 2003 Category: Late Resolutions Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Transit Fuel Cost Increase

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities petitions the province of British Columbia to exempt transit services from the 3.5 cents per litre increase in provincial fuel tax.

Year: 2003 Category: Late Resolutions Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Island Agriculture

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the AVICC encourage local governments to review their agriculture policies and regulations taking into account the objectives and recommendations for organizational and strategic approached to agriculture outlined in the IFA paper entitled “Local Government Support for Island Agriculture”:

AND FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that local governments cooperate with the IFA to enhance the viability of the agriculture food industry, locally and Island-wide.

Year: 2003 Category: Late Resolutions Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Removal of Fog Horns and Lights On the Coast

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities respectfully requests that the Canadian Coast Guard immediately discontinue the removal of lights and foghorns on the coast of British Columbia.

Year: 2003 Category: Late Resolutions Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Rights-Of-Way and Rest Area Commercialization

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Minister of Transportation be advised that the actions by the Ministry of Transportation to commercialize the highway corridor are in conflict with many AVICC 2003 Resolutions of the shared objectives of the Vancouver Island Highway Agreement, the Regional District of Nanaimo Growth Strategy, local official community plans and land use bylaws:

AND FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the Minister of Transportation be respectfully requested to immediately suspend the initiative to commercialize highway right-of-ways and rest stops and consult with local governments.

Year: 2003 Category: Late Resolutions Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Devolution of Provincial Highways to Municipalities

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities strongly urge the Provincial government to fully disclose all details of the costs, maintenance, obligations and public liability to each local government being devolved responsibilities for Provincial highways, and further that such disclosure occur prior to final devolution.

Year: 2003 Category: Late Resolutions Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Devolution of Provincial Highways

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that no devolution of the subject highways should occur without first being refurbished to municipal operational standards.

Year: 2003 Category: Late Resolutions Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Invest BC Power in BC

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the AVICC support and work with the “Invest BC Power in BC” Committee to address the power shortage on Vancouver Island.

Year: 2003 Category: Late Resolutions Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Energy Committee

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the AVICC establish a committee to develop a comprehensive energy plan for Vancouver Island that explores a broad range of power generation options including conservation and alternative sources of power such as micro hydro and solar.

Year: 2003 Category: Late Resolutions Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Land and Resource Management Plans

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the government of BC provides the requisite resources to complete Land and Resource Management Plans for the entire province.

Year: 2003 Category: Late Resolutions Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Forest Policy Reform in Communities Interest

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the AVICC endorses forest policy reform that puts communities and forests first, and is based on principles set out in the UBCM 2000 Adjacency Principle and the AVICC’s 2002 resolution submitted by Tahsis;

AND FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that AVICC and UBCM urge all MLA’s to support the draft “Forest Solutions for Sustainable Communities Act” and conduct community hearings to discuss AVICC 2003 Resolutions the merits and implications of alternative forest policy change for communities, workers, and the environment before proceeding with the remaining forest policy legislation.

Year: 2003 Category: Late Resolutions Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: E & N Railway

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that AVICC approve in principle of a not-for-profit foundation to hold the E & N right of way and assets in trust for the people of Vancouver Island, and to work with Vancouver Island Rail who will be responsible for the operation and maintenance of a new sustainable rail service.

The AVICC acknowledges that we are grateful to live, work, and play on the traditional territories of the 
Coast Salish, Nuu-Chah-Nulth and Kwak-Waka’wakw Peoples