2021 R05 – Consultation by Ministry Prior to Undertaking Works on Highways

Whereas the BC government has ownership of and jurisdiction over arterial provincial highways that are located in municipalities;

And whereas municipalities have authority under the Community Charter to manage and regulate highways such as streets, roads, lanes, bridges, viaducts, sidewalks and other ways open to public use;

And whereas municipalities require the approval of the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure before regulating or prohibiting traffic on arterial provincial highways;

And whereas municipalities experience economic, ecological and logistical impacts whenever the Ministry of Transportation undertakes works on any arterial provincial highway that intersects with any municipal ways open to the public:

Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the Province to require the Ministry of Transportation, when working on arterial provincial highways, conduct meaningful consultation with local governments and residents of all municipalities located within the highway corridor throughout the planning stages of the project and before the work has commenced.