Download the 2019 Resolutions Disposition Summary

Download the 2019 Annual Report and Resolutions Package

The 2019 Late Resolutions Report is also available to download.

Download the 2018 Resolutions Disposition Summary.

Download the 2018 Annual Report and Resolutions Package (formerly called the Supplementary Materials Package).

The 2018 Late Resolutions Report is also available to download.

Download the 2017 Resolutions Dispositions Summary.

Download the 2017 Delegate Supplementary Materials Package which includes the Resolutions Committee Comments and the Resolutions Committee’s recommendations.

The 2017 Late Resolutions Report is also available to download.

Download the 2016 Resolutions Disposition Summary. The Minutes of the AGM and Convention will be distributed electronically to members in late June and will be posted under Resources – AGM & Convention Minutes as soon as they are available

Download the 2016 Delegate Supplementary Materials Package  which includes the Resolutions Committee Comments and the Resolutions Committee’s recommendations.  The 2016 Late Resolutions Report is also available to download.

The Resolutions to be considered at the upcoming AGM & Convention are published in the AVICC Annual Report and Resolutions Book which is distributed electronically to members in late March each year and posted under Resources – Annual Reports.

Download the 2015 Resolutions Disposition Summary. The Minutes of the AGM and Convention will be distributed electronically to members in late June and will be posted under Resources – AGM & Convention Minutes as soon as they are available

Download the 2015 Delegate Supplementary Materials Package  which includes the Resolutions Committee Comments and the Resolutions Committee’s recommendations.  The 2015 Late Resolutions Report is also available to download.

The Resolutions to be considered at the upcoming AGM & Convention are published in the AVICC Annual Report and Resolutions Book which is distributed electronically to members in late March each year and posted under Resources – Annual Reports.

Download the 2014 Resolution Disposition Summary.  The Minutes of the AGM and Convention will be distributed electronically to members and are posted under 2014 AGM & Convention Minutes.

Download the 2014 Supplementary Materials Package – 2014  which includes the Resolutions Committee Comments, the Resolutions Committee’s recommendations and the late resolution report.

The Resolutions to be considered at the upcoming AGM & Convention are published in the AVICC Annual Report and Resolutions Book which is distributed electronically to members in late March each year and posted under Resources – Annual Reports.

Download the 2013 Resolution Disposition Summary [PDF].  The Minutes of the AGM and Convention will be distributed electronically to members and posted on the website here.

Download the 2013 Supplementary Materials Package [PDF] which includes the UBCM Comments, the Resolutions Committee’s recommendations and the late resolutions report.

The Resolutions to be considered at the AGM & Convention are published in the 2013 AVICC Annual Report and Resolutions Book [PDF].

All endorsed resolutions were forwarded to UBCM for consideration at the fall 2012 UBCM Convention.

UBCM determined that three of the resolutions endorsed at the AVICC Convention were regional in nature and therefore would not come forward to the UBCM’s fall Convention.  In taking action, AVICC communicated the resolutions to the appropriate government ministries.

The following responses were received:

• Bamfield Road Safety Issues (Sponsor:  Alberni Clayoquot RD) – Response Bamfield Road Resolution
• British Columbia Transit Act (Sponsor:  View Royal) Response BC Transit Resolution
• Support for Catalyst Paper (Sponsors:  Alberni Clayoquot RD and Port Alberni) Response Catalyst Paper Resolution

For Province responses to all the UBCM endorsed resolutions, go to 2012 UBCM Responses [PDF].

PART 1 – REFERRED RESOLUTIONS

RR1        EQUITY IN FUNDING FOR MUNICIPAL POLICE SERVICES – Victoria

WHEREAS municipalities in British Columbia who choose to establish their own municipal forces pay 100% of the costs of policing;

AND WHEREAS municipalities in British Columbia who obtain policing services from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) through agreements between the federal and provincial governments pay either 70% (for municipalities with a population of between 5,000 and 15,000) or 90% (for municipalities with a population in excess of 15,000) of the total expenditures for policing, excluding overtime:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM work with the Province of British Columbia to change the process for funding municipal police services so that municipalities with their own police forces receive the same subsidies as those who contract with the RCMP.

On motion, duly moved and seconded, that resolution be amended to add “to increase provincial funding for municipal police services” was endorsed.  The motion, as amended, then read:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM work with the Province of British Columbia to change the process for funding municipal police services to increase provincial funding for municipal police services so that municipalities with their own police forces receive the same subsidies as those who contract with the RCMP.

ON MOTION, as amended, was ENDORSED

RR2        STORMWATER MANAGEMENT IN ELECTORAL AREAS – Comox Valley RD                 

WHEREAS there are numerous and significant problems with drainage and stormwater management throughout the electoral areas;

AND WHEREAS the authority for managing stormwater and drainage in electoral areas is the primary responsibility of the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure as well as the development of legislation, policies and programs, and for providing resources to plan, construct and maintain drainage systems and enforce drainage standards:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM urge the Province of BC, through the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure to improve their approach for the effective management of stormwater and drainage in electoral areas within the province of BC.

 ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

 RR3        HYDRO SMART METERS – Gibsons

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities request the provincial government to monitor the effects of the installation of Hydro smart meters and to assess the impacts on public health.

WITHDRAWN BY SPONSOR

PART 2 – RESOLUTIONS RECEIVED BY THE DEADLINE

Part 2 – Section “A”

R1            DECLARED NUISANCES – Cowichan Valley RD

WHEREAS there is no legislation in place that allows regional districts to take measures to address ‘declared nuisances’;

AND WHEREAS many residents have expressed grave concerns regarding impacts from odours that are produced from composting facilities in the Cowichan Valley Regional District:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province of British Columbia be requested to introduce legislation that would allow a regional district to take measures to address ‘declared nuisances’.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

R2            REDUCTIONS TO COAST GUARD MARINE RADIO/TRAFFIC  CONTROL CENTRES – Gold River, Sayward, Strathcona RD

WHEREAS the Canadian Coast Guard has announced its intention to reduce the number of Canadian Coast Guard Marine Communication and Traffic Services (MCTS) Officers on watch at five strategically located centres in British Columbia, three of which are on Vancouver Island, possibly posing a serious threat to the safety of coastal communities, boaters, fishers, mariners, aviators and the environment;

AND WHEREAS the lives of many residents and visitors in these communities could be put at risk by the reduction of officers at MCTS centres:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities petition the federal government to maintain the current levels of staff on watch year round at all five MCTS centres on our coast.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

R3            DECRIMINALIZATION OF MARIJUANA – Metchosin

WHEREAS marijuana prohibition is a failed policy which has cost millions of dollars in police, court, jail and social costs;

AND WHEREAS the decriminalization and regulation of marijuana would provide tax revenues:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities lobby the appropriate government to decriminalize marijuana and research the regulation and taxation of marijuana.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

R4            BAMFIELD ROAD SAFETY ISSUES
 – Alberni‐Clayoquot RD

WHEREAS the Bamfield Road is the only road access to and from the communities of Bamfield and Huu‐ay‐aht First Nation and their livelihoods depend on this road;

AND WHEREAS the condition and safety of the Bamfield Road has been a long‐standing issue for residents, visitors and industrial users of the road:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure be encouraged to work collaboratively with the logging companies, private road owners, Bamfield Road Safety Association, First Nations, local government and other local groups to address safety issues and ensure regular, consistent maintenance of the Bamfield Road.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

R4A        BRITISH COLUMBIA TRANSIT ACT –  View Royal

WHEREAS the British Columbia Transit Act subsection 25 (7) provides specifically the persons who must be appointed as members of the regional transit commission for the greater Victoria metropolitan area and;

WHEREAS the British Columbia Transit Act appointments under subsection 25 (7) results in a disproportionate representation by population on the board.

THEREFORE BE RESOLVED that legislation amending the British Columbia Transit Act subsection 25 (7) to correct the representation on the board to affect representation on the board by population.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

R5            PERMISSIVE TAXATION EXEMPTION  – Parksville

WHEREAS Section 15 (1) of the Health Authorities Act provides an exemption from property taxation if the property is being used for the “purposes” of the Health Authorities Act;

AND WHEREAS the “purposes” of the Health Authorities Act have been broadly determined to include:

• The establishment and maintenance of minimum provincial healthcare standards through provincial government mandate,
• The co-ordination of regional healthcare service planning and delivery (including providing housing for low-income citizens, seniors, and mentally and physically handicapped persons) through regional health authorities, and
• Providing a municipal tax exemption for property owned by regional health authorities that is being used for, or to support, the delivery of regional healthcare services;

AND WHEREAS the Property Assessment Appeal Board and the Supreme Court of British Columbia have determined that privately operated congregate care facilities located on health authority land and privately held doctor offices located in hospitals are exempt from property taxation as those properties were determined to be being used for the “purposes” of the Health Authorities Act;

AND WHEREAS the provincial government has since amended the Health Authorities Act to further require that before an exemption is granted the health authority property is also being used “by or on behalf of the health authority” for the purposes of the Health Authorities Act;

AND WHEREAS this amendment does not take effect to limit existing exemptions until the 2016 taxation year:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities lobby the provincial government to further amend the Health Authorities Act to immediately exclude from property tax exemption any for profit congregate care facilities located on health authority properties.

ON MOTION, to Refer To Resolution R6, was ENDORSED

R6            TAXABLE OCCUPIERS OF HOSPITALS  – View Royal

WHEREAS for profit businesses located within hospital premises who enjoyed benefit from the hospital exempt status in 2010 continue to do so until 2015 as established by the transition provisions described in the Budget Measures Implementation Act, 2011;

AND WHEREAS the for profit businesses at these locations consume the services provided by host municipalities without making a contribution to local government:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities request legislation requiring amendment to the transition provisions created by the Budget Measures Implementation Act, 2011,making land and improvements in the name of hospitals but held or occupied by profit businesses that would ordinarily be taxable occupiers be taxable in the name of the taxable occupiers effective in 2012.

On motion, duly moved and seconded, that resolution be amended to read “provincial government amend the transition provisions from the Budget Measures Implementation Act, 2011, to render taxable any for-profit business located on land or within properties held by a health authority, effective as of 2012” was endorsed.

On motion, duly moved and seconded, that the amended resolution be further amended to add “non-medical, for-profit business”, was not endorsed.

The motion, as originally amended, then read:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government amend the transition provisions from the Budget Measures Implementation Act, 2011, to render taxable any for-profit business located on land or within properties held by a health authority, effective as of 2012.

ON MOTION, as amended, was ENDORSED

R7            CREATION OF PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING SOFTWARE  – Victoria

WHEREAS many municipalities in British Columbia face severe infrastructure deficits and other competing demands for limited tax dollars as they struggle to fill the gaps left by the retreat of senior levels of government;

AND WHEREAS taxpayers are continually asked to bear the burden of capital and operating costs of municipalities:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities create or secure a licence for software that can be used by all British Columbia municipalities in participatory municipal budgeting processes in order to deepen citizens’ understanding of how tax dollars are spent and to seek input on spending priorities.

ON MOTION, was NOT ENDORSED

R8            QUALIFIED ENVIRONMENTAL PROFESSIONALS –  Cowichan Valley RD

WHEREAS the provincial government implemented the Riparian Areas Regulation to protect fish habitat for future generations, and the implementation of this regulation requires a partnership between the provincial Ministry of Environment, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and local governments to be successful;

AND WHEREAS the provincial Ministry of Environment appears to be lacking the dedicated resources to review the reports forwarded by Qualified Environmental Professionals (QEPs), which is necessary in order to ensure that the standards set under these regulations are adhered to:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial Ministry of Environment take immediate steps to provide the necessary staff resources to review the reports forwarded by QEP’s so that the provincial Riparian Areas Regulation fully achieves its goal of protecting our fish habitat.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

R9            EXTERIOR FULL CUT-OFF LIGHTING – Sunshine Coast RD

WHEREAS full cut-off lighting reduces light pollution and glare;

AND WHEREAS light pollution may have a negative impact on quality of life, contribute to adverse health effects and pose potentially harmful consequences to the natural environment by disrupting ecosystems:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Building and Safety Standards Branch of the Ministry of Energy and Mines be requested to amend the BC Building Code to allow, facilitate and empower local governments to require exterior full cut-off light fixtures as part of their permitting and inspection process for all new construction and major renovations.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

R10         REMOVAL OF DERELICT & ABANDONED VESSELS FROM COASTAL WATERS – Ladysmith

WHEREAS derelict and abandoned vessels in the waters of coastal British Columbia can pose a threat to the aesthetics, environment, health and safety of coastal communities;

AND WHEREAS the current regulatory regime for the removal of derelict and abandoned vessels from the waters of coastal British Columbia is not serving our communities with effective and timely removal of such vessels:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities call upon the federal and provincial governments to implement a Derelict Vessel Removal Program modelled after the Washington State program, and to designate the Canadian Coast Guard as the receiver of wreck in the case of every abandoned or derelict vessel in the waters of coastal British Columbia.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

R11         TSUNAMI DEBRIS TO HIT WEST COAST IN 2014
  – Alberni‐Clayoquot RD

WHEREAS it is reported that a giant mass of floating debris the size of California has been swept out into the ocean by the Japanese tsunami, and this debris could reach the shores of the West Coast by 2014;

AND WHEREAS coastal communities on the West Coast of Vancouver Island do not have the resources or capacity to deal with a clean‐up of this magnitude:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that coastal communities on Vancouver Island which may be impacted by the tsunami debris from Japan be involved in any federal/provincial planning processes, including representation on the Provincial Tsunami Debris Working Group that has been developed by the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

R12         BLUE CARBON CREDITS  – Comox Valley RD

WHEREAS local governments across British Columbia may prefer to have the opportunity to invest in local projects in order to reach their carbon neutral commitments under the BC Climate Action Charter;

AND WHEREAS blue carbon offsets, which are estuary restoration projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve estuary environments, may offer an excellent opportunity for local carbon neutral investments throughout the province:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities urge the provincial climate action secretariat to enable local governments to invest in blue carbon projects in their communities in order to meet their carbon neutral commitments under the BC Climate Action Charter.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

R13         VANCOUVER ISLAND SPINE TRAIL – AVICC Executive

WHEREAS the Province of British Columbia wishes to enhance tourism and citizen use of our unique wilderness areas, and to provide new trails throughout British Columbia;

AND WHEREAS the Vancouver Island Spine Trail is a proposed non-motorized multi-use wilderness trail the length of Vancouver Island, that links 150 km of existing regional trails into a continuous long-distance route of about 700 km;

AND WHEREAS this trail traverses land over which First Nations, regional districts and municipalities have jurisdiction and the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities is the body representing these regional districts and municipalities:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities endorses in principle the concept of the Vancouver Island Spine Trail.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

R14         REINSTATEMENT OF FARM FUNDING FOR DEER FENCING – Central Saanich

WHEREAS the excessive deer population has a detrimental impact on an already economically challenged farming industry and poses a serious deer management problem;

AND WHEREAS the Province previously allocated funding for farmers through the Environmental Farm Plan for perimeter fencing, but has since withdrawn this avenue of funding:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government be urged to reinstate funding to farms for perimeter deer fencing as part of the Environmental Farm Plan.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

R15         FARM MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS – AVICC Executive

WHEREAS it is important to ensure that information about local farming practices is shared in the farming community;

AND WHEREAS local expertise on soils, crops and land improvements is being lost as farmers and provincial government staff retire:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities request that the Ministry of Agriculture develop agricultural advisory services to promote mentorship programs and peer to peer networking programs that will encourage local farmers to share their expertise with new farmers coming into the industry.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

R16         INCREASED QUOTA LEVELS TO SUPPORT REGIONAL FOOD SELF‐SUFFICIENCY –  Alberni-Clayoquot RD

WHEREAS agricultural producers within the Alberni‐Clayoquot Regional District currently produce between 5‐11% of all food consumed in the region, which is not dissimilar to the rest of Vancouver Island, and partial food self‐sufficiency would require an increase in regional production to 40‐48%;

AND WHEREAS the Natural Products Marketing (BC) Act provides a system to allow individual commodities to promote, control and regulate production, transportation, packing, storage and marketing of natural products in the province:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government be petitioned to amend the Natural Products Marketing (BC) Act and any other piece of pertinent legislation or provincial policy to increase quota and production levels in all agricultural sectors on Vancouver Island to support regional food self‐sufficiency.

WITHDRAWN BY SPONSOR

R17         BC HYDRO RATE INCREASES – Parksville

WHEREAS the BC Auditor General has expressed concerns about BC Hydro accounting methods, particularly the decision to record major expenditures as deferrals, resulting in a reported $2.2 billion dollar debt;

AND WHEREAS this may result in significantly increased hydro rates to cover deferred amounts, negatively affecting hydro customers on Vancouver Island and across the province:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities request that the Union of BC Municipalities and its local government members request the provincial government establish limits on hydro rate increases in order to ensure electrical power remains affordable for citizens and local governments across British Columbia.

ON MOTION, was NOT ENDORSED

Part 2 – Section “B”

A motion, duly moved and seconded, that all the recommendations of the Resolutions Committee for Part 2, Section “B” Resolutions be adopted, was endorsed.

R18         DEVELOPMENT COST CHARGES FOR FIRE SUPPRESSION  –  Sunshine Coast RD

WHEREAS development can result in capital funding burdens for local governments for purposes other than sewage, water, drainage, highway facilities and parkland;

AND WHEREAS a number of resolutions have been previously endorsed by UBCM members requesting that the use of development cost charges be expanded to include costs related to increased demand on protective, cultural and recreation services:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development be urged to reconsider their position and amend section 933 of the Local Government Act to allow development cost charges to be imposed to assist local governments in funding the capital costs of fire halls and fire suppression equipment and other purposes deemed appropriate by the local government that are required as a result of increased development.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

R19         GENERATING SUSTAINABLE FUNDING FOR RURAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS – Cowichan Valley RD

WHEREAS regional district fire departments provide essential lifesaving and emergency response services to communities throughout British Columbia;

AND WHEREAS the funding of essential capital infrastructure and equipment such as fire halls and emergency vehicles is very challenging for small fire departments and communities:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province of British Columbia work with the Union of BC Municipalities to identify mechanisms and strategies to assist in generating sustainable funding for rural fire departments.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

R20         FUNDING FOR BC CONSERVATION SERVICE –  Sunshine Coast RD

WHEREAS underfunding is having a negative impact on the ability of the BC Conservation Officer Service to meet the needs of the communities served;

AND WHEREAS the ability to respond to environmental concerns is hampered by the lack of human and financial resources:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Ministry of Environment be urged to provide appropriate budgets and staffing to fully support the continued and sustained operation of the conservation service.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

R21         SCHOOL BASED YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES – Colwood

WHEREAS youth mental health services need to be conveniently located for vulnerable youth and their families;

AND WHEREAS the number of youth who are supported by youth agreements increased by more than 152% between 2007 and 2010, demonstrating the increasing numbers of youth for whom school may be the most consistent point of accessible community contact:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province support integrated services and work with school districts and local governments to provide and evaluate youth mental health services in a school setting.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

R22         HOUSING FOR ADULTS WITH DEVELOPMENT DISABILITIES – Duncan, Nanaimo City, Gold River

WHEREAS:

1. The provincial government is cutting funding and supports for adults with developmental disabilities, resulting in the closure of group homes and mounting waiting lists for services;
2. These group homes form a vital and necessary part of the housing continuum that has won broad support from members of the public at large, families of adults with developmental disabilities and the communities in which they are located;
3. We support the creation of new supportive housing options to provide appropriate options for parents and their adult children with developmental disabilities; and
4. The BC Community Living Action Group, which represents more than 65 affected agencies and organizations, thousands of families, and adults with developmental disabilities, has called for an end to service cuts and closure of group homes:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities urge the provincial government to end funding cuts, implement a moratorium on the closure of group homes and provide sufficient financial resources both to maintain this vital housing resource and address growing waiting lists.

 ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

 RESOLUTION OFF THE FLOOR

OF1        SUPPORT FOR CATALYST PAPER – Port Alberni, Alberni Clayoquot RD 

WHEREAS Catalyst Paper has mills in three Vancouver Island and Sunshine Coast municipalities which create thousands of jobs and a strong economic base in the Region which has a $2 billion overall impact on the B.C. Economy;

WHEREAS Catalyst Paper is currently in bankruptcy protection and its future is uncertain;

WHEREAS on April 23^rd, 2012 decisions will be made by the bond holders of Catalyst regarding restructuring or sale of the company; and

WHEREAS Catalyst Paper’s CEO, Kevin Clarke, has made several requests to Federal and Provincial Ministries for assistance that would help them to survive;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the AVICC requests that the Province with support as required from the Government of Canada take action to assist Catalyst Paper’s survival in the following ways:

1. Make available $30 million over five years to support new hiring and high-tech training programs at Catalyst Mills.
   Provide certainty in BC Hydro rates and take action to eliminate financial risks to Catalyst due to a switch from HST to PST on electrical purchases.
2. Release Catalyst HST credits of approximately $5million per month which are currently frozen under the CCAA process and in the interim the Province “backstop” these funds with approximately $30 million until released by the Government of Canada.
3. Provide pension regulation modifications allowing Catalyst’s pension plan members an option of surrender of their lifetime pensions in exchange for a lump sum transfer from the plan in the approximate present value of their pension.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

AVICC RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE REPORT ON RESOLUTIONS RECEIVED AFTER THE DEADLINE

A.             LATE RESOLUTIONS:  ADMIT FOR PLENARY DEBATE

LR5   SUPPORT TO RETAIN SECTION 35(1) HABITAT PROTECTION PROVISIONS OF CANADA FISHERIES ACT (Qualicum Beach)

B.             LATE RESOLUTIONS:  NOT APPROPRIATE FOR DEBATE

LR1  DISPOSAL OF GYPSUM CONTAINING ASBESTOS (Sunshine Coast RD)

LR2  FUNDING FOR AIRSTRIPS IN SMALL COMMUNITIES (Alert Bay)

LR3  OIL TANKER TRAFFIC IN COASTAL WATERS (Metchosin)

LR4  PROVINCIAL FUNDING FOR RURAL CYCLNG INFRASTRUCTURE (Metchosin)

LR5    SUPPORT TO RETAIN SECTION 35(A) HABITAT PROTECTION PROVISIONS OF THE CANADA FISHERIES ACT – Qualicum Beach

WHEREAS habitat is the life support of any species;

AND WHEREAS the alteration or destruction of habitat is a common cause of the decline of many species, including fish;

AND WHEREAS the protection of habitat is the most effective means of preventing species decline;

AND WHEREAS the current Section 35(1) provisions were developed to provide a science-based approach to the protection of fish whereby qualified professionals can successfully argue against deleterious impacts;

AND WHEREAS the current Section 35(1) provisions form the basis of most other legislation to protect aquatic ecosystems, including local government provisions such as Riparian Areas Protection regulations, and represent the only tool left to help local governments carry out environmental protection in light of the progressive withdrawal of federal government (including DFO) involvement in habitat assessment, planning, monitoring and enforcement;

AND WHEREAS the current Section 35(1) provisions effectively protect a host of environmental goods and services other than fish for Canadians;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities support the retention of Section 35(1) Habitat Protection provisions of the Canada Fisheries Act.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

LR3   OIL TANKER TRAFFIC IN COASTAL WATERS – Metchosin

WHEREAS a crude oil spill could have devastating and long lasting effects on British Columbia’s unique and diverse coast, which provides critical marine habitat and marine resources that sustain the social, cultural, environmental and economic wealth of coastal communities, including First Nations communities:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities oppose projects furthering the expansion of tanker traffic through coastal waters without additional safeguards in place.

 A motion, duly moved and seconded, that the resolution be amended to remove “without additional safeguards in place” was ruled to be not in order by the Chair as it was considered to be a different resolution than provided by in the context of the original resolution.

A motion, duly moved and seconded, that the resolution be amended to replace “additional safeguards” with “substantive increases of safeguards” was endorsed.

The resolution then read:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities oppose projects furthering the expansion of tanker traffic through coastal waters without substantive increases of safeguards in place.

 ON MOTION, as amended, was ENDORSED

B.             LATE RESOLUTIONS:  NOT APPROPRIATE FOR DEBATE

LR1  DISPOSAL OF GYPSUM CONTAINING ASBESTOS (Sunshine Coast RD)

LR2  FUNDING FOR AIRSTRIPS IN SMALL COMMUNITIES (Alert Bay)

LR4   PROVINCIAL FUNDING FOR RURAL CYCLNG INFRASTRUCTURE (Metchosin)

 ON MOTION, as amended, was ADOPTED

All endorsed resolutions have been conveyed to the relevant provincial and federal government department, or other organizations as appropriate. Most responses have now been received and are printed below.  Sponsors will be notified of outstanding responses as they are received, and responses will be posted on www.ubcm.ca.

SECTION A – Contains resolutions that pertain to new policy matters not previously discussed by the membership and/or priority issues that have broad application for all UBCM members.

A4            ENHANCED SENIORS’ CARE OUTREACH & PREVENTATIVE HEALTH PROGRAMS       Victoria

B5            LOCAL GOVERNMENT EMERGENCY RESPONSE COSTS          Sooke

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM call on the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia and other agencies or provincial ministries as needed, with regard to facilitating the reimbursement process for volunteer and career fire rescue services across British Columbia in a timely manner.

Convention Decision:  Endorsed

Provincial Response:  Ministry of Environment

There are approximately 3,500 hazardous material incidents reported across British Columbia each year.

The BC Ministry of Environment is the lead provincial ministry responsible for provincial preparedness and response management for spills of oils and hazardous materials.

Fire Departments are able to recover reasonable costs when responding to a hazardous materials incident outside of their local government responsibility when they are under the direction of a Ministry of Environment Environmental Emergency Response Officer.

Please contact the Environmental Emergency Program at 250 387-9955 for a guidance document that provides further clarification.

Local governments are strongly encouraged to develop their own cost recovery bylaw(s) to enable them to directly recover the costs they incur from the responsible party.

The Ministry of Environment is currently reviewing industry response capability and capacity requirements which may lead to additional requirements for industry to ensure they are able to manage and respond to their incidents (this may help reduce local government response costs).

Other Response:  ICBC

With respect to resolution B5 – Local Government Emergency Response Costs, ICBC collects premiums for expected claims based on what our customers are legally liable to pay, should they be responsible for a crash. To the extent that the premium for Optional insurance considers fire department charges, the premium accounts for situations in which our customers are travelling in jurisdictions where there is a legal obligation to pay for fire department charges.

As there is no legal obligation for motorists to pay for fire department charges within BC, ICBC does not collect premiums, either through Basic or Optional insurance, to cover these charges. If the legislation were changed to make BC motorists responsible for fire department charges under Basic insurance, ICBC may require an increase to the Basic insurance rate. Basic insurance rates are regulated by the British Columbia Utilities Commission and any change requires their approval.

ICBC contributes to municipalities and municipal services through annual grants in lieu of taxes. Thirty-one cities, districts, and municipalities received approximately $4.3 million in 2010. ICBC also supports communities through its loss prevention and road safety programs, including partnerships involving local road improvements. In 2010, ICBC invested approximately $46 million in road safety.

B14         PROVISION & FUNDING OF VICTIM SERVICES  Comox Valley RD

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM urge the Province of BC, through the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General to assume all responsibility for the provision and funding of victim services within the province of BC.

Convention Decision:  Endorsed

Provincial Response:  Ministry of Public Safety & Solicitor General

The Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General has a funding formula in place to distribute available funding dollars for victim service programs throughout the province. The formula is based on population and police strength and was updated in fiscal 08/09 which resulted in an average funding increase of 22% per program.

Police-based victim service programs are cost shared with local governments in communities that contribute to their policing costs. This cost-sharing approach recognizes the critical role that police-based victim service programs play in police and community response to crime and trauma, particularly around crisis response services.

The Province provides over $70 million annually in funding for service to support victims of crime including $12.494 million for victim service programs, $16.448 million for violence against women programs, $12.343 for the Crime Victim Assistance Program and $32 million for transition house services.

B19         BIKE LANE SWEEPING                   Sunshine Coast RD

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM urge the Ministry of Transportation & Infrastructure to amend road maintenance contracts to increase the frequency of bike lane and highway shoulder sweeping.

Convention Decision:  Endorsed

Provincial Response:  Ministry of Transportation & Infrastructure

The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (Ministry), through its maintenance contractors, provides many maintenance services that benefit cyclists (e.g., shoulder sweeping, debris removal, line painting, pavement maintenance etc.). Ministry staff regularly meet with the maintenance contractor to discuss the needs of all road users, including cyclists.

The sweeping of highway shoulders is provided as part of the Ministry’s maintenance contracts. Highway conditions are monitored and sweeping is completed each spring, and when debris accumulates and creates a safety concern for highway users. In areas of higher cycling traffic, the Ministry and the maintenance contractor will evaluate the amount of sweeping occurring to determine if the frequency of sweeping is appropriate for the amount of cycling traffic on that road.

The Ministry will consider the benefits and extra cost of additional sweeping and will work with communities across the province to identify areas for consideration of additional service.

B20         OFF ROAD VEHICLE (ORV) LICENSING & SAFETY           Powell River RD

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM urge the Province of British Columbia to enact ATV licencing legislation as soon as possible in 2011.

Convention Decision:  Endorsed

Provincial Response:  Ministry of Forests, Lands & Natural Resource Operations

In November 2009, government announced that the Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) Management Framework would be implemented by regulatory changes in approximately two years. In June 2010, government formally established an ORV Joint Advisory Group with twenty provincial stakeholder associations, including UBCM, to ensure the successful implementation of the new ORV laws. A presentation by ministry staff on the ORV framework was well received by regional districts at the annual meeting of the electoral area directors.

In September 2010, UBCM formed an ORV local government working group comprising municipalities and regional districts from across the province. Collaboration between the working group and ministry staff has been highly successful.

New ORV laws are being rolled out in phases, starting in November 2011 with safer highway crossings. Full implementation is expected by fall 2012. This timeframe allows for necessary legislative improvements to modernize ORV legislation and address key issues raised by stakeholders, including better enforcement.

B24         VARYING TAX RATES    Lake Cowichan

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province amend Section 197 of the Community Charter to allow municipalities to have the flexibility of levying separate tax rates for each of land and improvements for each property class.

Convention Decision:  Endorsed

Provincial Response:  Ministry of Community Development

While the variable tax rate system does not currently allow municipalities to set differing property tax rates for Land and Improvements, there are other mechanisms available through the Community Charter and Regulations.  Section 216 of the Community Charter, Local Service Taxes, allows costs to be recovered through taxes imposed on land, on improvements, or on both.

Municipalities may also use tools such as the revitalization tax exemption provisions found in section 226 of the Community Charter, or assessment averaging and phasing as described in the Assessment Averaging and Phasing Regulation, B.C. Reg. 370/2003, to encourage property owners to make significant improvements to their property.

B25         UNIVERSITY PROPERTY TAX PAYMENTS            Port Alberni

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM urge the Province to address the issue of university grants-in-lieu of taxes by amending section 27(2)(w) of the University Act to specify that a university must pay to a municipality a grant equal to general municipal taxes.

Convention Decision:  Endorsed

Provincial Response:  Ministry of Finance

The Minister of Finance agreed to consider this resolution during the preparation of Budget 2012.

B27         PUBLIC LIBRARY FUNDING          Nanaimo City

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM request that the provincial government restore funding for BC libraries and reading centres to the levels that were achieved as part of the strategic plan prior to 2009.

Convention Decision:  Endorsed as Amended

Provincial Response:  Ministry of Education

Funding for the public library sector is maintained at $14 million for 2011. This is 60 percent more funding than in 2001. The Province has protected core operating grants despite the global economic downturn, and is working to enhance shared infrastructure.

Five years ago, the Province invested $12 million to implement the public library strategic plan Libraries Without Walls. Flowing from this plan, the Province and public libraries have launched several province-wide initiatives that have generated substantial economies of scale, enhanced the stability of libraries and improved organizational infrastructure. The powerful synergies of these partnerships and shared strategic priorities are netting tremendous benefits and laying the groundwork for future investment. As a result, libraries are in a much stronger position today, offering more services and dynamic collections than ever before.

Given today’s fiscal realities, the Province cannot invest in “business as usual.” Instead, the Province must explore all opportunities to maximize investment in strategic partnerships, leveraging existing capacities for greater shared benefits. For maximum effectiveness, therefore, provincial funding is targeted to collaborative literacy and technology equity initiatives aimed at improving services, reducing costs and increasing access.

B40         GLASS SPONGE REEF PROTECTION   Sunshine Coast RD

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM urge Fisheries & Oceans Canada to also designate the glass sponge reefs in the Southern Strait of Georgia (specifically McCall Bank, Howe Sound, Fraser Ridge, Active Pass, Nanaimo, Coulee Bank and Parksville) as “areas of interest” for protection.

Convention Decision:  Endorsed

Federal Response:  Environment Canada

Although the protection of sponge reefs is the responsibility of Fisheries & Oceans Canada, it may interest you to know that my department is working toward the designation of a marine national wildlife area to protect seabirds and their marine environment around the Scott Islands off northern Vancouver Island. This work is being done in collaboration with Fisheries & Oceans Canada and other federal departments, as a marine national wildlife area designated under the Canada Wildlife Act has the ability to protect all species and habitat within that site. At this time, the proposed boundary for this protected area includes marine habitat recognized as sensitive by Environment Canada and Fisheries & Oceans Canada.

The sponge reefs discovered in a number of areas within the Strait of Georgia region have international significance and ties to the more extensive hexactinellid “glass” sponge reefs found a number of years ago in the Hecate Strait region of British Columbia’s central and northern Pacific coast. Fisheries & Oceans Canada has already designated the northern sponge reefs as “areas of interest” and is considering their potential for establishment as marine protected areas.

With regard to the sponge reef area in Active Pass, Parks Canada can certainly give it consideration, as it will likely fall inside the proposed boundaries of the future Southern Strait of Georgia National Marine Conservation Area Reserve.

This action will need to be co-ordinated with Fisheries & Oceans Canada’s Pacific region offices and the Pacific Geological Survey offices of Natural Resources Canada, which are collaborating to complete the bathymetric survey work (seabed mapping) that led to the identification of the rare sponge reefs.

B41         ENDANGERED SPECIES & ECOSYSTEMS PROTECTION ACT North Saanich

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM petition the Province to enact an effective Species & Ecosystem Protection Act to protect British Columbia’s biodiversity.

Convention Decision:  Endorsed

Provincial Response:  Ministry of Environment

In June 2010, the provincial government fulfilled a commitment made in the August 2009 throne speech by striking a provincial Species at Risk Task Force. The Task Force was charged with providing recommendations to the Government to help it update its vision for the conservation of species and ecosystems at risk and ensure British Columbia remains a leader in environmental sustainability.

The report of the Species at Risk Task Force was released on July 4th, 2011. The report makes 16 recommendations addressing legislation, environmental management, First Nations engagement and public engagement.

Among the recommendations regarding public engagement are several actions specific to local governments, including establishing a link with municipalities by coordinating the recommendations of the Task Force with the strategies proposed by the Local Government Species at Risk Working Group. This group, led by the Ministry of Environment, brings together representatives from provincial, municipal, and regional governments to discuss approaches to protecting species at risk on local government and private lands in BC.

The Province is currently studying the report in detail and will be delivering a formal response over the next few months. The public had the opportunity to provide submissions on the Report of the British Columbia Task Force on Species at Risk through the Ministry of Environment website. As government formulates its plan, all feedback received will be valued and the implications on all interests will be fully considered.

B42         CONTROL OF CANADA GEESE                 Metchosin

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM work with the provincial and federal governments to manage and control burgeoning populations of Canada geese which, left uncontrolled, present major and significant human health and safety, food production, environmental, recreational, water quality and other impacts; and that UBCM support continued provincial support for the multi-phased approach adopted by the Peninsula Agriculture Commission.

Convention Decision:  Endorsed

Provincial Response:  Ministry of Forests, Lands & Natural Resource Operations

The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations and the Ministry of Environment support efforts to resolve the Canada Goose problem in the Capital Region District as it addresses an important human-wildlife conflict affecting both rural and urban areas throughout BC. Although no direct scientific evidence demonstrates that fecal deposits on parks, golf courses, and other public areas adversely affect human health and water quality, we are aware of local concerns that have been raised on this issue.

We note also that while provincial wildlife agencies were involved in the translocation of Canada Geese to parts of BC for hunting opportunities, this could only be done with the full partnership and cooperation of the federal Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) as their legislation under the Migratory Birds Convention Act supersedes the authority of the provincial Wildlife Act. Therefore any remedies must receive CWS approval and be in line with their legislation and policies. All direct population reduction methods such as kill permits and egg addling come entirely under the purview of federal legislation. The CWS has recently created a revised management handbook, management plan guidance document, and frequently asked questions summary that address the issue.

In partnership with the CWS, hunting is the major tool available to the province for wildlife control. We have attempted to increase hunter harvest where possible by introducing multiple openings, but unfortunately the worst problems areas usually have been closed to hunting under municipal bylaws. This is perhaps something that we could work with the UBCM on as these municipal closures have compounded the problem by providing the conditions for rapid, unchecked population growth.

Nonetheless, we recognize the growing seriousness of the problem, and acknowledge that we must be a part of the solution, so we welcome and commend the efforts of the UBCM and others to help address this complex issue. We are already participating with several partners on this issue for the development of a Regional Canada Goose Management Strategy for the CRD area. Recommendations resulting from this strategy will assist in developing effective management strategies to deal with these conflicts. Our ministries continue to support this project by providing technical advice and support on program materials, and attending meetings and field trips.

Federal Response:  Environment Canada

Environment Canada understands the problems being caused by growing populations of resident Canada Geese. Recently, the Department’s Canadian Wildlife Service updated its policies, strategies and advice to help mitigate the conflict between human activities and this species. This information is posted at:

www.ec.gc.ca/mbc-com/default.asp?lang=En&n=6D2B893B-1

Should you require further information, I invite you to contact Environment Canada’s Manager of Population Conservation for British Columbia, Mr. Saul Schneider, at saul.schneider@ec.gc.ca or 604-940-4727.

B48         AGRICULTURAL LAND COMMISSION     Metchosin

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM express its concern about the ability of the Agricultural Land Commission to achieve its mandate, and that resources to the Agricultural Land Commission be increased such that it is able to effectively carry out its mandate of preserving agricultural land for agriculture.

Convention Decision:  Endorsed

Provincial Response:  Provincial Agricultural Land Commission

At the request of the Minister of Agriculture, during the Fall of 2010, the Chair of the Agricultural Land Commission conducted a thorough review of ALC operations, policy, regulation and legislation to ensure the ALC continues to effectively fulfill its mandate to support farm families and enhance the integrity and sustainability of agriculture in British Columbia.

The Chair’s report “Review of the Agricultural Land Commission – Moving Forward: A Strategic Vision of the Agricultural Land Commission for Future Generations” was submitted to the Minister of Agriculture in November 2010.

The Province continues to be committed to the ALR and the protection of agricultural land to support farmers and farm families, and on November 14, 2011, government announced several initiatives aimed at improving the structure and sustainability of the ALC.  Improvements to the ALC have been made in terms of transitional funding that provides the ALC with resources to transition to a more self-supporting operating model by 2013 and to improve information services and mapping.  Legislative changes in place as of November 25, 2011 will discourage repeat applications to exclude agricultural land, enhance the ALC’s enforcement capacity and encourage farming by allowing the ALC to focus on proactive land use planning with local governments rather than reacting to applications.  Further details may be found at:

http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/2011/11/province-strengthens-agricultural-land-commission.html and

http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/2011/11/changes-strengthening-agricultural-land-commission-now-law.html

B50         FORESTRY PRACTICES ON PRIVATE MANAGED FOREST LANDS         Cowichan Valley RD

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM petition the Province of BC to revise the Private Managed Forest Land Act and appurtenant regulations to approve forestry practices on private managed forest lands to a standard equivalent or better than Crown forest land regulations, thereby better protecting community interests.

Convention Decision:  Endorsed

Provincial Response:  Ministry of Forests, Lands & Natural Resource Operations

In British Columbia, governance for environmental stewardship on private land is a multi-agency responsibility. The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations is responsible for the Private Managed Forest Land Act that regulates forests practices on private land to ensure protection of key public values such as fish and wildlife habitat, soil conservation, drinking water protection and reforestation. Several other agencies also play a role, including the Ministry of Health, responsible for maintaining safe drinking water under the Drinking Water Protection Act; the Ministry of Environment, responsible for the protection of fish and wildlife under the Wildlife Act, the Fisheries Act and the Environmental Management Act; and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, responsible for fish habitat under the Fisheries Act.

The Private Managed Forest Land Council is responsible for establishing, administering, monitoring and amending regulations, with assistance from ministry staff and Legislative Counsel, relating to forest practices on private managed forest land. The Council is also responsible for monitoring forest practices and outcomes, the results of which help inform them about the effectiveness of regulations.

Based on the monitoring results received to date, government is satisfied that current standards are ensuring that the objectives for key environmental values as set out in the Private Managed Forest Land Act are being met. Government and the Council will continue to monitor results and look for ways to improve practices when necessary.

B51         FUNDING FOR VISITOR CENTRES            North Saanich

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM petition the Province to increase the level of funding for the improvement and operation of effective visitor centres.

Convention Decision:  Endorsed

Provincial Response:  Ministry of Jobs, Tourism & Innovation

The provincial government recognizes the importance of Visitor Centres in encouraging visitors to stay longer, spend more money and return to our province.

The overall budget for the Visitor Centre Network program in 2011 is $2.2 M which includes membership benefits such as access to trademarks, highway signage, training and materials, staff uniforms, online stats database and educational SharePoint site, as well as the fee for service. In addition, a Network conference is offered annually.

Of the $2.2 M, the annual fee for service has increased by 70% from 2001 to 2011 (less than $1 million in 2001 to nearly $1.7 million today) and is provided to recognize regional and provincial servicing.

It is up to a community to decide whether to operate a visitor centre, and the ministry does not provide those centres with operational or capital funding.

B59         RESTORE FUNDING TO HOSPITALS      Sechelt

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government be urged to properly fund construction, resourcing, equipping and staffing of hospitals in this province.

Convention Decision:  Endorsed

Provincial Response:  Ministry of Health

Since 2001, government has invested almost $7 billion in capital improvements to expand, modernize and upgrade hospitals and health-care facilities right across B.C.

Over the next three years, British Columbia’s health care system will benefit from investments such as new medical equipment and modernized health facilities as part of a $1.9-billion health sector capital plan.

To support health authorities in using health care dollars most efficiently and with maximum flexibility, the province implemented a multi-year capital budgeting system and a capital policy framework that encourages more innovative solutions to meeting capital needs (e.g., public private partnerships; residential care service agreements).

As there is not an unlimited supply of capital funding, health authorities and the Ministry must prioritize capital requests to ensure funds are directed to the facilities with the greatest need.

While all health facilities regularly require replacement of medical equipment, no health facility in British Columbia goes unequipped.

Ministry of Health funding to health authorities for the 2011/12 fiscal year will rise to over $9.6 billion – an increase of $4.0 billion since 2001. Health authorities continue to spend approximately 60 percent of their total annual expenditures in the acute care sector.

The Ministry continues to provide record levels of funding to the health care system, and by 2013/14 the health budget will have increased by more than 100 per cent since 2000/01. Total ministry spending will rise to a record $15.7 billion in 2011/12 compared to $8.3 billion in 2000/01. Total ministry spending is expected to rise to $16.8 billion by 2013/14– up $8.5 billion or an increase of more than 100 per cent since 2000/01. Even in tough economic times, we have honoured our commitment to protect health care with an additional $1.1 billion over the next two years.

B62         AUTISM PROGRAMS & FUNDING               Sidney

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government be encouraged to:

• Reinstate and fully fund early intensive therapy autism programs for all identified children whose parents request it;
• Increase funding for universal early screening and identification of infants and toddlers who are at risk for autism, and initiate very early intervention programs that teach parents to interact with and facilitate their child’s development as soon as they are diagnosed;
• Increase educational funds that are targeted at supporting teachers to educate students with autism and other developmental disabilities, using the principles of Universal Design for Learning, positive behavior support, and other evidence based educational strategies; and
• Increase funding for post-secondary vocational supports aimed at creating customized, community-based employment opportunities for all individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.

Convention Decision:  Endorsed

Provincial Response:  Ministry of Health

The British Columbia Autism Assessment Network (BCAAN) provides diagnostic and assessment services to children eighteen years and under. BCAAN has standards and guidelines to ensure consistent care across the province. Additionally, a systemic tracking of autism assessments and referrals has been developed by BCAAN.

The Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) historically provided funding for approximately 1,100 assessments conducted throughout the province annually. Eligible referrals have risen steadily from approximately 400 in 2002/03 to 1,900 in 2010/11.

In 2011/12, PHSA increased the annual BCAAN operating budget by $1.296 million, to $4.696 million to fund 480 additional assessments per year for a total of 1,580. In July 2011, a new system developed by BCAAN for tracking of autism assessments and referrals was implemented. The system will improve effective streamlining of all referrals and shorten the wait time for assessment.

Ministry of Children and Family Development

British Columbia is a national leader in autism supports and services for children and youth. The Province is investing more than $165 million in services for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Specifically, the budget for autism intervention and funding programs is more than ten times the 2001 budget of $4.1 million, totaling more than $42 million in 2011/2012.

For intervention services to children under 6 the province has shifted from contracted Early Intensive Behaviour Intervention programs, which were serving less than 10% of eligible children, in favour of a more equitable service model. As a result, rates were increased from $20,000 to $22,000 for over 900 families to access early autism intervention services across British Columbia. The Province has committed a minimum of $1 million annually toward the creation of a new Provincial Outreach Program(s) for young children with ASD. The program’s goal is to improve access to high-quality, community-based intervention services and supports and enhance local opportunities for education, support, and training especially in rural and remote communities.

British Columbia is the only province in Canada that has a no waitlist policy for families to access autism funding once their child or youth has received a diagnosis of ASD.

The Province partners with the British Columbia Autism Assessment Network (BCAAN) to provide diagnostic and assessment services to children eighteen years and under.

Unique student supplementary funding to boards of education and independent schools for students identified with ASD was increased to $18,300 from $16,000 in 2010, a 14 percent increase. The per pupil allotment for all students, including students with ASD also increased from $5,851 to $6,740. This resulted in an overall increase for a student with ASD from $21,851 to $25,040.

The Province recommends the use of the Universal Design, positive behaviour support and other evidence-based interventions by school districts.

The Province is committed to supporting people with developmental disabilities to achieve their employment goals. In 2008, the province provided $1.1 million annually for three years for the Customized Employment Demonstration Project in which eight community-based service providers delivered customized employment services that assisted people with developmental disabilities to find and keep employment that is uniquely tailored to their individual needs.

The learning and best practices coming out of the Customized Employment Demonstration Project have subsequently expanded out to other service providers, who are now offering these services to a broader client group, including people with developmental disabilities and autism. The services are now offered through eleven community-based service providers managed by the ministry and funded by the Canada-BC Labour Market Agreement and the ministry’s province-wide Employment Program for Persons with Disabilities.  These services will continue to be offered until the new Employment Program of BC begins in April 2012.

B67         PROVINCIAL HOUSING TRUST FUNDS North Saanich

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM petition the Province to create Regional Housing Trust Funds from Property Transfer Tax revenues to provide subsidized, supportive and affordable housing for communities where affordable housing is not accessible for those with low incomes such as seniors, single parent families and people with disabilities;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the funds levied for this purpose be kept within the regions they are levied from and disbursement be contingent on financial or in-kind local contributions.

Convention Decision:  Endorsed

Provincial Response:  Ministry of Finance

The Province currently provides funding to local governments through a variety of sources and programs (e.g. Traffic Fine Revenue Sharing, Towns for Tomorrow, Building Canada Fund, unconditional Small Community and Regional District Basic Grants).

Any proposed transfer of tax revenue to local governments must be evaluated in the context of the province’s need to fund essential services.

Generally, tax revenues are dedicated to fund particular programs only in limited circumstances because tax revenues fluctuate in ways that do not necessarily match changes in the funding needs of programs. Dedicated taxes also constrain the government’s ability to adjust spending priorities as circumstances change.

Since 2001, the Province has a strong record of investing in housing, and has built more than 14,000 new affordable housing units and another 4,176 are currently planned or under construction across BC. BC Housing is providing capital and operating costs to develop 32 supportive housing developments on city-owned sites. In addition, the Province has purchased 26 single-room occupancy hotels securing 1,550 rooms for people at risk of being homeless. Twenty-four of those hotels and approximately 1,400 of those rooms are located in Vancouver.

BC Housing works in partnership with municipalities across British Columbia to develop new housing options for individuals who are homeless or at risk. These partnerships entail a variety of municipal and non-profit contributions including free land, reduced or waived development permit fees and property tax exemptions, and expedited approvals processes. Housing trust funds have been established by local governments and regional districts and have been used as effective tools as part of the package of municipal contributions to provide housing for the province’s most vulnerable.  Examples include the housing trust funds established by the Capital Regional District, the City of Surrey and the City of Vancouver.

In 2011/12, BC’s budget for social housing is approximately $521.6 million, more than four times as much as in 2001/02 ($124.5m).

SECTION B2 – Contains resolutions proposing new policy.

B75         HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION COSTS         North Saanich, Sidney

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM petition the Province to amend the Police Act such that the costs of homicide investigations are borne by the Province and not by the municipal tax payers.

Convention Decision:  Endorsed

Provincial Response:  Ministry of Public Safety & Solicitor General

Under the Police Act the Solicitor General requires that an adequate and effective level of policing is maintained to ensure public safety. Municipalities are specifically required to provide policing with a police force of sufficient strength to enforce the laws and maintain law and order. Municipalities are expected to prevent, to respond and solve all crime issues within their communities; this includes homicide investigations.

Policing is dynamic, not static, and from time to time all levels of government incur extraordinary expenditures over and above their established police budgets in order to adequately deal with crimes in their communities. There are extraordinary cases where it is unreasonable to expect municipalities to pay these costs.

In the past, the provincial force has assisted municipalities with major investigations. However, municipal governments still have an obligation to pay a share of the costs in these extraordinary cases that occur within their policing jurisdiction. There are other examples where the RCMP enter into cost sharing arrangements with municipalities on major projects and investigations. In the Lower Mainland, municipalities have integrated specialized units to serve multiple jurisdictions and share the costs across those jurisdictions. The Province recognizes that areas outside of the urban core currently do not have the benefit of specialized integrated teams to provide the level of expertise required by some investigations and the ability to share the costs of these investigations. The Province continues to work with the RCMP on integration initiatives to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of policing.

The Province provides significant funding for initiatives that benefit all municipalities and police agencies, such as DNA analysis and the implementation of PRIME. There are also a number of specialized units that the Province subsidizes or funds directly that would otherwise be paid for by municipalities, such as the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit that combats organized crime.

B86         OUTSTANDING TAXES ON DEFAULTED CROWN LEASES          Port Hardy

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM urge the Province to amend Section 257(6) of the Community Charter so that local governments can collect the outstanding taxes owing;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, should a Crown lessee default upon its local taxes, the Province will compensate the local government for this loss of revenue.

Convention Decision:  Endorsed

Provincial Response:  Ministry of Community, Sport & Cultural Development

The Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development appreciates the difficulties that some municipalities experience when trying to collect unpaid taxes on leased Crown land. While section 257(1) of the Community Charter prohibits the use of tax sale as a remedy, there are other mechanisms available that can be used to recover outstanding taxes. Section 252 of the Community Charter, Recovery of Taxes by the Legal Remedy of Distress, allows for a collector to levy the amount of taxes due by distress. Recovery of taxes by distress can be used to collect on outstanding taxes before they become delinquent which provides a municipality an opportunity to collect before the lease is cancelled by the Province which consequently forces the taxes to be written off under section 257(6).

B89         ILLEGAL DUMPING          Sunshine Coast RD

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Ministry of Environment be requested to make additional financial and human resources available to assist with enforcement, monitoring and clean up of illegal dump sites on Crown land.

Convention Decision:  Endorsed

Provincial Response:  Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Forests, Lands & Natural Resource Operations

Illegal dumping on Crown land is an ongoing problem that will continue to require cooperation and coordination between provincial agencies, municipalities and regional districts. The Ministry of Environment can and does enforce action where illegal dumping results in pollution. The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations is responsible for the management of Crown land assets and will continue to penalize illegal use of Crown land. Municipalities and regional districts, through authorization of solid waste management plans under the Environmental Management Act manage municipal solid waste and as such play a key role in preventing illegal dumping through the provision of recycling and waste disposal options for citizens.

The Ministry of Environment (Ministry), through the Conservation Officer Service and the Environmental Protection Division will continue compliance and enforcement of regulations against illegal dumping on Crown land, in collaboration with regional districts, municipalities and electoral areas. The Ministry is not aware of a systemic increase in illegal dumping across the province, but acknowledges there may be local issues in parts of the province. Where the municipality or regional district can identify this, the Ministry is willing to work together with local government to determine causes, for example a lack of suitable or cost effective recycling or disposal options, and appropriate mitigation, and/or enforcement actions. At this time the Ministry of Environment does not foresee a need for additional financial or human resources, and is willing to partner with local governments on a case by case basis to resolve specific illegal dumping challenges.

B90         NATURAL AREA TAX EXEMPTION PROGRAM   Sunshine Coast RD

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Ministry of Community, Sport & Cultural Development be requested to grant local governments the authority to implement natural area protection tax exemption programs.

Convention Decision:  Endorsed as Amended

Provincial Response:  Ministry of Community, Sport & Cultural Development

This is the first time that regional districts have expressed an interest in having the authority to offer a Natural Area Protection Tax Exemption Program; as such this is not an area that is currently under consideration for legislative review. The Province would be willing to work with regional district representatives to consider questions such as the priority of legislative change for regional districts and applicability of the Natural Area Protection Tax Exemption modelled on the Islands Trust to regional districts and the success of the Islands Trust Natural Area Protection Tax Exemption Program.

B91         DEVELOPMENT OF A NATURE & CLIMATE CONSERVATION STRATEGY            Tofino

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM recommend that the Province of British Columbia develop a science-based nature and climate conservation strategy, that would concurrently accomplish:

• allowing more species to survive and adapt to a changing climate;
• protecting the natural carbon stores in our primary and intact forests and other ecosystems;
• protecting water and other vital ecosystem services that support both human well-being and a conservation-based economy; and
• supporting sustainable natural resource management that is based on prioritizing the needs of the ecosystems.

Convention Decision:  Endorsed

Provincial Response:  Ministry of Environment

While there is no single strategy that addresses the full spectrum of issues raised by this resolution, the B.C. Government is using a wide range of approaches (including legislation, policies, procedures and guidance) to maintain BC’s biodiversity and ecological services in light of human settlement, development, and climate change. Legislation such as the Forest and Range Practices Act, the Oil and Gas Activities Act and the Fish Protection Act include significant provisions to achieve these goals.  Additionally, there are a number of more recent initiatives that directly address the intent of this resolution. These initiatives include:

Climate Change Adaptation – The majority of the scientific community agrees that the primary strategy for protecting biodiversity in an era of rapid climate change is to focus on connectivity. The Government of British Columbia currently protects about 14% of the land base. About 74% of this protected area is forested contributing to both carbon stores and ongoing carbon sequestration. Many other jurisdictions have some level of protection on both land and water within B.C. including the federal government, regional districts, municipalities and private landowners. Together this represents a sizable portion of the province and is a significant contribution to landscape connectivity and the future of biodiversity and carbon management in British Columbia.

Forest Carbon Offset Protocol – The Government of British Columbia has developed this protocol to guide the design, development, quantification and verification of B.C. forest carbon offsets from a broad range of forest activities on private and public land in B.C. Forest carbon is an increasingly significant component of climate action, and the protocol ensures that forest carbon offsets developed in B.C. meet domestic and international quality standards.

Water Act Modernization and Water Science Strategy – Ensuring enough water is set aside to protect stream health and healthy ecosystems; improving water security, efficiency, and conservation; and regulating water during times of scarcity are key elements of the Province’s proposed new Water Sustainability Act. In addition, Government is leading development of a Water Science Strategy to better link science-based information and knowledge with decision-making, policy development and operational practice.

Conservation Framework & Species at Risk Task Force – The Conservation Framework is British Columbia’s approach for maintaining the rich biodiversity of the province. The Framework provides a set of science-based tools and actions for conserving species and ecosystems in B.C. The report of the Species at Risk Task Force was released on July 4th, 2011. The report makes 16 recommendations addressing legislation, environmental management, First Nations engagement and public engagement. See response to Resolution B41 for more detail.

Environmental Mitigation Policy – The BC Ministry of Environment, along with the Environmental Assessment Office and other natural resource management agencies, is developing a new environmental policy to support a consistent approach to mitigating adverse impacts on valued environmental assets from development projects and activities. This policy and associated procedures will help guide staff and provide consistent advice and information about environmental mitigation to statutory decision-makers who make authorization decisions in the provincial government. This policy is currently being drafted based on research on similar policies and analysis of feedback on the initial concept from stakeholders and First Nations. Following another opportunity to review and comment on the draft, the Environmental Mitigation Policy will be revised, and then applied on a trial basis in 2013. To be effective, environmental mitigation actions, including ecological restoration, need to consider climate change.

The approaches highlighted here engage the full range of government agencies charged with the management of BC’s natural resources and are believed to be a more effective approach than a single Ministry strategy.

B97         PROTECTION OF LAKES & RIVERS        Cowichan Valley RD

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province of British Columbia restore funding and resources to provincial ministries to ensure the adequate protection of BC lakes and rivers, or provide the enabling regulatory authority and financial means to local governments to properly protect and manage lakes and rivers at the local level, should they so wish.

Convention Decision:  Endorsed as Amended

Provincial Response:  Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Forests, Lands & Natural Resource Operations

Government’s 2010 Lakeshore Development Compliance project identified low compliance with the requirement to obtain an authorization under the Water Act for modifications to the lakeshore or meet bylaw requirements under the Riparian Areas Regulation. The report also suggested that there are significant impacts to aquatic habitat as a result of non-authorized shoreline work. The provincial government is currently reviewing the results of this study to determine what can be done to enhance the effectiveness of current programs and regulations which protect the Province’s lakes and rivers.

Protection of lakes and streams is also being addressed through the following initiatives:

The provincial government continues to support local collaborative processes and mechanisms such as the Shuswap Lake Integrated Planning Process (SLIPP) and the Cowichan Watershed Board to improve agency coordination, public outreach and compliance.

The Riparian Areas Regulation provides that named local governments must use the tools available to them in Part 26 of the Local Government Act to not approve or allow stream or lakeside development unless riparian fish habitat is maintained, protected, and/or provided with an opportunity of recovery. The Province, through its Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement with UBCM and DFO, continues to work with local governments to meet their regulatory requirements in bringing in and implementing effective bylaws, in particular ensuring their ability to deal with non-compliant development activities that impact stream and lakefront fish habitat.

The Province is developing a new Water Sustainability Act that builds on and will replace the current Water Act. Under the proposed new act, provincial water objectives will be established and the opportunity to employ different governance approaches and new tools such as water sustainability plans will be enabled to support increased collaboration and participation.

The Province is also reviewing Part 7 of the Water Regulation (Changes in and about a Stream). A primary objective of the review is to identify opportunities to improve the effectiveness of the regulation to ensure that water quality, fish and wildlife habitat are not compromised.

Funding for additional staff and resources must be evaluated in the context of the provincial government’s overall priorities.

B100      CONSULTATION WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT REGARDING  RESOURCE MANAGEMENT      Alberni-Clayoquot RD

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM and the Coastal Community Network:

a)              develop a mechanism(s) that ensures meaningful consultation with Canada and British Columbia with respect to all sustainability policies and processes affecting life in the Pacific Coast Watershed; and

b)              establish an appropriate platform for community-to-community relations between the urban/rural local governments and First Nations at an appropriate regional level across the Pacific Coast Watershed.

Convention Decision:  Endorsed and Referred to ECD Committee

B107      WATER REGULATIONS                  Tahsis

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM urge the provincial government to provide funding opportunities that reflect the true cost of the upgrades to aging infrastructure particularly in the rural areas of the province of British Columbia.

Convention Decision:  Endorsed as Amended

Provincial Response:  Ministry of Health; Ministry of Community, Sport & Cultural Development

The Ministry of Health has been working with the UBCM Small Water Systems Working Group which was tasked with presenting recommendations on addressing the challenges faced by small water systems at the September 2011 UBCM Annual Convention. Complete exemptions from the drinking water health safeguards in the Drinking Water Protection Act are unlikely, but the province will look into UBCM proposals to fine tune approaches under the legislation that are appropriate to smaller populations.

UBCM leads the Gas Tax Agreement which is a tri-party agreement between the federal, provincial and local governments of BC provideing both federal and provincial funding for local government water systems.  The GTA will see a federal transfer of $1.6 billion over the course of 4 years to 2015 in support of various infrastructure projects for all local governments, including drinking water.

B113      FEDERAL LIBRARY FUNDING CONTRIBUTION  Cowichan Valley RD

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM petition the federal government to provide a grant in lieu of taxes on federal lands to libraries, in recognition of use by persons living on federal lands located within the library service area.

Convention Decision:  Endorsed and Referred to FCM

Other Response:  Not yet available.

B118      TAX CREDITS FOR EMERGENCY RESPONDERS              Parksville

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the UBCM once again lobby the provincial and federal governments to amend the Income Tax Act to provide unpaid volunteer emergency responders with a meaningful tax exemption as  sign of recognition and appreciation for the voluntary service and government cost savings they provide.

Convention Decision:  Endorsed

Provincial Response:  Ministry of Finance

The design of the tax system balances fairness, competitiveness, efficiency, administrative simplicity and economic objectives.

Since 2001, BC has reduced provincial personal income taxes for most taxpayers by 37 per cent or more. When all taxes are considered, British Columbians generally have one of the lowest tax burdens in the country.

The Minister of Finance reviews provincial taxes and considers changes each year in preparation of the provincial budget.

Federal Response:  Public Safety Canada

I wanted to highlight that as part of the Next Phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, our government introduced a Volunteer Firefighters Tax Credit for volunteer firefighters who perform at least 200 hours of service for their communities. I have enclosed an excerpt from Budget 2011 providing additional information on this new tax credit.

Volunteer Firefighters Tax Credit – In recognition of the important role played by volunteer fire fighters in contributing to the security and safety of Canadians, Budget 2011 proposes a Volunteer Firefighters Tax Credit to allow eligible volunteer firefighters to claim a 15-per-cent non-refundable tax credit based on an amount of $3,000.

An eligible individual will be a volunteer firefighter who performs at least 200 hours of volunteer firefighting services in a taxation year, for one or more fire departments, that consist primarily of responding to and being on call for firefighting and related emergency calls, attending meetings held by the fire department and participating in required training related to the prevention or suppression of fires.

Volunteer service hours performed by a firefighter or a fire department will be ineligible if the firefighter also provides firefighting services, otherwise than as a volunteer, to that fire department.

An individual who claims the credit will be required to obtain written certification from the chief, or a delegated official, of the fire department confirming the number of hours of eligible volunteer firefighting services performed. The details of the certification process will be developed by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

An individual who claims the credit will be ineligible for the existing tax exemption of up to $1,000 for honoraria paid by a government, municipality or public authority in respect of firefighting duties.

Governments, municipalities and public authorities who pay firefighters amounts in respect of their services as volunteers will be required to report those amounts to the CRA as part of their annual reporting of remuneration paid.

This measure will apply to the 2011 and subsequent taxation years.

Web link:  http://www.budget.gc.ca/2011/plan/anx3a-eng.html#toc4

B127      DFO REFERRAL TIMES                  Alert Bay

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the DFO adopt a policy committing the department to provide a response to referrals within 30 days of receipt of any development referral from a local government or first nation government;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that any referral which goes unanswered after 30 days of receipt be deemed to be approved.

Convention Decision:  Endorsed

Federal Response:  Not yet available.

B129      CONTROL OF WATERSHEDS   Ladysmith

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM request the provincial government to develop a funding program that facilitates local government acquisition of both the watershed and adjacent land for those local governments with water systems on privately owned land;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all activities in watersheds used for drinking water be subject to final approval and control by affected local governments and the Ministry of Environment (MOE), and that MOE be legislatively required to ensure that the quality and quantity of water in watersheds meet provincial health requirements.

Convention Decision:  Endorsed

Provincial Response:  Ministry of Environment

Ministry of Environment (MOE) acknowledges the importance of source water protection in ensuring safe drinking water regardless of the source location.

Lead responsibility for drinking water protection and the Drinking Water Protection Act (DWPA) is the Ministry of Health and regional Health Authorities. MOE has no statutory authority under DWPA.

In practice, MOE and the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations (MFLNRO) work with Health Authorities to ensure a multi-barrier approach to drinking water protection. For MOE, this includes responsibility for human health related water guidelines, standards and policies and monitoring of source waters. Source water protection is also a key consideration in the Groundwater Protection Regulation, Environmental Management Act and implementation of Living Water Smart. MFLNRO has a strong coordinating and decision making role within BC’s watersheds.

B134      ECOSYSTEM BASED OFFSETS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS                  Nanaimo RD

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province of BC recognize that any land provided to the local government as park land or conservation areas through rezoning, subdivision or other land development process that:

i. is in excess of that which is required by current regulations; and

ii. meets the definition of forest land as provided in the BC Forest Offset Protocol (including instances in which multiple parcels are bundled together to meet minimum area thresholds)

is additional to the baseline scenario, and constitutes a valid avoided conversion project with a verifiable quantity of carbon that can be counted against a corporate emissions inventory;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that if the local government is a regional district, that regional district can allocate monies raised for the purpose of purchasing offsets toward the maintenance of the additional parkland provided, rather than raising the necessary maintenance monies through a parks maintenance tax requisition, or other commonly used fees and charges.

Convention Decision:  Not Endorsed

B140      REGIONAL GROWTH STRATEGY              Comox Valley RD

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that section 848 of the Local Government Act be amended to include, as the last portion of the definition, the following text: “…and all elected officials of electoral areas within the area of jurisdiction for which a regional growth strategy is prepared”;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that section 857(3)(a) of the Local Government Act be amended to include the following text (bold and underlined):

“(3) For the purposes of this section, before third reading of the bylaw to adopt a regional growth strategy, the board must submit the regional growth strategy to:

(a) the council of each municipality and the electoral areas committee, if any, all or part of which are covered by the regional growth strategy, …”

Convention Decision:  Not Endorsed

B144      ANIMAL ABUSE                 Victoria

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM request the Province of British Columbia to demonstrate its commitment to the welfare of animals in the province by providing appropriate funding to allow the BC SPCA to effectively prevent and respond to incidents of animal abuse.

Convention Decision:  Endorsed

Provincial Response:  Ministry of Agriculture – Public health and safety and the welfare of animals are important to the Government of British Columbia and as such the 2011 amendments to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act will ensure a greater level of protection for the animals of British Columbia.

The Ministry of Agriculture is not in a position to financially support the BC SPCA at this time.

The Ministry of Agriculture encourages the all local governments to work with the BC SPCA to address animal welfare issues locally.

B150      SENIORS’ TESTING UNDER DRIVE-ABLE PROGRAM     Sechelt

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province of BC be requested to provide additional testing facilities or implement other options that would allow testing to be done in the community where the senior resides.

Convention Decision:  Endorsed

Provincial Response:  Ministry of Public Safety & Solicitor General

DriveABLE is a specialized assessment tool used for only a small percentage of driver fitness assessments and so it is not feasible to always ensure testing is available in the community where the senior resides. DriveABLE assessments require the expertise of a trained healthcare provider (typically a kinesiologist or an occupational therapist) to facilitate each assessment.

The current driver medical fitness process is similar to many other medical assessments – the initial screening is done at the community physician level, but specialized assessments often need to be done at a regional level, where the specialist equipment and skills are located.

However, the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles is looking at opportunities to further expand the number of locations where DriveABLE assessments are available. We are also working with our existing DriveABLE service providers to look at options for providing mobile assessment services or using satellite locations.

A mobile unit has been added on a pilot basis to address the needs of drivers in the Sechelt area. We continue to work with service providers to provide increased access in other areas of the province.

B151      BEE IMPORTATION         North Saanich

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM petition the Province to protect the health of island bee populations by restoring the former quarantine that has managed the importation of honey bees and prohibited the importation of used equipment and combs to Canada Food Inspection Agency standards from mainland North America to Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast and the Gulf Islands.

Convention Decision:  Endorsed

Provincial Response:  Ministry of Agriculture

The Ministry of Agriculture established that there was no longer a qualitative difference in the honey bee disease profiles of the Vancouver Island Bee District and mainland bee districts. In the absence of scientific justification, the application of restrictive honey bee shipping conditions to Vancouver Island that exceeded those used in other bee districts, and between provinces for bee imports, was deemed “legally non-defensible” by the Ministry of the Attorney General.

In May 2010, the Ministry of Agriculture introduced a set of shipping conditions applicable to all Bee Districts which include colony inspection by ministry-appointed Apiary Inspectors prior to shipment, permit issuance and mandatory registration of apiaries. Colony inspections meet or exceed standards accepted by other provinces.

The Ministry of Agriculture believes that the new shipping conditions allow beekeepers to realize economic opportunity while maintaining an effective program to prevent the introduction of new bee diseases in all parts of the province and mitigate their impact.

B153      MARINE CONSERVATION STRATEGY – VANCOUVER ISLAND SHELF   Tahsis

THEREFORE IT BE RESOLVED that the UBCM supports the establishment of a conservation strategy within the national marine conservation area reserve (NMCAR) in the Vancouver Island Shelf marine region encompassing Mozino Point in the Tahsis Narrows, Nootka Sound urging quick action to proceed in the conservation of this marine area while respecting First Nations interest in the area.

Convention Decision:  Endorsed

Federal Response:  Environment Canada

I appreciate your support for a marine conservation strategy for the west coast of Vancouver Island. Environment Canada is making progress toward the designation of a marine national wildlife area around the Scott Islands. My department intends to continue coastal marine conservation efforts following designation of this protected area, including working with Fisheries & Oceans Canada, Parks Canada, the Government of British Columbia and First Nations to develop a science-based plan for the protection of marine and terrestrial species associated with the landscape and seascape of coastal British Columbia.

B157      AGE RESTRICTIONS ON INDOOR TANNING         Esquimalt

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM lobby the provincial government to introduce legislation to ban indoor tanning for youth under the age of 18.

Convention Decision:  Endorsed

Provincial Response:  Not yet available.

B159      FOR-PROFIT CLINICS    Victoria

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM request that the Province of British Columbia:

1. Establish a moratorium on any further expansion of private, for-profit surgical and MRI/CT clinics;

2. Require an end to public funding of for-profit clinics, including the contracting-out of day surgeries and the provision of Health Authority contracts to for-profit clinics;

3. Require full accountability and transparency on the part of for-profit clinics by ensuring that they submit to all oversight and regulatory mechanisms currently applied to public facilities operating under the B.C. Hospital Act; and

4. Expand public capacity by requiring the development of publicly funded and administered outpatient facilities;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that UBCM continue to research and monitor the threat to universal public health care posed by the operations of private, for-profit surgical and MRI/CT facilities in its member communities.

Convention Decision:  Not Endorsed

B160      FOOD SAFETY AT COMMUNITY EVENTS              Alert Bay

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM request that all health authorities develop reasonable policies that will allow the sale and provision of foods prepared in non-commercial kitchens and which are not cost prohibitive or otherwise prohibitively onerous to the average citizen.

Convention Decision:  Endorsed as Amended

Other Response:  Vancouver Coastal Health

In Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) we acknowledge the importance of local charitable and fundraising events to communities and have asked staff to work closely with charity, church, and community groups to ensure that events proceed under reasonable and appropriate levels of oversight. However, while our involvement is mostly limited to providing food safety information we also recognized that markets, church dinners and other community-based events featuring food are not inherently safer or more dangerous than any other food service establishments.

A study by the National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health entitled: “Church/Community Suppers: What is the Evidence for Risk of Foodborne Illness?” concluded that 3 to 16% of foodborne illness outbreaks investigated by public health are associated with community events including church suppers, fairs, potlucks, picnics etc. Poor food handling practices in the home and at the site where the food was prepared and served were implicated in most outbreaks. A more recent survey conducted in Fraser Health and VCH concluded that the majority of residents do not use thermometers to verify internal food temperatures and that more than one third of the respondents indicated that they prepare foods while ill.

Current public healthy legislation uses outcome/performance based language to enable appropriate discretionary regulatory approaches. Health authorities are expected to exercise risk based flexibility and common sense in the application of the legislation in our communities. The present permit application process is consistent across Health Authorities and allows for a quick health risk assessment and feedback, determines the necessity for a food permit and identifies optional ways of arriving at the desired food safety outcome.

Rather than requesting health authorities to create new policies, the preferred option would be for local governments to sit down with regional health authorities and establish a dialogue that will help to satisfy community needs but with also ensure public health safety. We would be pleased to do so for local governments within our jurisdiction.

B165      ANNUAL HALIBUT QUOTA                                                                                                                                         Capital RD

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the federal government purchase or lease the required commercial halibut quota to establish a permanent annual guaranteed base limit and season for recreational fishermen of 1 halibut per day 2 in their possession, February 1 to December 31 of each year.

Convention Decision:  Not Endorsed

B170      COMPACT FLUORESCENT LIGHT BULBS            Sechelt

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the federal and provincial governments be requested to suspend implementation of CFL bulb legislation until the health and environmental issues are resolved.

Convention Decision:  Not Considered – Automatic Referral to Executive

B171      TRAPPING REGULATIONS           Sunshine Coast RD

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations be encouraged to develop and promote educational programs on alternatives to trapping wildlife and the importance of signage, particularly within urban interface areas in order to protect humans and pets from unnecessary injury.

Convention Decision:  Not Considered – Automatic Referral to Executive

B172      CARBON TAXING OF THE COAL INDUSTRY         Tahsis

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM encourage the provincial government to amend the regulations in order to apply the BC Carbon Tax to the coal industry.

B174      BC HYDRO WIRELESS SMART METERS               Colwood

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that a moratorium be placed on the mandatory installation of wireless smart meters until the major issues and problems identified regarding wireless smart meters are independently assessed and acceptable alternatives can be made available at no added cost to the consumer.

Convention Decision:  Endorsed

Provincial Response:  Ministry of Energy & Mines

The Province is not prepared to place a moratorium on the mandatory installation of wireless smart meters. The Clean Energy Act established a legal requirement for BC Hydro to install smart meters for all of its customers by the end of 2012. The Province is satisfied that BC Hydro’s smart meter program will deliver significant benefits to ratepayers by making the power grid more efficient and reliable.

The BC Centre for Disease Control has confirmed that BC Hydro’s smart meters emit radio waves at a power density that is significantly below the legal limits governing exposure to radio frequency. Given the current scientific evidence, the consensus of public health practitioners is that at current exposure levels smart meters and other radio-frequency emitting devices, such as baby monitors and fm radio, do not constitute a threat to the health of the public.

BC Hydro is working closely with the office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia to ensure that BC Hydro meets legislated privacy standards and that appropriate privacy and security measures are built into the entire smart grid system.

Other Response:  BC Hydro

Like many utilities around the world, BC Hydro is addressing the challenge of aging infrastructure and meeting increased demand by upgrading its electricity grid. BC Hydro’s investments in smart meters and a smart grid are key steps in modernizing our electricity system, improving its safety and reliability, and helping customers save energy and money.

Smart meters and a more modern grid will save families and businesses about $70 million over the next three years alone through lower rates. In the longer term, the program returns $1.6 billion in benefits over 20 years. Since BC Hydro is publicly owned, those savings will be passed on to customers, keeping BC Hydro’s electricity rates among the lowest in North America.

BC Hydro understands that some customers have questions about the Smart Metering Program and that’s why we are committed to working with those customers on a case-by-case basis, ensuring we can continue to provide those customers with safe, reliable electricity. BC Hydro has a dedicated customer service team that answers every question about the program.

Since smart meters were announced in 2007, BC Hydro and the Province of British Columbia have included smart meters in our planning documents and province-wide communications. We have informed customers about the program through open houses, letters, emails, bill inserts, newsletters, BC Hydro’s website and call centre, advertising, and pre-installation communications. The majority – more than 99 per cent – of BC Hydro’s customers accept smart meters as a necessary upgrade.

Health – Smart meters communicate using radio signals which are common to our everyday lives and have been used safely for decades. Wireless technology is used by radios, TVs and emergency services to name a few. Wireless electrical and water meters are being used by utilities across the province including Nelson Hydro, FortisBC, City of Penticton, City of Abbotsford, City of Grand Forks, City of Richmond, City of Chilliwack, and the Village of Queen Charlotte.

Smart meters are safe as confirmed by health and science authorities including BC’s Provincial Health Officer, Health Canada and the World Health Organization. BC Hydro’s smart meters communicate for an average of one minute per day. Exposure to radio frequency during a 20-year life span of a smart meter is equivalent to the exposure during a single 30-minute cell phone call. BC Hydro’s smart meters’ radio frequency profile is well below Health Canada’s exposure limits, and less than 50% of the precautionary limits set by Switzerland, the country with the most rigorous standards in the world.

Privacy & Security – BC’s Information & Privacy Commissioner released a report into the Smart Metering Program’s compliance with BC’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and confirmed that we have taken the right steps to protect our customers’ information. As part of that report, the Privacy Commissioner has issued 14 recommendations for how we can build on our existing processes even further and we will be acting on those recommendations.

The report states that our customers’ information is secure. Smart meters provide BC Hydro with the same information about customer electricity use that we have today – except more frequently and accurately. We also collect more information about the overall status of the electricity grid which helps us manage the entire system and reduce waste.

Protecting our customers’ privacy is a top priority. As we do now, we will continue to protect the privacy of our customers by:

• Implementing a system with multiple layers of security, starting with encryption similar to online banking.

• Working closely with the Privacy Commissioner’s Office.

• Managing customer information according to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. BC Hydro does not share personal information with third parties, unless required by law.

In additional to Health Canada, Provincial Health Authority, and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner, the Smart Metering Program must meet rigorous standards set by a number of federal and provincial agencies including: North American Reliability Council, Environment Canada, Industry Canada, Measurement Canada, and the BC Safety Authority.

We are moving forward with the Smart Metering Program because it is a necessary long term investment for BC Hydro customers and for the province as a whole. A safe, reliable electricity system is the backbone of our economy. Investing today in modern meters and a smarter grid will help keep our system safe and reliable while ensuring that we can meet our province’s electricity needs moving forward.

SECTION C – Part 2 – Contains resolutions that were referred to other resolutions and as a result were not admitted for debate.

C7            REIMBURSEMENT OF COSTS FOR KEEPING OF PRISONERS Sechelt

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM request the Province to reimburse local governments the actual costs of housing federal and provincial prisoners that are held in local government owned RCMP detachment buildings.

C9            COASTAL FERRY SYSTEM         Alert Bay

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM petition the provincial government to treat the coastal ferry system as equivalent to the provincial highway system and to support the minor routes to the same degree that provincial highways and other transportation infrastructure is supported by government taxes, grants and subsidies.

C10         DELINQUENT TAX ON CROWN LAND     Alert Bay

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province of BC undertake to pay all delinquent property taxes owed by properties which are under crown lease tenures.

C11         BC HYDRO FAIR COMPENSATION           Nanaimo RD, Sunshine Coast RD

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM lobby the Province of British Columbia to explore the taxation of BC Hydro and implement a fair and equitable method of compensation to all local governments for the provision of local and regional services.

C14         TAXATION OF BC HYDRO             Comox Valley RD

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM lobby the Province of British Columbia to explore the taxation of BC Hydro and implement a fair and equitable method of compensation to all local governments for the provision of local and regional services.

C15         FUNDING FOR PUBLIC LIBRARIES           North Saanich

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM petition the Province to restore public library funding so that the ratio of provincial grants to municipal tax levies is restored to the ratio that existed in 1985.

Other Response:

C17         PACIFIC AQUACULTURE REGULATIONS              Strathcona RD

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Fisheries & Oceans Canada be requested to expand the current license templates for marine finfish, shellfish and freshwater aquaculture to include specific operational compliance standards that serve to mitigate the potential for negative impact of aquaculture operations on adjacent land uses;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Fisheries & Oceans Canada be requested to defer approval of new aquaculture operations pending written confirmation from local governments that such operations are in compliance with local government regulations;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Fisheries & Oceans Canada be requested to convene a meeting of British Columbia coastal communities, regional districts, local governments and First Nations to provide more clarity on the Pacific Aquaculture Regulations.

C18         MAINTENANCE FUNDING FOR BC PARKS            Sunshine Coast RD

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Ministry of Environment be requested to direct additional funding toward the year-round maintenance of BC Parks sites.

C24         COMMUNITY BASED SENIOR CARE       Victoria

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM urge the provincial government to significantly enhance BC’s system of community-based seniors’ care, in order to ensure timely access to the full range of public services that support seniors to age and die with dignity.

C25         COMMUNITY-BASED SENIORS’ CARE  Nanaimo City

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM urge the provincial government to significantly enhance BC’s system of community-based seniors’ care, in order to ensure timely access to the full range of public services that support seniors to age and die with dignity.

C28         SENIORS’ OUTREACH & HEALTH PREVENTION PROGRAMS   Nanaimo City

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government provide funding for enhanced seniors’ outreach and health prevention programs (including information services, social networking, and age-appropriate exercise programs) and to support better coordination among existing services.

C36         HERITAGE FUNDING       Victoria

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM urge the Province of British Columbia to renew its commitment to heritage conservation in the following manner:

1. Invest a further $10 million in the Heritage Legacy Fund;

2. Restore community support for both local government and community heritage organizations such as Heritage BC;

3. Adopt the draft Provincial Heritage Strategy;

4. Restore the budget of the Heritage Branch; and

5. Resolve the Heritage Properties question.

C37         RENEWING SUPPORT OF HERITAGE PROGRAMS          Esquimalt

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM urge the Province to renew its commitment to heritage conservation through the five recommendations identified in Heritage BC’s report, “A Call to Renew British Columbia’s Heritage Program”:

• adopt a provincial heritage strategy;

• restore the Heritage Branch budget;

• resolve the heritage properties question;

• restore community support; and

• invest in the Heritage Legacy Fund.

SECTION C – Part 3 – Contains resolutions that were referred to the Area Association due to being of a regional nature.

C41         RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY              Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities work with the Coastal Community Network to provide a one stop resource management assessment and referral delivery authority co-chaired by elected leaders drawn from local government and First Nations leadership resident on the coast.

AVICC Response:  Executive invited CCN representatives to the January 13, 2012 meeting to provide an update on the status of the CCN and discuss the proposal for regional committees and how they would interface with AVICC and UBCM.  CCN Chair Tony Bennett, Director Ken McRae and staff member Patrick Marshall took the opportunity.  Executive agreed in principle to support CCN’s proposal to hold a workshop to discuss the form, function and relationship with CCN, AVICC, NCLGA and UBCM in having regional resource management committees and that time on the 2012 AVICC AGM & Convention program be provided to report out the results of the workshop.  AVICC and UBCM staff met with Patrick Marshall February 1.  The CCN workshop has been scheduled for March 27/28 in Victoria.  AVICC staff will attend.  Workshop results will be reported back to AVICC members Saturday, April 14 at 3:00 pm.

LR3         ISLAND CORRIDOR FOUNDATION FEDERAL/ PROVINCIAL        AVICC Executive

FUNDING APPLICATION

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that AVICC petition the governments of Canada and British Columbia to approve the $15 million rail infrastructure application for capital works on the Victoria to Courtenay rail line submitted by the Island Corridor Foundation in October 2010 to ensure the future of Island rail transportation and restoration of VIA passenger rail service between Victoria and Courtenay;

AND FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that an emergency meeting be arranged between the Island Rail Corridor Foundation and all appropriate and applicable parties including the Premier and Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure of BC to request their immediate assistance in coordinating this appeal with the Federal Government of Canada.

AVICC Convention Decision:  Endorsed

Provincial Response: 

On June 28, 2011, Premier Clark announced that the Province will contribute $7.5 million for E&N Passenger Rail in an announcement made in Nanaimo.  Provincial funding will be provided in two parts. The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure will contribute up to $500,000 for an engineering inspection on the condition of the approximately 40 rail bridges and trestles on the line.  The balance of $7 million will help the Island Corridor Foundation (ICF) repair the track and ensure that it is safe for passengers. The ICF has identified that it needs $15 million to complete essential repairs. The provincial funding of $7 million is conditional upon the final bridge inspection and ICF matching the other $7.5 million that it needs to ensure all repairs are completed and passenger train service can safely resume. The Bridge and Engineering Trestle Engineering Audit was released in late-February.

Federal Response:

Island Mayors and Chairs and ICF representatives met May 24, 2011 with MP James Lunney, Nanaimo-Alberni and MP John Duncan, Vancouver Island North.  Meetings were also requested with Honourable Denis Lebel, Federal Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and the Honourable James Moore, Federal Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages.  A meeting was held on August 3, 2011 in Victoria with Minister James Moore with 11 AVICC and ICF representatives in attendance.  Regrettably Minister Lebel’s busy schedule has prevented a meeting with AVICC and ICF representatives.

LR4         VANCOUVER ISLAND UNIVERSITY LABOUR DISPUTE                   Alberni-Clayoquot RD

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that if the current negotiations involving the labour dispute at Vancouver Island University results in a failure to resolve the situation, that the Premier of the Province of BC impose a cooling off period with the resumption of all classes at the university, and further that a mutually agreed upon mediator or arbitrator be appointed by the Province.

AVICC Convention Decision:  Endorsed

Response:  Immediately following the wrap-up of the 2011 AVICC AGM & Convention, Chair Stanhope prepared and faxed a letter to Premier Campbell’s office.  The dispute was settled by Monday following the close of the 2011 AGM & Convention.

SECTION LATE RESOLUTIONS – Contains resolutions that met the late resolution criteria and were admitted for debate. 

LR6         OIL PIPELINES & TANKER TRAFFIC IN BC            Victoria

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM request that the National Energy Board, Port Metro Vancouver, and all appropriate federal Ministers ensure that any applications to expand the amount of oil transported by pipeline or tanker in British Columbia undergo:

a. the highest degree of environmental assessment; and

b. meaningful public consultation, including direct engagement with affected municipalities, regional authorities and British Columbia First Nations.

Convention Decision:  Endorsed

Federal Response:  Natural Resources Canada

When the National Energy Board receives applications to expand federally-regulated pipeline systems, the applications are subject to environmental assessment and regulatory review. In addition, regulatory review processes for major projects are open, and parties including municipalities, regional organizations and Aboriginal groups can submit evidence and express their views.

For example, Enbridge’s Northern Gateway Pipelines project (the Project), which proposes to increase the amount of oil transported by pipeline or tanker in British Columbia, has been referred by the Government of Canada for a panel review. The Project will be thoroughly reviewed by a three-member Joint Review Panel (Panel) to best protect the interests of all Canadians by satisfying the requirements of both the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act and the National Energy Board Act. The Panel’s broad environmental assessment mandate covers the review of the pipeline, the terminal, the docking facilities at Kitimat, and the marine transportation portion of the pipeline project, including mitigation measures to address potential incidents on land and in the water.

Similarly, should Kinder Morgan decide to proceed with a plan to expand the Trans Mountain pipeline, they would file an application with the National Energy Board. You may be assured that an expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline would be subject to environmental assessment and regulatory review, and as I noted above, the regulatory review process for major projects is open to interested parties to submit evidence and express views.

Environment Canada

Environment Canada’s mandate includes the provision of advice for projects where a federal environmental assessment is required pursuant to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. At this time, the Department is not in receipt of a specific application by Kinder Morgan Canada to expand operation of its TransMountain Pipeline. The National Energy Board is the lead agency in Canada responsible for federally regulated pipeline proposals, and would be notified should Kinder Morgan Canada decide to pursue such an expansion.

If a proposal to expand the existing pipeline capacity were to be received, it would likely be subject to environmental assessment requirements under the Act. Opportunities for public and Aboriginal consultation would be identified as part of any environmental assessment conducted under this act. Further information is available on the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry at:  www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca/050/index-eng.cfm

Environment Canada would contribute expert advice to any environmental assessment required. In completing our review, we would consider the potential impacts of the proposal on air and water quality, wildlife, species at risk, and other matters related to the Department’s mandate. Environment Canada has specific responsibilities to respond to marine environmental emergencies and provide related environmental advice and assistance to lead response agencies. My department has expertise in spill modelling and emergency response countermeasures that it makes available to these agencies.

Other Response:  Port Metro Vancouver

Port Metro Vancouver shares UBCM’s desire to ensure the safe and secure movement of all cargo and commodities through the port. This includes the management of potential risk associated with the transportation of liquid bulk, including crude oil, through the port.

Any project undertaken within Port Metro Vancouver’s jurisdiction undergoes an environmental and project review assessment at a level appropriate to the potential environmental risk or as defined by the applicable legislation. In fact, all projects within Port Metro Vancouver jurisdiction undergo some form of environmental review regardless of the presence of legislated triggers.

The Vancouver Airport Facilities Corporation’s proposal to construct a jet fuel receiving terminal and pipeline to the airport is the only application that Port Metro Vancouver is currently reviewing for projects that would expand the amount of oil transported through the Port by pipeline tanker. This project is undergoing a harmonized federal/provincial review that includes comprehensive environmental assessment and consultation with First Nations and the public. It (and other significant proposal for new or expanded oil transport through the port that Port Metro Vancouver may receive) will also be required to go through the Port’s Project Review Process, a process that is analogous to a municipal development review and that covers many issues not addressed by environmental legislation.

If you are interested in learning more about Port Metro Vancouver’s environmental and project review processes, please visit us at:  http://portmetrovancouver.com/en/projects/ProjectReviewandPermits.aspx

R1        TREATY ADVISORY COMMITTEE FUNDING – Sunshine Coast RD

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities urge the Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation to provide adequate core funding to Treaty Advisory Committees and related organizations.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

R2        PROVINCIAL HOUSING TRUST FUNDS – North Saanich

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Coastal Communities petition the Province to create Regional Housing Trust Funds from Property Transfer Tax revenues to provide subsidized, supportive and affordable housing for communities where affordable housing is not accessible for those with low incomes such as seniors, single parent families and people with disabilities;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the funds levied for this purpose be kept within the regions they are levied from and disbursement be contingent on financial or in-kind local contributions.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

R3        FUNDING FOR VISITOR CENTRES – North Saanich

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities petition the Province to increase the level of funding for the improvement and operation of effective visitor centres.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

R4        PUBLIC LIBRARY FUNDING – Nanaimo City

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities work with the British Columbia Library Trustees Association to lobby the provincial government to restore grants for public libraries to not less than 2009 levels;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the amount of grants be adjusted annually thereafter to not less than changes in the Consumer Price Index for British Columbia.

ON MOTION, as amended, was ENDORSED

R5        FUNDING FOR PUBLIC LIBRARIES – North Saanich

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Coastal Communities petition the Province to restore public library funding so that the ratio of provincial grants to municipal tax levies is restored to the ratio that existed in 1985.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

R6 HERITAGE FUNDING – Victoria

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of British Columbia Municipalities urge the Province of British Columbia to renew its commitment to heritage conservation in the following manner:

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

R7        BIKE LANE SWEEPING – Sunshine Coast RD

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities urge the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure to amend road maintenance contracts to increase the frequency of bike lane and highway shoulder sweeping.

ON MOTION, as amended, was ENDORSED

R8        ORV LICENSING & SAFETY – Powell River RD

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the AVICC urge the Province of British Columbia to enact ATV licencing legislation as soon as possible in 2011.

ON MOTION, as amended, was ENDORSED

R9        GREYHOUND CANADA PROPOSED SERVICE REDUCTIONS Strathcona RD

[Sponsor withdrew resolution in advance of Convention.]

R10      VARYING TAX RATES – Lake Cowichan

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province be lobbied to amend Section 197 of the Community Charter to allow municipalities to have the flexibility of levying separate tax rates for each of land and improvements for each property class.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

R11      UNIVERSITY PROPERTY TAX PAYMENTS – Port Alberni

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that AVICC and the UBCM urge the Province to address the issue of university grants-in-lieu of taxes by amending section 27(2)(w) of the University Act to specify that a university must pay to a municipality a grant equal to general municipal taxes.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

R12      DELINQUENT TAX ON CROWN LAND – Alert Bay

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province of BC undertake to pay all delinquent property taxes owed by properties which are under crown lease tenures.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

R13      BC HYDRO FAIR COMPENSATION – Nanaimo RD and Sunshine Coast RD

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the AVICC and the UBCM lobby the Province of British Columbia to explore the taxation of BC Hydro and implement a fair and equitable method of compensation to all local governments for the provision of local and regional services.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

R14      HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION COSTS – North Saanich and Sidney

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Coastal Communities petition the Province to amend the Police Act such that the costs of homicide investigations are borne by the Province and not by the municipal taxpayers.

ON MOTION, as amended, was ENDORSED

R15      PACIFIC AQUACULTURE REGULATIONS – Strathcona RD

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Fisheries and Oceans Canada be requested to expand the current license templates for marine finfish, shellfish and freshwater aquaculture to include specific operational compliance standards that serve to mitigate the potential for negative impact of aquaculture operations on adjacent land uses;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Fisheries and Oceans Canada be requested to defer approval of new aquaculture operations pending written confirmation from local governments that such operations are in compliance with local government regulations;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Fisheries and Oceans Canada be requested to convene a meeting of British Columbia coastal communities, regional districts, local governments and First Nations to provide more clarity on the Pacific Aquaculture Regulations.”

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

R16      AQUACULTURE AGREEMENT – AVICC Executive

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the AVICC request that the provincial and federal governments recognize the authorities and responsibilities of local governments with respect to aquaculture and immediately consult with them about the impact and implications of the new Aquaculture Agreement;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the provincial and federal governments recognize and respect local government bylaws (including zoning) in the siting, approval and operation of fish and shellfish farms.

ON MOTION, as amended, was ENDORSED

R17      CONSULTATION WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT REGARDING RESOURCE MANAGEMENT – Alberni-Clayoquot RD

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities and the Coastal Community Network:

a)  develop a mechanism(s) that ensures meaningful consultation with Canada and British Columbia with respect to all sustainability policies and processes affecting life in the Pacific Coast Watershed;

b)  establish an appropriate platform for community-to-community relations between the urban/rural local governments and First Nations at an appropriate regional level across the Pacific Coast Watershed.

ON MOTION, as amended, was ENDORSED

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities work with the Coastal Community Network to provide a one stop resource management assessment and referral delivery authority co-chaired by elected leaders drawn from local government and First Nations leadership resident on the coast.

ON MOTION, as amended, was ENDORSED

R18 DFO REFERRAL TIMES – Alert Bay

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans adopt a policy committing the Department to provide a response to referrals within 30 days of receipt of any development referral from a Local Government or First Nation Government;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that any referral which goes unanswered after 30 days of receipt be deemed to be approved.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

R19      ANNUAL HALIBUT QUOTA – Capital Regional District

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the federal government purchase or lease the required commercial halibut quota to establish a permanent annual guaranteed base limit and season for recreational fishermen of 1 halibut per day 2 in their possession, February 1 to December 31 of each year.

ON MOTION, was NOT ENDORSED

R20      GLASS SPONGE REEF PROTECTION – Sunshine Coast RD

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities urge Fisheries and Oceans Canada to also designate the glass sponge reefs in the Southern Strait of Georgia (specifically McCall Bank, Howe Sound, Fraser Ridge, Active Pass, Nanaimo, Coulee Bank and Parksville) as “areas of interest” for protection.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

R21      ILLEGAL DUMPING – Sunshine Coast RD

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Ministry of Environment be requested to make additional financial and human resources available to assist with enforcement, monitoring and clean up of illegal dump sites on Crown land.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

R22      CONTROL OF CANADA GEESE – Metchosin

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that AVICC and UBCM work with the provincial and federal governments to manage and control burgeoning populations of Canada geese which, left uncontrolled, present major and significant human health and safety, food production, environmental, recreational, water quality and other impacts; and that AVICC support continued provincial support for the multi-phased approach adopted by the Peninsula Agriculture Commission.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

R23      BEE IMPORTATION – North Saanich

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Coastal Communities petition the Province to protect the health of island bee populations by restoring the former quarantine that has managed the importation of honey bees and prohibited the importation of used equipment and combs to Canada Food Inspection Agency standards from mainland North America to Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast and the Gulf islands.

ON MOTION, as amended, was ENDORSED

R24      NATURAL AREA TAX EXEMPTION PROGRAM – Sunshine Coast RD

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development be requested to grant local governments the legislative authority to implement natural area protection tax exemption programs.

ON MOTION, as amended, was ENDORSED

R25      DEVELOPMENT OF A NATURE AND CLIMATE CONSERVATION STRATEGY – Tofino

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the AVICC recommend that the Province of British Columbia develop a science-based Nature and Climate Conservation Strategy, that would concurrently accomplish:

• allowing more species to survive and adapt to a changing climate;
• protecting the natural carbon stores in our primary and intact forests other ecosystems;
• protecting water and other vital ecosystem services that support both human well-being and a conservation-based economy; and
• supporting sustainable natural resource management that is based on prioritizing the needs of the ecosystems.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

R26      ENDANGERED SPECIES & ECOSYSTEMS PROTECTION ACT – North Saanich

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Coastal Communities petition the Province to enact an effective Species and Ecosystem Protection Act to protect British Columbia’s biodiversity.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

R27 FOOD SAFETY AT COMMUNITY EVENTS – Alert Bay

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the AVICC request that the Vancouver Island Health Authority develop reasonable policies that will allow the sale and provision of foods prepared in non-commercial kitchens and which are not cost prohibitive or otherwise prohibitively onerous to the average citizen.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

R28 ELIMINATON OF MSP PREMIUMS FOR SENIORS – Victoria

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) support, in principle, the elimination of MSP premiums for all seniors in the Province of British Columbia;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the UBCM conduct a workshop on all of the factors involved in such a resolution.

ON MOTION, was NOT ENDORSED

R29      ELIMINATION OF MSP PREMIUMS FOR SENIORS – North Saanich

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Coastal Communities petition the Province to eliminate Medical Service Plan premiums for medical insurance in the province of British Columbia for all seniors;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Union of British Columbia Municipalities support the retirees of the Municipal Pension Plan by agreeing that upon the elimination of Medical Service Plan premiums that the present percentage of employers’ contributions previously used for MSP premiums, be used to assist in the payment of group health benefits.

ON MOTION, was NOT ENDORSED

R30 RESTORE FUNDING TO HOSPITALS – Sechelt

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government be urged to properly fund construction, resourcing, equipping and staffing of hospitals in this Province.

ON MOTION, as amended, was ENDORSED

R31 FOR-PROFIT CLINICS – Victoria

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) request that the Province of British Columbia;

1. Establish a moratorium on any further expansion of private, for-profit surgical and MRI/CT clinics;
2. Require an end to public funding of for-profit clinics, including the contracting-out of day surgeries and the provision of Health Authority contracts to for-profit clinics;
3. Require full accountability and transparency on the part of for-profit clinics by ensuring that they submit to all oversight and regulatory mechanisms currently applied to public facilities operating under the B.C. Hospital Act; and
4. Expand public capacity by requiring the development of publicly funded and administered outpatient facilities;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that UBCM continue to research and monitor the threat to universal public health care posed by the operations of private, for-profit surgical and MRI/CT facilities in its member communities.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

R32      TAX ON SELECTED PROCESSED FOODS – Tofino

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government impose a tax no less than 10% on processed food that contains levels of sugar, sugar substitutes, salt, or fats, that exceed the nutritional allowance contained in Health Canada’s guidelines and that these monies be used to help offset the medical costs associated with obesity.

ON MOTION, was NOT ENDORSED

R33 AGE RESTRICTIONS ON INDOOR TANNING – Esquimalt

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM lobby the provincial government to introduce legislation to ban indoor tanning for youth under the age of 18.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

R34      LOWERING THE VOTING AGE – Tofino

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that AVICC and UBCM urge the provincial government to lower the voting age to sixteen years.

ON MOTION, was NOT ENDORSED

R35      ALLOW VOTERS MORE CHOICE – Tofino

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that AVICC and UBCM urge the Provincial government to allow for the NOTA clause on all ballots in a provincial and civic election.

ON MOTION, was NOT ENDORSED

R36      CHARITABLE STATUS OF CANADIAN ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS Port McNeill

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Federal Minister of Revenue be requested to review the “charitable” status of these organizations and if justified, cancel their “charitable” status.

ON MOTION, was NOT ENDORSED

R37 ANIMAL ABUSE – Victoria

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of British Columbia Municipalities request the Province of British Columbia to demonstrate its commitment to the welfare of animals in the province by:

1. providing appropriate funding to allow the BC SPCA to effectively prevent and respond to incidents of animal abuse; and
2. investigating whether increases to the maximum penalties under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act may assist in reducing incidents of animal abuse.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

LR1      FEDERAL LIBRARY FUNDING CONTRIBUTION – Cowichan Valley RD

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities petition the Federal Government to provide a grant in lieu of taxes on federal lands to the Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL), in recognition of use by persons living on federal lands located within the VIRL service area.

ON MOTION, Was NOT ADMITTED FOR DEBATE

LR2      AGRICULTURAL LAND COMMISSION – Metchosin

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Association of Vancouver Island Coast Communities express its concern about the ability of the Agricultural Land Commission to achieve its mandate, and that resources to the Agricultural Land Commission be increased such that it is able to effectively carry out its mandate of preserving agricultural land for agriculture.

ON MOTION, Was NOT ADMITTED FOR DEBATE

LR3 – ISLAND CORRIDOR FOUNDATION FEDERAL/PROVINCIAL FUNDING APPLICATION

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that AVICC petition the governments of Canada and British Columbia to approve the $15 million rail infrastructure application for capital works on the Victoria to Courtenay rail line submitted by the Island Corridor Foundation in October 2010 to ensure the future of Island rail transportation and restoration of VIA passenger rail service between Victoria and Courtenay;

AND FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that an emergency meeting be arranged between the Island Rail Corridor Foundation and all appropriate and applicable parties including the Premier and Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure of BC to request their immediate assistance in coordinating this appeal with the Federal Government of Canada.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

LR4 – VANCOUVER ISLAND UNIVERSITY LABOUR DISPUTE

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that if the current negotiations involving the labour dispute at Vancouver Island University results in a failure to resolve the situation, that the Premier of the Province of BC impose a cooling off period with the resumption of all classes at the university, and further that a mutually agreed upon mediator or arbitrator be appointed by the Province.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

LR5 – FORESTRY PRACTICES ON PRIVATE MANAGED FOREST LANDS

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities petition the Province of British Columbia to revise the Private Managed Forest Land Act and appurtenant regulations to improve forestry practices on private managed forest lands to a standard equivalent or better than Crown forest land regulations thereby better protecting community interests.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

Part 1 – UBCM 2010 DISPOSITION OF RESOLUTIONS SPONSORED BY AVICC MEMBERS

All endorsed resolutions have been conveyed to the relevant provincial and federal government department, or other organizations as appropriate. Responses have not been received at the time of printing this report.  Sponsors will be notified of responses as they are received, and responses will be posted on www.ubcm.ca.

Section B1– Contains resolutions that have been previously considered and endorsed; or are in keeping with UBCM General Policy or other major previously approved policy documents.

B2            SUPPORT FOR THE COMMUNITY JUSTICE PROGRAM – District of Sechelt

Convention Decision:  Endorsed

B26         RIPARIAN AREA PROTECTION ON PRIVATE FOREST LANDS – Parksville

Convention Decision:  Endorsed

B30         DERELICT & ABANDONED VESSELS, BARGES & DOCKS – AVICC Executive

Convention Decision:  Endorsed

B36         PARKLAND DEDICATION  – Metchosin

Convention Decision:  Endorsed

B37         TREATY SETTLEMENT COSTS  – Colwood

Convention Decision:  Endorsed

B39         MEAT REGULATIONS – North Saanich

Convention Decision:  Endorsed

B42         SUPPORT FOR PERSONS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS – Sechelt

Convention Decision:  Endorsed

B48         ARTS & CULTURE FUNDING  –  Powell River RD and Powell River City

Convention Decision:  Endorsed

Section B2 – Resolutions that address topics not previously considered; were previously considered but not endorsed; involve topics of local or regional significance; involve topics of national significance and recommended as appropriate, for consideration by FCM.

B70         PHYSICAL ACCESS FOR DISABLE PASSENGERS – AVICC Executive

Convention Decision:  Endorsed and Referred to FCM

Federal Response to AVICC:  Ministry Of Transport, Infrastructure And Communities

In Canada, the federal government has established accessibility standards for all modes of transportation under federal jurisdiction.  This is accomplished through the use of a variety of policy instruments, including regulations, codes of practice and guidelines.

An active monitoring and compliance program supports the implementation of Canada’s regulations, codes and guidelines.  This ongoing monitoring of the transportation system, along with the results of the last independent review of the Canada Transportation Act in 2001, indicates that significant progress has been made in removing undue obstacles to the mobility of persons with disabilities, and that, while some accessibility issues remain, this policy approach is proving to be successful.

With respect to the accessibility of passenger rail cars, the Passenger Rail Car Accessibility Code of Practice provisions came into effect on April 1, 2001, and state as follows:

Eventually, every passenger train that provides sleeping car facilities should have at least one sleeping car that has at least one wheelchair-accessible room.  Until such time as this goal is reached, any newly manufactured sleeping car ordered, purchased or leased by a rail carrier to be used on or after April 1, 2001, or any existing sleeping car undergoing major refurbishment to be used on or after that same date, should satisfy the accessibility criteria.

I should note that passenger rail cars used in western transcontinental rail service are currently undergoing major refurbishment and will re-enter service in compliance with the Code.  The Renaissance rail passenger cars, which are employed in the Toronto-Halifax corridor, are also now undergoing modification so that they too will be in full compliance with the Code when they return to service.

Provincial Response to AVICC:  Ministry Of Transportation And Infrastructure

All transit users in British Columbia now have access to low floor buses that can easily accommodate passengers travelling with wheelchairs and scooters, and design guidelines have been adopted to ensure that mobility impaired persons can be accommodated at bus stops.  HandyDART, Taxi Saver and Taxi Supplement programs are also available for persons unable to use the regular bus system.

British Columbia’s taxpayers contribute $20 million a year to help keep ferry rates affordable for the disabled, eligible seniors, students and those travelling for medical reasons.  Where possible, BC Ferries provides mobility-impaired persons with preferred special vehicle loading, elevator service, specially equipped washrooms and preferred parking.

The Passenger Transportation Board, an independent tribunal, makes decisions on applications for taxis, limousines and inter-city bus licences.  The Board has established a policy to encourage the increased number and availability of accessible taxis in urban communities.

B74         EXPANSION OF INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT PROGRAMS TO INCLUDE MAJOR  LOCAL GOVERNMENT FACILITIES  – Central Saanich

Convention Decision:  Endorsed and Referred to FCM

B79         SOUTHERN STRAIT OF GEORGIA NATIONAL MARINE CONSERVATION  AREA RESERVE  – Islands Trust

Convention Decision:  Endorsed

B110      BC FERRIES SUBSIDY – Metchosin

Convention Decision:  Endorsed

B131      INFRASTRUCTURE STIMULUS FUND – Sunshine Coast RD

Convention Decision:  Withdrawn

Section C2 – Resolutions that were referred to other resolutions that were considered for debate.

C2            PRIME BC – North Cowichan

Convention Decision:  Not Admitted for Debate

C5            EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TRAINING – Sunshine Coast RD

Convention Decision:  Not Admitted for Debate

C6            RELEASE OF LICENSED MEDICAL MARIJUANA SITES INFORMATION – Sooke

Convention Decision:  Not Admitted for Debate

C15         CANADA GOOSE POPULATION – North Saanich

Convention Decision:  Not Admitted for Debate

Part 2 – RESOLUTIONS REFERRED TO AVICC EXECUTIVE FOR ACTION BECAUSE OF THEIR REGIONAL NATURE

LR12      RAIL TERMINUS IN NANAIMO – AVICC Executive

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT AVICC support the establishment of the main rail terminus in Nanaimo and the proposed two train early morning southbound schedule as a first step in providing improved rail service on Vancouver Island, and encourages VIARail to increase the operating subsidy necessary for this to occur.

AVICC Convention Decision:  Endorsed.

Response:  Awaiting response from ViaRail.

LR13      COASTAL DOUGLAS FIR MOIST MARITIME LAND USE – AVICC Executive

WHEREAS a logging application has been submitted to Calvin Ross at South Island Forest District in Port Alberni to log the Nanoose Wetland Forest (DL33).

WHEREAS even small parcels like DL33 make important contributions to conservation of coastal Douglas Fir and contains the only remaining intact watershed of any tributary supplying Nanoose Creek, a wild salmon stream.

WHEREAS BC Environment Ministry confirm that nearly every type of Old Growth Douglas Fir Forest on BC dry coastal plain is now rare or endangered.

WHEREAS the coastal Douglas Fir ecosystem that once dominated the Georgia Basin now teetered at the brink of extinction and most of what does remain is the responsibility of British Columbians.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT AVICC request that the Ministry of Environment to allow for the Coastal Douglas Fir Moist Maritime land use order to follow its proper public consultation and ministerial development course and process.

AVICC Convention Decision:  Endorsed.

Response:  Ministry Of Forests

The province is well aware of the concerns related to the Coastal Douglas Fir Biogeoclimatic Zone and government has taken significant steps to ensure protection of this and other important ecosystems.  In December, the Integrated Land Management Bureau (ILMB) advertised a draft land use order to protect up to 1,600 hectares of the Coastal Douglas Fir ecosystem on southern Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast.  The public review and comment period on the land use order closed on February 15, 2010.  I understand that many local residents have asked that DL33 be included in the proposal Coastal Douglas Fir land use order.  ILMB are currently reviewing all submissions received and will incorporate, where appropriate, suggested change to the land-use objectives.  We expect a decision on the land use order in the near future.  Once the final decision is made it will be publicly communicated.

Disposition of Resolutions Presented to the 2010 AGM & Convention

RR1 DERELICT VESSELS – Sooke

WHEREAS the sixty-five year old tugboat, Florence Filberg, British Columbia, became grounded in November 2007 within the Sooke harbour after breaking loose from its mooring and being abandoned by its owner;

AND WHEREAS the District of Sooke has requested assistance from the provincial and federal governments with regards to the safe and efficient removal of the Florence Filberg, British Columbia with no success;

AND WHEREAS the Florence Filberg, British Columbia was the target of arsonists on the evening of Friday July 3, 2009 causing it to burn fiercely, thus causing potential air quality and environmental issues and causing a further navigational hazard;

AND WHEREAS the estimates to remove what remains of the Florence Filberg, British Columbia from the Sooke harbour are approximately $120,000;

AND WHEREAS there are approximately twenty abandoned derelict vessels in the Sooke harbour and basin and other coastal communities in Canada can be or have been faced with the same predicament such as the Florence Filberg, British Columbia:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province of British Columbia negotiate directly with the Government of Canada to determine which of those two orders of government has appropriate jurisdiction in these matters;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Union of British Columbia Municipalities negotiate with the Province of British Columbia to continue to work with the federal government in addressing this outstanding issue affecting all coastal communities in BC;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the removal of derelict vessels be at no cost to local government.

ON MOTION was ENDORSED

On regular motion, duly moved and seconded, that the order of resolutions be amended to allow RR1, R4, R5 and R6 to be considered at the same time was endorsed.

R4 DERELICT VESSELS – North Saanich

WHEREAS derelict and abandoned boats, vessels and structures anchored near Vancouver Island coastal communities are an increasing problem;

AND WHEREAS the safety hazards, the risk of environmental contamination and the visual pollution caused by derelict and abandoned boats is a growing concern to all coastal communities affected by this issue:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Coastal Communities strongly petition the Province, the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard to take immediate action to remove any derelict vessels that have been unoccupied for a period of three months or longer from the coastal waters and harbours of any communities requesting such action.

R5 DERELICT AND ABANDONED VESSELS, BARGES & DOCKS – Islands Trust

WHEREAS UBCM has previously endorsed resolutions on the topic of derelict vessels in 2005 and 2009 and the issue of derelict and abandoned vessels, barges, and docks continues to be a growing problem for local governments in British Columbia;

AND WHEREAS there are many derelict and abandoned vessels, barges and docks that pose a threat to human safety, have an impact on aquatic habitats, and/or are generally unsightly:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the UBCM lobby the provincial and federal governments to develop a coordinated approach to the timely and adequate removal of all types of derelict and abandoned vessels, barges and docks in all situations and consider the following strategies:

• funding mechanism(s) such as a fee on vessel registrations or a surcharge on marine fuel to fund the removal of derelict and abandoned vessels, barges and docks;
• designated disposal areas where owners can take their unwanted boats and structures to provide an alternative to abandonment on public property; and
• establishment of fibreglass boat recycling centres.

R6 DERELICT VESSELS – Sechelt District

WHEREAS harbour authorities on the west coast of Canada face ongoing issues with vessels being abandoned by owners and in most cases these derelict vessels can no longer be linked to a specific owner so their removal must be managed by the harbour authority at substantial cost;

AND WHEREAS these vessels create environmental and safety issues and limit other recreational boaters’ use of the harbour authority’s infrastructure:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and Union of BC Municipalities work with the Province of British Columbia to petition the Government of Canada to make legislative changes that would streamline the process for removal of abandoned or derelict vessels from its harbours at little to no cost to the harbour authority.

ON MOTION, R4, R5 and R6 were ENDORSED

On regular motion, duly moved and seconded, that R1 and R2 be joined was endorsed.  The intent is that a single resolution be forwarded to UBCM.

R1 ARTS & CULTURE FUNDING – Powell River City, Powell River RD

WHEREAS arts and culture are universal goods which represent a very important part of the social fabric of all communities;

AND WHEREAS the Province’s Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services has recommended that the Province restore funding for arts and culture organizations to the 2008/2009 levels:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the AVICC call on the Province of British Columbia to restore funds to the community arts and culture organizations to the 2008 / 2009 levels.

R2 SUPPORT FOR ARTS AND CULTURAL FUNDING – North Saanich

WHEREAS arts and culture contribute to the economic viability, sustainability and social diversity of British Columbia communities;

AND WHEREAS the recent cutbacks to cultural services and cultural funding grants could have serious economic and social impacts affecting every municipality:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Coastal Communities petition the Province to restore funding for the arts to their 2008-09 levels.

ON MOTION R1 AND R2 AS A JOINED RESOLUTION was ENDORSED

R3 MEAT REGULATIONS – North Saanich

WHEREAS the Province’s Meat Inspection Regulations are having an adverse effect on the local economy of rural communities due to the hardship they impose on small scale producers and processors;

AND WHEREAS the regulations are also negatively impacting local food security and sustainability due to the distances local producers are required to transport livestock, the stress it places on the animals, and the additional greenhouse gas emissions that result:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Coastal Communities petition the Province to tailor the Meat Inspection Regulations to allow local, and / or mobile small-scale abattoir facilities to operate under less stringent facility regulations, without the requirements for a meat inspector on site when slaughtering, and that any meat processed in such a manner will be allowed to be sold locally to the public.

On motion, duly moved and seconded, that the phrase “without lowering health and safety standards” be added to the enactment clause, was endorsed.

The motion, as amended, then read:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Coastal Communities petition the Province to tailor the Meat Inspection Regulations to allow local, and / or mobile small-scale abattoir facilities to operate under less stringent facility regulations without lowering health and safety standards, without the requirements for a meat inspector on site when slaughtering, and that any meat processed in such a manner will be allowed to be sold locally to the public.

ON MOTION, as amended, was ENDORSED

R7 CANADA GOOSE POPULATION –  North Saanich

WHEREAS non-migratory Canada geese have been rapidly increasing in numbers for the past twenty years;

AND WHEREAS the geese are having an increasingly severe impact on food production from the damage they cause to crops;

AND WHEREAS legal methods of resolving the problems associated with Canada geese are largely ineffective in the long term:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Coastal Communities petition the federal government and Canadian Wildlife Service to implement changes to the regulations under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, and make effective mechanisms available to local governments in dealing with the problems associated with overpopulation of Canada geese.

ON MOTION was ENDORSED

R8 RIPARIAN AREA PROTECTION ON PRIVATE FOREST LANDS – Parksville

WHEREAS the study of ecosystem services as they relate to water is still developing and scientists are working to understand human impacts on water and the functions of fresh-water ecosystems in storing, filtering and purifying water;

AND WHEREAS the Private Managed Forest Land Act does not impose ecosystem-based riparian regulations and permits selective harvesting to the water’s edge on all water courses including fish-bearing streams and community drinking water sheds:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities request the provincial government amend the Private Forest Management Land Act to adopt the Suzuki Foundation’s recommendations for riparian reserves as defined it is publication “A Cut Above” (a no-harvest zone on each bank of the stream, two times the length of the tallest, site-specific, mature tree in width) with the goal to maintain and restore the productivity and resiliency of riparian ecosystems by maintaining along a stream or river all the biological and physical characteristics of an undisturbed forest, including both buffering and connectivity.

On motion, duly moved and seconded, that the phrase “to adopt the Suzuki Foundation’s recommendations for riparian reserves as defined it is publication “A Cut Above” (a no-harvest zone on each bank of the stream, two times the length of the tallest, site-specific, mature tree in width)” be deleted was endorsed.

The motion as amended, then read:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities request the provincial government amend the Private Forest Management Land Act with the goal to maintain and restore the productivity and resiliency of riparian ecosystems by maintaining along a stream or river all the biological and physical characteristics of an undisturbed forest, including both buffering and connectivity.

On motion, duly moved and seconded, that the amended resolution be further amended to include the phrase “and where Riparian areas have already been daylighted, that replacing and restoration of riparian areas be undertaken immediately” added to the enactment clause after “connectivity” was defeated.

ON MOTION, as amended, was ENDORSED

R9 SOUTHERN STRAIT OF GEORGIA NATIONAL MARINE CONSERVATION AREA RESERVE –  Islands Trust

WHEREAS the Southern Strait of Georgia in British Columbia is an ecologically, economically, and culturally rich area that contains the critical habitat of the endangered southern resident orca and is being harmed by a variety of human activities;

AND WHEREAS the Government of British Columbia and Parks Canada agreed in 1995 under the Pacific Marine Heritage Legacy to undertake a study to assess the feasibility of protecting and managing this area as a National Marine Conservation Area Reserve (NMCAR) under the Canada National Marine Conservation Areas Act, and have been engaged in the feasibility study since 2004:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the UBCM supports the establishment of a large, ecologically zoned NMCAR in the southern Strait of Georgia from the proposed southern end of Haro Strait, up to and including, Gabriola Passage, and urge immediate action from the provincial and federal governments to proceed on this initiative while respecting First Nations interests in the area.

ON MOTION was ENDORSED

R10 PARKLAND DEDICATION – Metchosin

WHEREAS Section 941 of the Local Government Act grants all municipalities the ability to acquire 5% dedication for park land during the subdivision process (or monies in lieu of park land);

AND WHEREAS Section 941 in subsection 5(b) does not apply to a subdivision by which the smallest lot being created is larger than 2 hectares;

AND WHEREAS rural communities often have land zoned for a minimum lot size greater than 2 hectares and as a result are not able to avail themselves of this provision:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that provincial legislation be amended to increase the size of the smallest lot in Section 941 5(b) to be larger than 4 hectares.

ON MOTION was ENDORSED

R11 COMMUNITY FARM MARKETS – North Saanich

WHEREAS local community farm markets build communities, have re-vitalized the local economies of urban and rural communities, and can provide food security with a lower carbon footprint;

AND WHEREAS local farm markets require funding to cover start-up costs for infrastructure, promotion and insurance:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Coastal Communities petition the Province to provide funding to contribute to the start-up costs for communities to establish new local farm markets.

On motion, duly moved and seconded, that the word “permanent” be added to describe the type of farm markets was defeated.

ON MOTION was DEFEATED

R12 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TRAINING – Sunshine Coast RD

WHEREAS the BC Association of Emergency Managers was unable to secure grant funding for Emergency Management training for the 2010/2011 fiscal year despite the withdrawal of sponsored training from the Provincial Emergency Program budget in March 2009;

AND WHEREAS it is imperative that all local governments have access to emergency management training in order to respond to emergency situations and safeguard the lives and property of the people of British Columbia;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities urge the Solicitor General to reinstate core funding for emergency management training.

ON MOTION was ENDORSED

R13 EXPANSION OF INFRASTRUCTURE GRANTPROGRAMS TO INCLUDE MAJOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT FACILITIES – Central Saanich

WHEREAS numerous local governments throughout British Columbia are experiencing significant issues and challenges in relation to local government facilities, in terms of aging infrastructure and inadequate space and functionality;

AND WHEREAS many, if not all, major infrastructure grant programs do not contain significant funding components for the extensive upgrading, renovation, reconstruction and new construction of essential local government facilities:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the AVICC urge the Union of British Columbia Municipalities to lobby the Government of the Province of British Columbia and the Federal Government of Canada for the addition of significant funding components in the infrastructure grant programs to assist local governments with major facilities projects such as municipal halls, fire halls, public safety buildings and public works yards.

ON MOTION was ENDORSED

R14 INFRASTRUCTURE STIMULUS FUND – Sunshine Coast RD

WHEREAS concern has been expressed that local governments across the country will be unable to meet the deadline of March 31, 2011 for completing projects approved under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund;

AND WHEREAS the implications for local governments unable to complete projects on schedule is unclear:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the federal government be requested to extend the completion deadline for Infrastructure Stimulus funded projects from March 31, 2011 to March 31, 2012.

On motion, duly moved and seconded, that the date March 31, 2012 be amended to October 30, 2011 was defeated.

ON MOTION was ENDORSED

R15 TREATY SETTLEMENT COSTS – Colwood

WHEREAS open and principled community based agreements with Aboriginal people (treaties) may encompass multiple local governments, but the availability of the land component may be vastly different from one local government to the next;

AND WHEREAS there is a real long-term cost associated with the removal of lands from local government jurisdictions, which may place a burden solely on the land-owning local governments;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province of British Columbia be requested to include a formula to fairly compensate any local government for the loss of land as a result of settlement agreement with Aboriginal people so that all the parties who benefit from the agreement share the costs and benefits of the agreement equally.

ON MOTION was ENDORSED

R16 JUSTICE SYSTEM LEGISLATION – Parksville

WHEREAS elected officials have a responsibility to provide for the protection and safety of the citizens of all communities and only the federal government has the ability to change the necessary justice system legislation;

AND WHEREAS the diminishing effectiveness of the Canadian criminal justice system to control crime and the public’s loss of confidence in the system has resulted in the subsequent deteriorating effectiveness of our policies agencies to control crime:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government petition the federal government to review the Canadian criminal justice system, with input from the RCMP, towards:

1.     finding ways to limit the court’s ability to interpret laws to benefit lawbreakers, to the detriment of victims;

2.     Crown Counsel to be more open to approving charges beyond those that have a substantial likelihood of a conviction;

3.     improving sentencing guidelines to ensure that the legislated maximum penalties are imposed for lawbreaking convictions;

4.     emphasizing the protection of society and the responsibility of individuals for their criminal behaviour; and

5.     emphasizing the rights of law abiding citizens over that of criminals.

ON MOTION was DEFEATED

R17 PRIME BC – North Cowichan

WHEREAS the Police Records Management Environment (PRIME) is the provincially-approved system for all police agencies in British Columbia;

AND WHEREAS PRIME was established, and user fees increased in 2010 by 100%, with no consultation with local governments:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities urge the Province of British Columbia to hold user fees for PRIME BC at 2009 levels and consult with local governments before implementing further fee increases that affect local government budgets.

ON MOTION was ENDORSED

R18 RCMP INVESTIGATION COST SHARING Campbell River

WHEREAS British Columbia local governments can now be subject to unexpected costs as a result of investigations not covered by the RCMP contract;

AND WHEREAS these unexpected costs have the potential to create financial hardship for local governments:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that AVICC members establish a collective fund that would be used to pay the costs of RCMP investigations not covered by their individual RCMP contracts.

On motion, duly moved and seconded, that the word “municipalities” be added after member was defeated.

ON MOTION was DEFEATED

R19 RELEASE OF LICENSED MEDICAL MARIJUANA SITES INFORMATION – Sooke

WHEREAS Health Canada licences medical marijuana sites in communities and has no provision to notify local authorities to provide information on these sites;

AND WHEREAS the District of Sooke recently experienced an incident at a licensed medical marijuana site that protective services would not have attended if they had known it was a registered site;

AND WHEREAS, due to the safety risks imposed on both occupants and local authorities and the difficulty in monitoring fire and safety standards on these sites due to lack of information, local authorities should receive regular information as to registered medical marijuana sites:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities urge the federal government:

a.     to require those persons applying for a medical marijuana site be required to comply with local building code and inspection requirements prior to Health Canada issuing the licence, and

b.     to release the information as to registered medical marijuana sites to local authorities.

ON MOTION was ENDORSED

R20 SUPPORT FOR THE COMMUNITY JUSTICE PROGRAM – Sechelt District

WHEREAS many communities no longer have an assigned provincial judge and therefore have inadequate means to promptly resolve criminal issues;

AND WHEREAS the shortage of judges results in members of the public being poorly served and delays in due process;

AND WHEREAS many communities use community justice mechanisms to deal with first time offenders, reducing court time and helping to seek resolutions to matters in a more expeditious manner:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government be urged to adequately fund the services the community justice programs provide to communities and the now very overloaded court systems.

Upon request, the chair agreed to add the word “strongly” before “urged” as a friendly amendment.

The motion then read:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government be strongly urged to adequately fund the services the community justice programs provide to communities and the now very overloaded court systems.

ON MOTION, as amended, was ENDORSED

R21 BC FERRIES SUBSIDY – Metchosin

WHEREAS children suffering from serious illnesses such as cancer who reside on Vancouver Island and in coastal communities may require treatment at the BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver;

AND WHEREAS the ferry subsidy to access non-emergency medical specialist services not available in their own community helps alleviate the financial burden incurred while travelling for reasons associated with the children’s health conditions;

AND WHEREAS the ferry subsidy is restricted to the patient (and an escort under certain conditions), and does not cover the cost of parents travelling back and forth from their home to Vancouver during the extended period of their child’s treatment:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government, through the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, and BC Ferries, recognize these prohibitive pressures and seek to help families by subsidizing the ferry fares of immediate family members incurred when travelling back and forth on BC Ferries during the extended period of their child’s treatment.

On motion, duly moved and seconded, that the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure be changed to Ministry of Health Services and the phrase “ these prohibitive pressures and seek to help families” be replaced with the phrase “the financial challenges for some families and provide help” was endorsed.

The motion as amended, then read:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that BC Ferries and the provincial government, through the Ministry of Health Services, recognize the financial challenges for some families and provide help by subsidizing the ferry fares of immediate family members incurred when travelling back and forth on BC Ferries during the extended period of a child’s treatment.

ON MOTION, as amended, was ENDORSED

R22 SUPPORT FOR PERSONS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS – Sechelt District

WHEREAS there are many communities that have inadequate support for citizens with mental illness and those who have dual diagnosis with addiction issues in need of mental health services, and have a higher risk of homelessness and other health related issues;

AND WHEREAS many members of our communities are unable to function and participate safely and fully in society and require a safe haven such as a drop-in centre:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government be urged to expand services and funding for people with mental illness and addictions, especially in small and midsize communities, where seed monies to fund “not for profit”, day programs, street support workers, recreation programs and nutrition programs are critically lacking.

ON MOTION was ENDORSED

LR2 B.C. FERRIES FARE INCREASES – Sunshine Coast RD

WHEREAS the B.C. Ferry Corporation continues to escalate fares to our coastal communities that are well in excess of all provincial and national cost of living and income increases;

AND WHEREAS B.C. Ferries current corporate mandate and operating model does not consider two of the fundamentals of our communities’ sustainability, i.e. the social and economic implications;

AND WHEREAS it is apparent that any changes to this upwards spiral rests with the Province;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT UBCM form a task force with the Ministry of Transportation & Infrastructure to explore ways and means to eliminate these extreme annual hikes.

On motion, duly moved and seconded, that the phrase “prior to the Province entering into the third contract term with the Corporation” be added to the enactment clause was endorsed.

The motion as amended, then read:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT UBCM form a task force with the Ministry of Transportation & Infrastructure to explore ways and means to eliminate these extreme annual hikes prior to the Province entering into the third contract term with the Corporation.

ON MOTION, as amended, was ENDORSED

LR11 PHYSICAL ACCESS FOR DISABLED PASSENGERS – Parksville

THAT the City of Parksville, on behalf of Parksville’s Measuring Up Committee, lobby the Provincial & Federal governments through the Association of Vancouver Island Coastal Communities, the Union of British Columbia Municipalities and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities that Canadian public transportation providers be required by law to provide physical access for disabled passengers in Canada similar to the United States “Americans with Disabilities Act” which was adopted in 1990.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

On motion, duly moved and seconded, that LR12 and LR13 as motions from the floor and distributed to all members in attendance be admitted for discussion was endorsed.

LR12  RAIL TERMINUS IN NANAIMO – AVICC Executive

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT AVICC support the establishment of the main rail terminus in Nanaimo and the proposed two train early morning southbound schedule as a first step in providing improved rail service on Vancouver Island, and encourages VIARail to increase the operating subsidy necessary for this to occur.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED UNANIMOUSLY

LR13  COASTAL DOUGLAS FIR MOIST MARITIME LAND USE– AVICC Executive

WHEREAS a logging application has been submitted to Calvin Ross at South Island Forest District in Port Alberni to log the Nanoose Wetland Forest (DL33).

WHEREAS even small parcels like DL33 make important contributions to conservation of coastal Douglas Fir and contains the only remaining intact watershed of any tributary supplying Nanoose Creek, a wild salmon stream.

WHEREAS BC Environment Ministry confirm that nearly every type of Old Growth Douglas Fir Forest on BC dry coastal plain is now rare or endangered.

WHEREAS the coastal Douglas Fir ecosystem that once dominated the Georgia Basin now teetered at the brink of extinction and most of what does remain is the responsibility of British Columbians.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT AVICC request that the Ministry of Environment to allow for the Coastal Douglas Fir Moist Maritime land use order to follow its proper public consultation and ministerial development course and process.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

Late Resolutions Which Were Submitted, But Were Not Approved for Debate:

LR1  PROPOSED PRIVATIZATION O BC AMBULANCE SERVICES

LR3  BASE LEVEL HARM REDUCTION

LR4  ALCOHOL REDUCTION STRATEGY

LR5  MEDICAL CANNABIS

LR6  DEVELOPMENT OF A SPECIES AND ECOSYSTEM PROTECTION ACT FOR B.C.

LR7  ALLOCATING A LARGER PROPORTION OF FEDERAL  GAS TAX REVENUE TO MUNICIPALITIES

LR8  LEGAL AID FOR B.C.

LR9  AMENDMENT TO THE CANADIAN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ACT

LR10  ASSESSMENT OF PROPERTIES DEEMED CONTAMINATED

B1 MUNICIPAL BYLAW FINES Courtenay

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Government of British Columbia amend the Community Charter to provide local governments other methods of collecting outstanding Municipal Ticket Information (MTI) tickets including legislative changes.

Convention Decision: Endorsed as Amended

Provincial Response: MINISTRY OF COMMUNITY & RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Property taxes and unpaid fees or charges are directly related to the cost of services provided by a municipality.  Property taxes are not intended to be punitive in nature and as such are not a suitable method for collecting unpaid Municipal Ticket Information fines.

Municipalities currently have the ability to collect unpaid fines through either a collection agency or small claims court.  These methods are common to local governments across Canada and have proven to be effective.

B2 COMMUNITY JUSTICE Nanaimo RD

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government find more efficient and effective ways to address delays in the court system in order to reduce the administration impact on police services and thereby improve overall police services to our communities.

Convention Decision: Endorsed

Provincial Response: MINISTRY OF ATTORNEY GENERAL & MINISTRY OF PUBLIC SAFETY & SOLICITOR GENERAL

All provincial justice agencies and branches are working collaboratively to develop initiatives to make the criminal justice system more efficient and effective. To inform this process, we have commissioned a review of best practices by the International Centre for Criminal Law Reform. At this time, we are examining what practical pilot projects could be launched to test new approaches to improve the delivery of justice services in British Columbia. In the next year we will focus on addressing priority issues without financial resource impacts.

We are also engaged with the federal government and other Canadian jurisdictions at the Federal / Provincial / Territorial table to identify and implement reforms that will improve justice system efficiencies, including delays in the courts.

At the same time, we are piloting several initiatives that are testing new models for improved justice efficiency and effectiveness, including the Downtown Community Court in Vancouver, the Prolific Offender Management project in six BC communities and the Bail Reform Project in the Peace and Fraser regions. Lessons learned from these initiatives will be evaluated and those elements that work best may be implemented elsewhere in the province.

B19 ENABLING LEGISLATION TO ALLOW MUNICIPALITIES TO CREATE BLANKET SPEED ZONES  Central Saanich

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities reiterate its previous request to the Minister of Transportation that the necessary amendments be made to the Motor Vehicle Act to allow municipalities to implement blanket speed zones in residential areas, and on other municipal roadways as deemed appropriate.

Convention Decision: Endorsed

Provincial Response: MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION & INFRASTRUCTURE

Within a municipality, the Motor Vehicle Act establishes a default speed limit of 50 km/h.  To vary this speed limit, the municipality must pass a bylaw and post signs on all affected streets so that a motorist can reasonably be expected to know the applicable speed limit.

For several years, various municipalities and UBCM have requested an amendment to the Act to provide authority to municipalities to establish, by bylaw, blanket speed zones that would apply to defined areas within a municipality.  Under this scheme, speed limit signs would be placed at entrances to the defined areas where the posted speed limit was different than 50 km/h.  For example, Vancouver wants to implement 40 km/h blanket speed zones in many residential areas as a means to better accommodate active transportation and improve pedestrian safety.  Vancouver is currently consulting with stakeholders, including other municipalities in the Lower Mainland, TransLink, and the BC Association of Chiefs of Police in respect of this concept.

Within a municipality or with many roads across adjacent municipalities providing access to a defined area, the possibility of a motorist not being aware of the applicable speed limit is an issue.  Criminal Justice Branch is concerned that the use of blanket speed zones in an urban environment may result in (1) a patchwork of speed limits, and (2) challenges to speeding tickets on the basis that motorists cannot reasonably know the applicable speed limits established by bylaws and posted only at entrances to defined areas.

The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure advises that UBCM and municipal proponents of blanket speed zones need to develop a solid case for the requested amendment, one that addresses the issues of enforcement. The Ministry is looking forward to the results of Vancouver’s stakeholder consultations regarding the use of blanket speed zones in the Lower Mainland.

B41 REGULATION OF NUISANCES ON PRIVATE MANAGED FOREST LAND  Sunshine Coast RD

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of British Columbia Municipalities urge the provincial government and the Private Managed Forest Land Council to provide local government the authority to regulate nuisances such as noise on private managed forest lands within the urban interface.

Convention Decision: Endorsed

Provincial Response: MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & LANDS

Section 21 of the Private Managed Forest Land Act (PMFLA) constrains local governments from adopting a bylaw or issuing a permit that would have the effect of directly or indirectly restricting forest management activity. Private forest operators must adhere to local bylaws that came into force prior to land entering the managed forest program.

Forestry activities may potentially involve noisy equipment and machinery. Land owners may need to run the machinery long hours over limited days of duration in order to keep operations financially viable. Requiring private managed forest land owners to adhere to noise bylaws could significantly affect the economics of forestry activities.

Many of British Columbia’s private forest lands have been used for forestry for a very long time. It is important to recognize and respect this historic use of land, particularly as residential areas expand into proximity with lands used for industrial purposes. At the same time, it is important for owners of private managed forest land to be sensitive to community concerns about noise, and accommodate such concerns where feasible.

Other Response:PRIVATE MANAGED FOREST LAND COUNCIL

The Private Managed Forest Land Act (the Act) establishes forest management objectives for water quality, fish habitat, soil conservation, critical wildlife habitat, and reforestation on private managed forest land. Under the Act, the Council is empowered to make regulations respecting each of these forest management objectives except for critical wildlife habitat. The Council is not permitted to make regulations for matters not specifically set out in the Act. Accordingly the Council does not have any jurisdiction respecting the regulation of noise related issues on private managed forest land.

The Council understands that noise issues related to timber harvesting periodically occur on private managed forest land. When the Council has become aware of specific complaints respecting noise or other matters not within our jurisdiction, we have encouraged the complainant to contact the owner directly. We also encourage owners to discuss these types of issues with the complainant and to make best efforts to find a solution that is workable for each of the parties.

B42 COMPENSATION FOR LARGE SCALE MINING ACTIVITIES Sechelt

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province of BC be requested to put in place a mechanism that would allow local government to receive financial compensation.

Convention Decision: Endorsed

Provincial Response: MINISTRY OF ENERGY, MINES & PETROLEUM RESOURCES

Mining creates over 10,000 direct jobs with an average annual wage of $112,000. In 2008, more than 28,000 people were employed in the minerals economy in over 50 BC communities.

Mining also contributes to local economies with: business opportunities, economic diversification, infrastructure development and skills development opportunities for local residents and First Nations peoples. Since 2005, the Province has contributed nearly $5 million in funding for mining education and skills training for individuals in rural and First Nations communities.

The British Columbia Mining Plan has continued to provide guidance to the mining industry by focusing on inclusiveness and supporting benefits such as employment and business opportunities for local communities. The mining approval processes (both Environmental Assessment and Mine Permitting) include opportunities for local communities to ensure appropriate mitigation of social and environmental impacts, protection of health and safety and enhancement of local benefits. Taxes and royalties paid by the mining industry go to provide health and education needs in every community in BC. Taxes and direct expenditures by the mining industry support infrastructure development such as roads, community centres and local sponsorships. Hundreds of mining supply businesses in local communities around the Province are sustained by mines.

B45 RESTORATION OF BC HYDRO MANDATE Highlands

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that BC Hydro have its mandate restored to look for opportunities to develop sustainable alternative energy sources.

Convention Decision:Endorsed

Provincial Response: MINISTRY OF ENERGY, MINES & PETROLEUM RESOURCES

The BC Energy Plan clearly states government’s commitment to public ownership of BC Hydro and its assets, while broadening the supply of available energy. BC Hydro is investing more than $3.6 billion over the next two years to upgrade its dams and other public power infrastructure. The BC Energy Plan focuses on innovative, sustainable energy solutions for British Columbia.

Clean, renewable electricity accounts for over 90 per cent of total generation, and combined with aggressive conservation targets, places our province among the top jurisdictions in the world. A typical clean, renewable power project will require more than 50 permits, licences, approvals and reviews from 14 regulatory bodies, including federal and provincial agencies, local governments and First Nations. Clean, renewable power projects are just one part of B.C.’s energy mix.

The long-term transmission inquiry being conducted by the BC Utilities Commission is a public process and will identify areas in the province with high levels of clean and renewable generation potential, taking into account areas that may be inappropriate for development, and the most efficient transmission infrastructure to deliver that electricity to customers. The recent decision by BCUC does not shut the door on clean and renewable power projects. In fact, just a few weeks ago BCUC accepted electricity purchase agreements with four biomass projects.

Other Response: BC HYDRO

BC Hydro is the largest utility in British Columbia, operating 31 hydroelectric facilities and three thermal generating plants across the province. As a provincial Crown corporation, we receive guidance from the Province, our Shareholder, through several policy instruments, including a Shareholder’s Letter of Expectation and The BC Energy Plan: A Vision for Clean Energy Leadership.

The BC Energy Plan directs BC Hydro to look to all forms of clean and renewable energy options as well as demand side management measures to meet the future energy needs of British Columbians.

Included among these initiatives is a goal for BC Hydro to acquire 50 per cent of incremental resource needs through energy conservation and efficiency by 2020, while at the same time requiring that:

• All new electricity projects developed in BC will have zero net greenhouse gas emissions.
• Existing thermal generation power plants will reach zero net greenhouse gas emissions by 2016.
• Clean or renewable electricity generation will continue to account for at least 90 per cent of total generation, placing the province’s standard among the top jurisdictions in the world.

The Energy Plan also commits that British Columbia will be electricity self-sufficient by 2016. To achieve this goal, BC Hydro has commenced a multi-billion dollar capital investment program to upgrade our heritage assets, launched a world leading demand side management program, acquired additional clean and renewable power from Independent Power Producers and is investigating a potential new generation site (Site C) on the Peace River.

All of the initiatives mentioned previously are being undertaken with an underlying goal of providing British Columbians with the benefits of clean, low-cost, reliable power for generations to come.

B66 SAFER COMMUNITIES AND NEIGHBOURHOODS Courtenay

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Government of British Columbia work with UBCM to create or improve existing legislation in order to address the public disorder and neighbourhood deterioration caused by illicit drug houses, problem addresses, businesses and the issues associated with them.

Convention Decision: Endorsed as Amended

Provincial Response: MINISTRY OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND SOLICITOR GENERAL

Drug houses and the problems associated with them are a concern in many communities in British Columbia.

The Government has been examining ways to support local residents in their efforts to increase the security of their neighbourhoods. This includes looking to other jurisdictions and their responses to disruptive drug, party and crack houses, including the introduction of legislation to empower communities to address the problems associated with these properties.

There are a number of communities that have utilized provisions existing under the Community Charter to enact nuisance bylaws where public health and safety risks related to drug or party houses are an issue. These Controlled Substance Property bylaws, including those in Surrey, Port Coquitlam and the Town of Gibsons, can serve as a model for other municipalities experiencing similar problems with these houses.

Other existing supports for communities include information developed by the Criminal Justice Reform Secretariat. The Crime Prevention Guide (www.criminaljusticereform.gov.bc.ca) offers guidance to assist communities in responding safety concerns in their neighbourhoods.

B89 AGRICULTURE FUNDING Highlands

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government increase financial support for agriculture consistent with the national average and cease approving any further Agricultural Land Reserve exclusions.

Convention Decision: Endorsed

Provincial Response: MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND LANDS, AGRICULTURE LAND COMMISSION

Agriculture in B.C. is very different from agriculture in other provinces such as Saskatchewan. Government support and program payments depend not only on crop/commodity differences, but weather events and disease outbreaks, as well as market challenges and market opportunities.

B.C. is unlike most other provinces in that a high proportion of agriculture is in supply managed sectors. These sectors typically do not receive direct government expenditures except in unusual circumstances, such as Avian Influenza.

The Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) is a provincial land use zone in favour of agriculture administered by the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC). The ALR is primarily intended to preserve BC’s limited agricultural land base and to provide land use certainty to encourage agricultural businesses. The purposes of the ALC are to preserve agricultural land, to encourage farming and to work with local governments and First Nations at a planning level to enable and accommodate farm use of agricultural land.

The ALC recognizes that the ALR should be based on agricultural land capability and suitability for a diverse range of agricultural products. The ALC works closely with local governments to encourage farming on agricultural land as well as in reviewing official community plans, bylaws and other planning documents. On occasion these reviews may prompt a review of the ALR boundaries. In addition, the ALC believes it would be a useful exercise to work with local governments in reviewing the ALR boundaries in certain areas of the province to ensure the boundaries reflect lands that are both capable and suitable for agriculture. Based on the findings of applications the ALC has a particular interest in working with several communities in the northern and eastern parts of the province.

B90 COSTS OF RESPONDING TO PROVINCIAL REFERRALS  Sunshine Coast RD

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities lobby the provincial government to provide funding to offset the costs of responding to the large number of referrals.

Convention Decision: Endorsed

Provincial Response:INTEGRATED LAND MANAGEMENT BUREAU

All levels of government are experiencing similar resourcing challenges, particularly in urban areas. The Integrated Land Management Bureau (ILMB), like all natural resource agencies, lacks the resources to provide funding to local governments. Through programs like FrontCounter BC, the Resource Management Coordination Project, and Natural Resource Authorization Coordination, ILMB strives to streamline applications to reduce the financial burden associated with processing referrals for all parties.

There may be additional opportunities to reduce costs by developing common sources of information and data. Federal-provincial databases have been used in the past for coordinating referrals in the lower mainland. Broadening these systems to provide access to local governments could be mutually beneficial.

Any endorsed resolutions below have been conveyed to the relevant provincial or federal government department, or other organizations as appropriate. Sponsors will be notified of responses as they are received, and responses will be posted on the UBCM website.

B98 ELECTED OFFICIALS AS VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS Sayward

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities request the provincial government to amend the Local Government Act, Division 5, Section 67 to exempt volunteer firefighters from being designated as employees for election purposes.

Convention Decision: Not Considered – Automatic Referral to Executive

Executive Decision: Referred to Elections Task Force

B100 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTION DATE Campbell River

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government amend the Local Government Act to move the local government election date from the third Saturday in November to the third Saturday in October.

Convention Decision: Not Considered – Automatic Referral to Executive

Executive Decision: Not Endorsed

B107 NEED FOR INTEGRATED SUSTAINABLE ENERGY PLANNING PROCESS  Strathcona RD

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM request the government of British Columbia to immediately enact a province wide integrated sustainable energy planning process to determine the need for the best technology to be used and any new siting of sustainable energy production.

Convention Decision: Not Considered – Automatic Referral to Executive

Executive Decision: Endorsed

B111 CLIMATE ACTION SERVICES  View Royal

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province establish a service for the purpose of advising local governments on matters related to carbon tax, quotas, and opportunities for carbon tax credit rebates and other allied matters.

Convention Decision: Not Considered – Automatic Referral to Executive

Executive Decision: Endorsed as Amended

B136 COMMUNITY WATERSHEDS  Port Alberni

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities request the provincial government to develop, implement and fund a strategy whereby the appropriate mix of land use regulation and local ownership of community watersheds be applied for the security of our precious municipal water sources.

Convention Decision: Not Considered – Automatic Referral to Executive

Executive Decision: Referred to April 2010 Executive Meeting

B137 INDEPENDENT POWER PROJECTS Tofino

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province take a leadership role when granting environmental permits and land tenures within British Columbia relating to the development of independent power projects by:

• Developing, in consultation with local governments, First Nations, industry, the public and regulatory stakeholders, clear and measurable criteria by which to evaluate independent power production projects against community social, land use and environmental values and an agreed upon “green energy” standard for both the generation and power line components of the projects;
• Establishing standards for transmission line development that require optimization of existing power lines infrastructure and shared use of lines as a condition of right-of-way agreements and provide regulatory authority to require shared use as a condition of licensing and recognizing and protecting scenic value zones in areas of high tourism activity;
• Establishing an independent monitoring function to ensure accountability and enforcement of conditions and standards applied to independent power production projects.

Convention Decision: Not Considered – Automatic Referral to Executive

Executive Decision: Endorsed as Amended

B139 AGRICULTURAL LAND USE CRITERIA Metchosin

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the UBCM notify BC Assessment of its objection to BC Assessment’s farm assessment policy criteria;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that BC Assessment employ personnel with experience and knowledge of agriculture to apply those criteria in practice.

Convention Decision: Not Considered – Automatic Referral to Executive

Executive Decision: No Action Required

B141 PRIVATE MOORAGE WHARF TENURE Strathcona RD

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the UBCM communicate to the Minister of Agriculture and Lands its desire to continue receiving referrals on applications for private moorage wharves;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Minister be requested to ensure that any new tenure for private moorage wharves be limited to a maximum five-year term, with any renewal of permission considered through a review that includes a referral to the regional district.

Convention Decision: Not Considered – Automatic Referral to Executive

Executive Decision:Endorsed

B148 INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL GRADUATE PROGRAM Port Alice

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Ministry of Health review and correct the obstacles in the existing medical training model that are preventing Canadians, trained as doctors in other Commonwealth countries or the U.S. from returning to Canada to practice;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Ministry of Health review and correct the obstacles in the current International Medical Graduate (IMG) Program that also prohibits Canadians trained as doctors in other Commonwealth countries or the U.S. from returning to Canada to practice.

Convention Decision: Not Considered – Automatic Referral to Executive

Executive Decision: Endorsed

B156 A MINOR ROUTES STRATEGY FOR COASTAL FERRY SERVICE  Islands Trust

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities request that the British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure work with coastal communities and BC Ferries to develop a strategy for the minor southern coastal ferry routes, as proposed by the Ferry Advisory Committee Chairs.

Convention Decision: Not Considered – Automatic Referral to Executive

Executive Decision: Endorsed

B166 ALTERNATIVE ENERGY INSTALLATIONS   AVICC

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government of British Columbia provide incentives to encourage new construction to be pre-plumbed and pre-wired for future solar panels or other alternative energy installations.

Convention Decision: Not Considered – Automatic Referral to Executive

Executive Decision: Endorsed

ON MOTION was ENDORSED

R2 VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS CONSIDERED EMPLOYEES – Port Hardy

WHEREAS unpaid volunteer firefighters are considered “employees” of local government under section 67 of the Local Government Act and are therefore excluded from being nominated for, being elected to, or holding local government office;

AND WHEREAS this creates a hardship for small communities where both volunteer firefighters and those willing to seek election for local government are scarce:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities petition the Minister of Community Development to revise the Act to exempt unpaid volunteer firefighters from the definition of “employee” under section 67 of the Local Government Act, allowing them to be nominated for, elected to or hold local government office without having to resign from the fire department.

ON MOTION was ENDORSED

R3 ELECTED OFFICIALS AS VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS – Sayward

WHEREAS volunteer firefighters are essential for providing adequate emergency fire response services in many small/rural communities, and there is great difficulty in finding and retaining volunteer firefighters in these communities;

AND WHEREAS volunteer firefighters are deemed to be employees for election purposes requiring them to take a leave of absence to be nominated for elected office and then to resign from being a volunteer firefighter to hold office:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities request the provincial government to amend the Local Government Act, Division 5, Section 67 to exempt volunteer firefighters from being designated as employees for election purposes.

R4 MUNICIPAL BYLAW FINES – Courtenay

WHEREAS municipalities lack the legislative tools to adequately deal with certain types of problem properties and the collection of outstanding municipal fines:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Government of British Columbia amend the Community Charter to provide municipalities other methods of collecting outstanding MTI tickets including applying outstanding fines to property taxes.

The motion as amended, then read:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Government of British Columbia amend the Community Charter to provide local governments other methods of collecting outstanding MTI tickets including applying outstanding fines to property taxes.

ON MOTION, as amended, was ENDORSED

R5 CLIMATE ACTION SERVICES – View Royal

WHEREAS signatories to the Climate Action Charter are committed to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions but do not necessarily have the resources to monitor opportunities and develop initiatives;

AND WHEREAS the Province and the Union of BC Municipalities are committed to supporting local governments in pursuing these goals, including developing options and actions for local governments to be carbon neutral in respect of their operations by 2012:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the UBCM establish a service for the purpose of advising local governments on matters related to carbon tax, quotas, and opportunities for carbon tax credit rebates and other allied matters.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

R6 REGULATION OF NUISANCES ON PRIVATE MANAGED FOREST LAND – Sunshine Coast RD

WHEREAS local governments lack the authority to regulate nuisances such as noise on Private Managed Forest Lands;

AND WHEREAS local governments are the first point of contact for residents impacted by nuisances on Private Managed Forest Land within the urban interface:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities urge the provincial government and the Private Managed Forest Land Council to provide local government the authority to regulate nuisances such as noise on private managed forest lands within the urban interface.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

R7 COMMUNITY WATERSHEDS – Port Alberni

WHEREAS dramatic changes in land use and property ownership are impacting private lands within the watersheds of our municipal water sources;

WHEREAS the Provincial Health Authorities are increasing the requirements for clean water in municipal water systems and water quality is more difficult to manage on account of poor land use practices and changing ownership of land within our watersheds:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities request the provincial government to develop, implement and fund a strategy whereby the appropriate mix of land use regulation and local ownership of community watersheds be applied for the security of our precious municipal water sources.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

R8 PROPERTY PURCHASE TAX AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING – Metchosin

WHEREAS a purchaser of a residence selling for $500,000 will pay 1% property transfer tax on the first $200,000 ($2,000) and 2% property transfer tax on the remaining $300,000 ($6,000) thereby costing the purchaser an additional $8,000 for housing;

AND WHEREAS Canada is now in a recession and people are suffering from the high cost of housing and basic living needs:

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 Property Transfer Tax Act to eliminate the 2% property transfer tax on the value of a home above $200,000.

ON MOTION, was NOT ENDORSED

R9 COSTS OF RESPONDING TO PROVINCIAL REFERRALS – Sunshine Coast RD

WHEREAS local governments expend significant staff resources in order to respond to referrals and requests for comments related to applications within their boundaries from various provincial Ministries related to forest fertilization, mining, logging, foreshore leases, licenses of occupation, water licenses, etc.;

AND WHEREAS local governments face an ongoing struggle to balance budgets and respond to workload issues:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities lobby the provincial government to provide funding to offset the costs of responding to the large number of referrals.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

R10 INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM FUNDING – Powell River RD

WHEREAS local governments often have small scale infrastructure projects that must or can proceed quickly;

AND WHEREAS the process of submitting and reviewing applications for infrastructure grants can be time-consuming and costly:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities urge the federal and provincial governments to review the Canada-BC Building Canada Fund and other infrastructure programs to incorporate a funding mechanism similar to the Community Works Fund, administered under the federal-provincial Gas Tax Agreement, to provide some direct funding for small-scale infrastructure projects, thus enabling local governments to implement these projects quickly and cost-effectively.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

R11 COMPENSATION FOR LARGE SCALE MINING ACTIVITIES – Sechelt

WHEREAS large scale mining activities on Crown Land have a negative effect on neighbouring local governments in that they decrease property values and impact overall quality of life of residents;

AND WHEREAS the Crown received royalties from these mining activities:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province of BC be requested to put in place a mechanism that would allow local government to receive financial compensation to offset these negative impacts.

The resolution as amended, then read:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province of BC be requested to put in place a mechanism that would allow local government to receive financial compensation.

ON MOTION, as amended, was ENDORSED

R12 CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS – View Royal

WHEREAS it is desirable that candidates for positions on municipal councils have vested interest in, and a close tie to the community:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Local Government Act be amended to require candidates running for a position on municipal council to have been a resident in, or have been a real property owner in, or have operated a business in the municipality in question for a period of at least 90 days prior to the date of the election.

ON MOTION, was NOT ENDORSED

R13 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTION DATE – Campbell River

WHEREAS local government elections are held every three years on the third Saturday of November and the first regular council meeting following a general local election must occur within the first ten days of December;

AND WHEREAS the current November general local election date does not permit sufficient time for newly elected councils and regional boards to complete orientation sessions, attend the Union of BC Municipalities Local Government Leadership Academy training sessions, conduct strategic planning or sufficient time for financial planning for the following year; and considering the majority of Canadian provinces conduct local government election in the month of October:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government amend the Local Government Act to move the local government election date from the third Saturday in November to the third Saturday in October.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

R14 COMMUNITY JUSTICE – Nanaimo RD

WHEREAS in response to requests for more police presence in our communities, local governments are frequently told that case preparation and court time for minor offences reduce the time available;

AND WHEREAS local governments are called on increasingly to provide funding for Victim Services and Restorative Justice programs which help reduce the case management and court attendance time for police staff;

AND WHEREAS despite these efforts by communities the court system requires increasing attendance by police staff:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Provincial Government find more efficient and effective ways to address delays in the court system in order to reduce the administration impact on police services and thereby improve overall police services to our communities.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

R15 SAFER COMMUNITIES AND NEIGHBOURHOODS – Courtenay

WHEREAS municipalities lack the legislative tools to adequately deal with certain types of problem properties:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Government of British Columbia adopt “Safety Communities and Neighbourhoods” legislation, modeled after the Province of Alberta’s legislation in order to address the public disorder and neighbourhood deterioration caused by illicit drug houses, problem addresses and the issues associated with them.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

R16 INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL GRADUATE PROGRAM – Port Alice

WHEREAS there is a critical shortage of physicians in British Columbia, particularly affecting rural and remote BC;

AND WHEREAS Canadian medical students who have been forced to study abroad and now wish to return to Canada are facing huge barriers due to a medical training model that is over one hundred years old:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Ministry of Health review and correct the obstacles in the existing medical training model that are preventing Canadians, trained as doctors in other Commonwealth countries or the U.S. from returning to Canada to practice;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Ministry of Health review and correct the obstacles in the current IMG (International Medical Graduate) Program that also prohibits Canadians trained as doctors in other Commonwealth countries or the U.S. from returning to Canada to practice.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

R17 INDEPENDENT POWER PROJECTS – Tofino

WHEREAS the public power strategy of creating a crown corporation (BC Hydro) which for over 40 years produced great dividends for the people of BC, providing a secure, long-term supply of power as well as surplus electricity for export;

AND WHEREAS over 600 water license and land tenure applications have been submitted to the integrated and Land Management Bureau for river diversion projects on creeks and rivers across BC, with a typical project requiring river diversion, dams, logging, powerhouses, and many kilometres of roads and transmission lines, with no requirement for environmental assessment process for projects under 50 megawatts;

AND WHEREAS proposed run-of-the-river power projects do not take into consideration the various social, economic, recreational and environmental impacts that the construction and operation of a facility may have on the neighbouring areas and the region at large, and where each project is considered independently, not assessing the cumulative impact of multiple projects on the landscape;

AND WHEREAS the Union of BC Indian Chiefs has called for a moratorium on private hydro development until there was assurance of “transparent” consultation with First Nations and a review of the terms of existing water licenses:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government place a moratorium on issuing water licenses or licenses of occupation for independent power projects (IPPs) until:

1. All IPPs are regulated by BC Hydro for the public good.
2. Regional plans for IPP development are completed by the BC government with full public participation including regional and local governments.
3. IPPs are only developed when other less costly and less damaging forms of hydro power have been developed, and when new development is required for provincial hydro power self sufficiency.
4. Regulations require all IPPs to be assessed under the BC Environmental Assessment Act to determine if they are appropriate; this would include an examination of the cumulative impacts of proposed projects.
5. The development of IPPs is acceptable to local First Nations and local non-native communities.

The resolution as amended, then read:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government place a moratorium on issuing water licenses or licenses of occupation for independent power projects (IPPs) until:

1. All IPPs are regulated by BC Hydro for the public good.
2. Regional plans for IPP development are completed with the BC government with full public participation with regional and local governments.

IPPs are only developed when other less costly and less damaging forms of sustainable power have been developed, and when new development is required for provincial power self sufficiency.

1. Regulations require all IPPs to be assessed under the BC Environmental Assessment Act to determine if they are appropriate; this would include an examination of the cumulative impacts of proposed projects.
2. The development of IPPs is acceptable to local First Nations and local non-native communities.

ON MOTION, as amended was ENDORSED

R18 SOLAR PANEL INSTALLATION – View Royal

WHEREAS government at all levels should be encouraging the use of “green” methods of energy generation such as solar panels on buildings;

AND WHEREAS it would be cheaper and more convenient for homeowners to install solar panels should they deem to do so at some future time after the building is constructed:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the BC Building Code be amended to require new building to be pre-plumbed and pre-wired for future solar panel installation.

ON MOTION, was NOT ENDORSED

R19 PST ON INDUSTRIAL USE OF ELECTRIC POWER – Sunshine Coast RD

WHEREAS the Province of British Columbia is the only province to impose a Provincial Sales Tax on process use of electric power by industrial customers;

AND WHEREAS many pulp and paper mills are struggling to remain viable, particularly during this period of economic uncertainty:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities lobby the Provincial government to amend the Social Service Tax Act to exempt industrial customers from provincial sales tax on the process use of electric power.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

R20 VANCOUVER ISLAND TRANSMISSION CORRIDOR – Mt. Waddington RD

WHEREAS Vancouver Island currently generates only about 500 megawatts of the approximately 2,300 megawatts of power it consumes;

AND WHEREAS the British Columbia Transmission Corporation (BCTC)) has identified Transmission Expansion Opportunities of about 1,800 megawatts of ‘green’ power on North Vancouver Island;

AND WHEREAS existing transmission lines will enable less than 10% of this potential power to be utilized:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities request that the BCTC and BC Hydro provide a sufficiently sized Vancouver Island transmission power corridor to help enable Vancouver Island to achieve power self sufficiency from 100% green power sources.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

R21 A MINOR ROUTES STRATEGY FOR COASTAL FERRY SERVICE – Islands Trust

WHEREAS the transportation services provided by BC Ferries on minor routes along the south coast are as essential for ferry dependent communities as the provincial road network is for other communities, and are an integral element of provincial tourism goals, yet have been subject to fare increases of as much as 120% over the last five years;

AND WHEREAS the British Columbia Ferry Advisory Committee Chairs have, through extensive research and analysis, proposed a minor routes strategy that supports the sustainability of island economies and the coastal ferry service:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities and the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities request that the British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure work with coastal communities and BC Ferries to develop a strategy for the minor southern coastal ferry routes, as proposed by the Ferry Advisory Committee Chairs.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

R22 VIA RAIL – Nanaimo RD

WHEREAS Via Rail is to provide a passenger train service for Vancouver Island;

AND WHEREAS the current schedule only provides one-way departures between Victoria and Courtenay for same day travel and does not provide morning departure for travel south between Courtenay and Victoria;

AND WHEREAS Via Rail has restricted the ability for passengers to be picked up and dropped off at unscheduled locations:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Via Rail consider re-routing or adding an additional Dayliner to travel from Courtenay to Victoria and return daily and to consider reintroducing unscheduled stops on the rail line to provide a sustainable transportation alternative for Vancouver Island Communities.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

R23 FARM ASSESSMENT – Metchosin

WHEREAS the BC Assessment proposal to remove lands not actively used for agriculture (such as rock, wetlands, natural buffers, woodlots and streams) from a class 9 agriculture rating to a residential class with increase assessed values and subsequently property taxes on many small farms;

AND WHEREAS the preservation of such non-productive lands in often critically important for continued agricultural potential (e.g. maintaining organic certification, farm water supply, preservation of buffers, seasonal livestock grazing, location of farm residence and buildings and other agricultural requirements and services) of small farms;

AND WHEREAS initial experience with reassessment of small lot agriculture has revealed (a) criteria which do not take account of the characteristics of small farms, and (b) inconsistent, inaccurate, arbitrary and subjective application of those criteria, raising serious questions of equity and fairness;

AND WHEREAS the BC Assessment proposal will have the effect of rendering many small farms uneconomic, forcing many farmers to stop producing at a time when society generally and Vancouver Island population are demanding a sustainable local food production capability:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities notify BC Assessment of its objection to BC Assessment’s farm assessment policy criteria;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that BC Assessment employ personnel with experience and knowledge of agriculture to apply those criteria in practice.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

R24 RAILS WITH TRAILS – Courtenay

WHEREAS communities along the Island Corridor, formerly the E & N Rail Corridor, are involved in developing Rails-with-Trails along the rail corridor;

AND WHEREAS there may be financial efficiencies in developing a single coordinated infrastructure project for the entire corridor;

AND WHEREAS there may be financial efficiencies in developing a single coordinated infrastructure project for the entire corridor;

AND WHEREAS one large, coordinated project may be more attractive to outside funding:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities work with those communities to facilitate the exploration of creating a single project to develop Rails-with-Trails infrastructure along the Island Corridor on Vancouver Island.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

R25 BAMFIELD AMBULANCE – Alberni-Clayoquot RD

WHEREAS Bamfield needs an ambulance service;

AND WHEREAS Bamfield’s population is approximately 350 (doubling in summer) and produces approximately 35 to 40 medical responses, along with 100 to 120 Search and Rescue events and 20 Medic-airvacs each year:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government continue to explore ways to provide ambulance services in Bamfield, utilizing existing resources and by developing partnerships between the Vancouver Island Health Authority, BC Ambulance Service, Emergency Health Services and the Bamfield and Huu-ay-aht First Nation communities.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSE

LR1 USE OF FOUNDATIONS SKILLS ASSESSMENT TEST DATA – Central Coast RD

WHEREAS the Ministry of Education collects data derived from the Foundation Skills Assessment Test ad routinely makes this data available, on a school by school basis;

AND WHEREAS Foundation Skills Assessment Test data is used by the Fraser Institute to rank schools within the Province;

AND WHEREAS such ranking of schools can adversely affect the economies of British Columbia communities:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities urge the Ministry of Education to immediately take steps to ensure that all data derived from the Foundation Skills Assessment Test, specific to individual schools, will be protected from Freedom of Information requests and that only general, province-wide results be made available to the public.

ON MOTION, was NOT ENDORSED

LR2 NEED FOR BE INTEGRATED SUSTAINABLE ENERGY PLANNING PROCESS – Strathcona RD

WHEREAS British Columbia is recognized as a significant potential provider of clean and renewable energy production and private energy developers may have a role in mitigating the effects of climate change due to fossil fuel use by generating clean power through access to and use of public resources including navigable waters, rivers, forest lands and associated roads;

AND WHEREAS without a comprehensive planning process, these resources may be developed in an inappropriate manner that fails to recognize potential significant adverse environmental, economic and social impacts:

THERE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities request the government of British Columbia to immediately enact a province wide Integrated Sustainable Energy Planning process to determine the need for the best technology to be used and any new siting of sustainable energy production.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

LR3 AGRICULTURE FUNDING – Highlands

WHEREAS British Columbia spends 3.3% of the Provincial budget to support agriculture compared to the national average of 16.4%;

AND WHEREAS the Agricultural Land Commission provides strong protection for farmlands but exclusions from populated areas mitigated by inclusions from lesser populated areas remove food production from population basis:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Provincial Government increase financial support for Agriculture consistent with the national average and cease approving any further Agricultural Land Reserve exclusions.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

LR4 MORATORIUM ON RUN OF RIVER PRIVATE POWER PROJECTS – Highlands

WHEREAS fresh water in rivers is a fundamental resource that sustains our lives and livelihoods and local governments should have a mandate to protect the environmental, economic and social values that rivers sustain:

AND WHEREAS Bill 30, enacted by the provincial government, could lead to corporate control of our public rivers for private power production, and effectively silenced local governments and regional districts Run of River decisions without a meaningful public debate on the cumulative impact of all these projects which include some 700 rivers that have already been staked:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Bill 30 be revoked and a moratorium be placed on all Run of River private power projects that have not been given final approval:

AND FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that comprehensive province wide public consultation and review be undertaken on the social acceptability, environmental and economic benefits of Run of River projects.

ON MOTION, was WITHDRAWN

LR5 RESTORATION OF BC HYDRO MANDATE – Highlands

WHEREAS the BC Energy Plan limited the mandate for BC Hydro to grow public green power assets and is instead directed to buy power from private power utilities;

AND WHEREAS there has not been a meaningful public debate on the Energy Plan or on the environmental, social and economic costs and benefits of different green power sources (such as Run of River):

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that BC Hydro have its mandate resorted to look for opportunities to develop sustainable alternative sources.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

LR6 ALTERNATIVE ENERGY INSTALLATIONS – Oak Bay

WHEREAS government at all levels should be encouraging the use of “green” methods of energy generation:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government of British Columbia provide incentives to encourage new construction to be pre-plumbed and pre-wired for future solar panels or other alternative energy installations.

WHEREAS local governments are called on increasingly to provide funding for Victim Services and Restorative Justice Programs;

AND WHEREAS these programs have been proved to be more effective and less costly than the traditional justice system when applied to less serious and non-violent crimes;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Provincial Government provides sustainable ongoing funding for community based restorative justice and victim services’ programs and complimentary service to British Columbia’s justice system.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

LR7 VICTIM SERVICES AND RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PROGRAMS – Oak Bay

WHEREAS local governments are called on increasingly to provide funding for Victim Services and Restorative Justice Programs;

AND WHEREAS these programs have been proved to be more effective and less costly than the traditional justice system when applied to less serious and non-violent crimes;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Provincial Government provides sustainable ongoing funding for community based restorative justice and victim services’ programs and complimentary service to British Columbia’s justice system.

ON MOTION, was ENDORSED

Year: 2008 Category: Referred Resolutions Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Twine and Agricultural Plastics Recycling

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities provide information on the Agriculture Environment Partnership Initiative pilot and the issue of agricultural plastic and twine disposal to its member municipalities and regional districts;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Union of British Columbia Municipalities ask the provincial government to consider adding agricultural plastics and twine to the slate of product stewardship initiatives developed by the Ministry of Environment.

Year: 2008 Category: Referred Resolutions Status: NOT Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Non-Resident Corporate Vote

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the UBCM petition the provincial government to amend the Local Government Act to permit non-resident incorporated property owners the right to vote in local government elections.

Year: 2008 Category: Finance Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Municipal Fiscal Imbalance

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province and Federal governments take steps in their upcoming budgets to address the local government fiscal imbalance by developing a revenue sharing program with local governments and that these revenues be stable over time.

Year: 2008 Category: Finance Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Municipal Fiscal Imbalance

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities, the Union of BC Municipalities and the Federal of Canadian Municipalities be requested to lobby both the Province of BC and the Government of Canada to take steps in their upcoming budgets to address the Municipal Fiscal Imbalance by reinstating a revenue sharing program with local governments and that these revenues be stable over time.

Year: 2008 Category: Finance Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Municipal Fiscal Imbalance

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Provincial Government take steps in their upcoming budget to address the local government fiscal imbalance by reinstating a revenue sharing program with local governments and that these revenues be stable over time.

Year: 2008 Category: Finance Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: BC Resource Companies

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities request that the Province return a portion of monies collected in royalties and extraction, water royalties or stumpage fees to the affected local government.

Year: 2008 Category: Finance Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Sustainable Unconditional Funding

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities (AVICC) and the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) lobby the Federal and Provincial governments to help local governments address the social, environmental and economic inequities;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that both AVICC and UBCM work with senior government to establish sustainable unconditional funding for infrastructure repair and maintenance.

Year: 2008 Category: Finance Status: Referred to AVICC Executive Resolution: Consumption Based Taxation

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the local governments of British Columbia wish to re-open discussions with the Province regarding the use of consumption-based taxation as a revenue tool for local governments.

Year: 2008 Category: Finance Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Infrastructure Funding For Firehalls

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province of BC and Government of Canada include seismic upgrading and construction of fire halls as eligible for funding in both current and future infrastructure grant programs.

Year: 2008 Category: Finance Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Reimbursement of Costs For Keeping of Provincial Prisoners

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities (AVICC) and the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) continue discussions with the Province to ensure that municipalities housing federal and provincial prisoners are reimbursed at a level that reflects actual costs.

Year: 2008 Category: Finance Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Gas Franchise Fees

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities (AVICC) and the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) urge the Provincial government to amend the Vancouver Island Natural Gas Pipeline Act immediately in order to restore equal rights on this matter and provide fair and equal treatment for all local government taxpayers in British Columbia.

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that AVICC appeal to the Auditor General to undertake a review to determine if the pipeline has been paid for.

Year: 2008 Category: Finance Status: NOT Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Elected Officials Remuneration

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities (AVICC) and the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) recommend that the Independent Commission to Review MLA Compensation be mandated to recommend a process for determining appropriate remuneration for local government elected officials.

Year: 2008 Category: Finance Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Funding For Film Commissions

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province of British Columbia be requested to provide annual core operating funding matching funds granted from municipal and regional governments.

Year: 2008 Category: Legislation Status: Not Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Term of Office

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Community request the Honourable Minister of Community Services and Minister Responsible for Seniors’ and Women’s Issues to introduce a change to the legislation to allow for annual municipal elections for half the Council for a two year term, in order:

1. To keep the interest of the public in this most democratic fashion. 2. To allow for continuity and avoid the possibility of a whole Council being defeated in one election. 3. To attract new Councillors who may be daunted by the length of a three-year term but who may be more willing to accept a two-year term. 4. To ensure the highest level of respect for this most important level of government.

Year: 2008 Category: Legislation Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Varying Tax Rates

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province amend Section 197 of the Community Charter to allow municipalities to have the flexibility of levying separate tax rates for each of land and improvements for each property class.

Year: 2008 Category: Legislation Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Additional Home Owner Grant

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 Home Owner Grant Act to allow all senior property owners to claim the full additional Home Owner Grant.

Year: 2008 Category: Justice Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Police Records Information Management Environment (PRIME)

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities urge the Province of British Columbia to provide additional support resources to police forces in British Columbia for the operation of the PRIME system.

Year: 2008 Category: Justice Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Funding For Victim Services and Restorative Justice Programs

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province of BC and Government of Canada provide additional and adequate funding to fully support Restorative Justice and Victim Services programs in BC.

Year: 2008 Category: Land Use Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Logging Practices On Private Forest Lands And Watershed Protection

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Community petition the Province of British Columbia to enact legislation requiring private managed forest lands to be regulated and managed to the same standards as crown managed forest lands.

Year: 2008 Category: Land Use Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Watershed Control

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities make a high priority to urge the Province to provide regional districts with greater authority to determine what activities take place in their watersheds.

Year: 2008 Category: Land Use Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Provincial Working Roundtable On Forestry

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the AVICC petition the provincial government to provide a Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities local government seat on the roundtable and all related discussions;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the AVICC refer this resolution to the Union of BC Municipalities Executive for their consideration of representation at the provincial level.

Year: 2008 Category: Land Use Status: Endorsed by AVICC

R20 COMMUNITY FORESTS Tahsis

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province work with existing Community Forest License holders on renewal in a manner that meets the needs of the affected communities.

Year: 2008 Category: Transportation Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Road And Highway Maintenance

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Ministry of Transportation be called upon to ensure that contracted highways road and bridge maintenance providers fulfill their contractual obligations through enhanced monitoring and audits of work performance of contractors conducted by the Ministry of Transportation;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Ministry of Transportation provide regular accident reports for the service area, conduct comprehensive contractor performance assessments and report any findings semi-annually to key community stakeholders such as local governments, school boards, emergency community stakeholders such as local governments, school boards, emergency services, chambers of commerce and other relevant stakeholders in the service area;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities be called upon to adopt this resolution and urge the Ministry of Transportation to act on it as soon as possible.

Year: 2008 Category: Land Use Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Highway Maintenance

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities ask the Ministry of Transportation to ensure that there is adequate winter maintenance on Provincial highways.

Year: 2008 Category: Health Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Labelling Of Genetically Modified Food

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities request of the federal government that any food containing genetically modified organisms be labeled as such, including which ingredients are genetically modified organisms.

Year: 2008 Category: Health Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Warning Labels On Alcoholic Beverages

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Provincial Government require the following warning labels on all alcoholic beverages sold in British Columbia:

1. Women should avoid alcoholic beverages during pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects;

2. The consumption of alcoholic beverages impairs your ability to operate machinery and over consumption may cause health problems;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the warning labels contain graphic information similar to that shown on cigarette packages.

Year: 2008 Category: Health Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Training Spaces For Doctors And Other Medical Professionals

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities lobby the Minister of Health to substantially increase funding provided to universities and other medical training facilities so they can supply the larger number of graduates who will be required to rectify the increasingly critical shortage of medical personnel available to attend to the health care needs of BC residents.

Year: 2008 Category: Health Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Small Community Water and Sewer Systems

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities request that the Province develop and fund a program to educate and certify water and sewer system operators in small communities.

Year: 2008 Category: Environment Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Integrated Oceans Management Planning Process

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities urge the Government of Canada and the Government of British Columbia to immediately commit to increased engagement and collaboration in the integrated Oceans Management Planning Process for the Pacific Coast of Canada

Year: 2008 Category: Environment Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Implementation Of Integrated Oceans Management Under Canada’s Oceans Act

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities: 1. Urge the Government of Canada to move on its commitment under the Oceans Act to work with governments and interested parties to immediately develop an Integrated Oceans Management Planning Process for PNCIMA; 2. Urge the Government of British Columbia to engage in the collaborative process of Integrated Oceans Management Planning; 3. Request that the federal government engages local governments in the PNCIMA planning process; 4. Call for the continued allocation of funds to Integrated Oceans Management in the federal budget, including funds to support the engagement of municipalities; 5. Request that an Integrated Oceans Management Planning Process for PNCIMA be publicly announced before December 31, 2008.

Year: 2008 Category: Environment Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Transmission Lines Associated With IPP’s

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities strongly urge the Provincial Government, together with the BC Transmission Corporation and BC Hydro, to initiate a process which will require the pre-planning and coordination of IPP transmission line routes and capacities with the objective of having companies share this infrastructure in order to reduce its extent and to minimize its impact on other crown land resources and users.

Year: 2008 Category: Environment Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Non-Refillable 15L Pet Containers

R30 NON-REFILLABLE 15L PET CONTAINERS Sunshine Coast RD

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Ministry of Environment be urged to ban 15 litre non-refillable water containers from use in British Columbia.

Year: 2008 Category: Selected Issues Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Pearl Lake Watershed

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government acts to preserve the Pearl Lake watershed and include it in Strathcona Provincial Park.

Year: 2008 Category: Selected Issues Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Deregulation Of Community Programming

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Canadian Radio Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) be informed as soon as possible that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities is not in favour of the proposal to deregulate community programming, but is in favour of the CRTC continuing to protect community programming by maintaining the current regulations which mandates that a community channel, if offered, be distributed as part of the basic cable service.

Year: 2008 Category: Selected Issues Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Community Based Mental Health Project

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities request the Ministries of Education, Health and Children and Family Development work together to fund the Community Based Mental Health Pilot Projects developed by the Capital Regional District Family Court and Youth Justice Committee.

Year: 2008 Category: Selected Issues Status: NOT Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Public Property Ownership

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government be petitioned to transfer the ownership and operation of properties presently owned by the school districts to the local governments in which these are located;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the use of required properties for education facilities by the school districts be achieved by lease agreements between the local governments and the school districts so that the latter can concentrate on their mandate of providing excellent public education in the most cost effective and efficient manner.

Year: 2008 Category: Selected Issues Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Manufactured Home Parks

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province provide incentives to new and existing manufactured home park owners so that this form of affordable housing will attract new investment dollars and permit the upgrading of existing manufactured home park infrastructure.

Year: 2008 Category: Selected Issues Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities (AVICC) and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) urge the Province to amend the Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act in order to increase the compensation for displaced manufactured home park tenants.

Year: 2008 Category: Selected Issues Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Inclusion of BC Ferries In Ombudsman Mandate

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province be urged to include BC Ferry Services in the oversight provisions of the Ombudsman Act to allow an avenue for impartial investigations of complaints about the actions of the agency.

Year: 2008 Category: Late Resolutions Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Social Services

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial and federal governments work with local governments to create a province-wide funding program to support affordable housing initiatives.

Year: 2008 Category: Late Resolution Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Tsolum River Partnership

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities supports the Tsolum River Partnership’s proposed remediation efforts to further prevent copper leachate from entering the Tsolum River.

Year: 2008 Category: Late Resolution Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: E & N Land Sales

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, THAT the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities requests as an urgent matter, that the Federal and Provincial Governments declare a moratorium on the sale and land transfer of all land currently zoned as Forest or Resource Land and a moratorium on development approvals within those forest lands within the original E&N land grant area, especially those in the CDFmm (Coastal Douglas-fir, moist maritime biogeoclimatic zone), so as to enable the federal and provincial lawmakers the opportunity to create appropriate legislation to enable the public to control and manage decisions within the private forest land areas within the E&N lands that ensure that all land use, especially where sensitive ecosystems are concerned, are orderly, sustainable, biologically defensible and that this legislation be made in the public interest so that the protection of community drinking water and wildlife corridors can be achieved through the acquisition of community drinking watersheds in these lands to fully protect the drinking water, air and livability of the region.

Year: 2008 Category: Late Resolution Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Environmental Product Stewardship

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities urge the Ministry of Environment to require producers to take responsibility for their product by setting up a comprehensive product stewardship program that includes all household batteries and services all communities of the Province.

Year: 2008 Category: Late Resolution Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Transportation

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities lobby all applicable BC Government Ministries to immediately provide BC Ferries with the resources necessary to procure an appropriate replacement vessel in order to ensure the continued provision of Route 40 Ferry Service to the Central Coast Region.

Year: 2007 Category: Referred Resolutions Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Log Export Crisis in BC

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that: 1) A moratorium be placed on the closure of any mills in British Columbia until a full and comprehensive plan for a revitalized manufacturing sector is created; 2) Cabinet cease to issue any permits for log exports and place a moratorium on exports from all Crown lands; 3) The government reverse its earlier decision to allow Weyerhauser to remove its private lands from Tree Farm Licence (TFL); 4) The government ensure full public consultation on any future proposal to remove land from any TFL; 5) The government increase the export tax on raw logs from private lands to ensure there is no economic incentive to export, rather than process locally; 6) The provincial government re-introduce measures that will once again make clear the connection between companies logging British Columbia trees and their commitment to manufacturing capacity in the province; 7) The federal government retain legislation restricting raw log exports and align federal and provincial forest policies; and 🙂 The federal and provincial governments vigorously oppose the legal challenge to federal legislation restricting raw log exports, which would further erode rights to protect Canadian jobs.

Year: 2007 Category: Referred Resolutions Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Home Owner Grant Program

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province be requested to reinstate a Home Owner Grant for properties in excess of the current limit of $894,000.

Year: 2007 Category: Special Resolution Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Ultimate Limitation Period

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities support a reduction in the ultimate limitation period from 30 years to 10 years.

Year: 2007 Category: Legislation Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Glass Sponge Reefs

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities urge the federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans to implement permanent legislated protection to protect the glass sponge reefs along the coast of BC.

Year: 2007 Category: Legislation Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Development Cost Charges

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities lobby the provincial government to amend the Local Government Act to allow for the imposition of Development Cost Charges in areas other than sewage, water, drainage, highway facilities and parkland.

Year: 2007 Category: Legislation Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Acquisition of Emergency Fire Fighting Equipment Without Voter Assent

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Community Charter be amended to permit the purchase of replacement emergency fire fighting equipment that is mandated under the United Laboratories of Canada (ULC) and the National Fire Protection Standards without the process of seeking the assent of the voters either through a vote or the alternative approval process.

Year: 2007 Category: Legislation Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Amendment to Wildfire Act

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of British Columbia Municipalities be asked to request that the Province enact an amendment to the Wildfire Act to make it clear that the Wildfire Act and the Wildfire Act Regulation:

(a) remain in force within the boundaries of a regional district electoral area jurisdiction even where the regional district electoral area may have enacted its own bylaw relating to the lighting, fueling or use of open fires, and (b) permit local bylaws relating to the lighting, fueling or use of open fires to be enacted provided that they are not in conflict with the Wildfire Act and Wildfire Act Regulation.

Year: 2007 Category: Legislation Status: NOT Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Liability Arising From Natural Occurrences

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities be asked to request that the Province enact legislation to relieve local governments from responsibility for addressing risk to or liability to owners of neighbouring lands arising from natural occurrences of rock fall, landslide, erosion and other geological events.

Year: 2007 Category: Legislation Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Motor Fuel Tax

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Provincial Government be urged to amend the Motor Fuel Tax Act to expand the ability for a tax on gasoline and motor fuel to be instituted by local governments in all Transit Service Areas in order to raise additional revenue for the purposes of the British Columbia Transit Act.

Year: 2007 Category: Health Status: Endorsed and Referred to UBCM Healthy Communities Committee by AVICC Resolution: Health Authority Governance

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities urge the Province to consider the appointment of local government elected representatives from each Regional Hospital District to the Boards of Health Authorities to enable direct decision making on capital priorities and budgets.

Year: 2007 Category: Health Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Appointments To Regional Health Authorities Board

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Provincial legislation be changed to require that the government appointments to the Board of Directors of the Regional Health Authorities include appointments from a list of nominees provided by the local government councils within each regional health area.

Year: 2007 Category: Transportation Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Maintenance of Public Highways

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities request the Ministry of Transportation to revisit the contract to determine if all the terms, conditions, specifications and standards with regard to Public Safety as contained in the contract are being met by the contractors.

Year: 2007 Category: Transportation Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Coastal Ferries

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities petition the provincial government to work with local government and ferry advisory commissions to ensure that coastal ferries remain an affordable and viable part of British Columbia’s transportation network.

Year: 2007 Category: Transportation Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: BC Ferries Service Fee

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities requests that the Minister of Transportation recognize the importance of reliable and affordable ferry service to coastal communities by:

1) Increasing the service fee the Province will pay BC Ferries for the next performance term sufficiently to ensure that fare increases do not exceed increases in the Consumer Price Index; 2) Contributing to BC Ferries’ capital costs in a similar proportion to the support given for highway construction and other public transportation infrastructure; 3) Paying a share of extraordinary expenses, such as higher than predicted fuel costs, at least equal to the percentage of operating costs covered by the service fee; and 4) Recognizing the need to regularly assess the impact of the Province’s ferry policies on coastal communities by establishing ongoing consultation with elected municipal, regional and Islands Trust representatives and with the Ferry Advisory Committees whose members are appointed by BC Ferries through local government.

Year: 2007 Category: Transportation Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Coastal Ferry Act

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities request the provincial government to undertake a comprehensive and consultative review of the effects of ferry fares and service levels on coastal communities, prior to signing the contract for Performance Term 2, and before the commencement of Performance Term 2, to incorporate any amendments to the Coastal Ferry Act that are necessary to sustain the economic and social vitality of coastal communities and to preserve this vital element of British Columbia’s image as a world-class tourism destination.

Year: 2007 Category: Transportation Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Motorized Scooters

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Provincial Government be requested to establish province-wide guidelines for the safe operation of motorized scooters.

Year: 2007 Category: Transportation Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Highway 19 Location Markers

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Ministry of Transportation be requested to reconsider its policy with a view to spacing highway location markers closer together.

Year: 2007 Category: Transportation Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Highway 19 Design Review

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Ministry of Transportation be requested to undertake a design review of Highway 19 with a view to initiating repairs to the Highway as required, particularly in the following areas identified by the RCMP: 1) Northbound lane – McNaughton Creek Bridge to Buckley Bay turnoff 2) Southbound lane – Buckley Bay turnoff to McNaughton Creek Bridge 3) Northbound Lane – Comox Valley Parkway to Mt. Washington/Dove Creek turnoff.

Year: 2007 Category: Transportation Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Bike Lane Funding

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities urge the Provincial Government to amend their grant application criteria to include consideration of funding for 1.5 metre (shoulder) bike lanes located on only one side of a road.

Year: 2007 Category: Land Use Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Parkland Dedication

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Provincial legislation be changed to increase the amount of land that may be required for parkland dedication or a minimum of cash in lieu to 10%.

Year: 2007 Category: Land Use Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Woodlot Program Expansion

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities encourage the Minister of Forests and Range to give priority effort to resolving any administrative obstacles that might be inhibiting expansion of the woodlot program.

Year: 2007 Category: Land Use Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Noise on Private Managed Forest Lands

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government allows local government noise bylaws to apply and to be enforced on private managed forest lands adjacent to residential areas.

Year: 2007 Category: Land Use Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Crown Leases Within Local Government Jurisdiction

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities urge the Province to require the Integrated Land Management Bureau to consult with the applicable local government prior to the renewal of a Crown lease and to provide language in standard tenure agreements to clarify that tenure holders must pay all taxes, fees and charges levied by any government, including a local government jurisdiction and, should a Crown lessee default upon their local taxes, that the Province will compensate the local government for this loss of revenue and, at its earliest opportunity, cancel the Crown lease.

Year: 2007 Category: Land Use Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Geoduck Farming

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province provide local governments with the scientific information that would provide the rationale for the Provincial Government’s decision to proceed with commercial geoduck farming.

Year: 2007 Category: Environment Status: Withdrawn by Sponsor Resolution: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government not give approval to coal-fired electrical generation operations until technologically advanced methods of generating electricity have developed that do not result in greenhouse gas productions.

Year: 2007 Category: Finance Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Property Transfer Tax Revenues

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities support the BCREA recommendation to direct a portion of Property Transfer Tax revenues to address the affordable housing infrastructure deficit, and further, that the Union of BC Municipalities be requested to provide a unified supporting voice.

Year: 2007 Category: Finance Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Capital Funding For Emergency Programmes

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that funding is made available to local governments so they may make appropriate infrastructure or capital acquisitions improvements to deal with forest fires, floods, windstorms, and earthquakes and the breakdown in utility systems and earthquakes.

Year: 2007 Category: Finance Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Streamlining Funding Applications

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the federal and provincial governments immediately undertake an overhaul of their Infrastructure Grants application forms to realistically accommodate for the capacities of all communities so all may have reasonable and equitable opportunity to access these vital funds.

Year: 2007 Category: Tourism Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Northern Vancouver Island Tourism Marketing Campaign

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities requests that the 2006 tourism marketing campaign for the communities of northern Vancouver Island, as administered by Tourism Vancouver Island, be continued in 2007 and on an on-going basis.

Year: 2007 Category: Selected Issues Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement Between BC and Allberta

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities be requested to review the Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement between BC and Alberta and consult with the provincial government and local government with the intent of exempting local governments from the agreement, or at the least making the required changes;

AND FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that AVICC and UBCM urgently requests that the Premier of British Columbia negotiate with the government of Alberta, a suspension of the Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement until full consultations can be completed with all local governments and other affected bodies.

Year: 2007 Category: Selected Issues Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement Between BC and Alberta

Year: 2007 Category: Selected Issues Status: Withdrawn by Sponsor Resolution: UBCM Procedures For Handling Resolutions

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities request the Union of BC Municipalities to amend Rule 27(i) to provide that only those who would speak in opposition to a resolution may request that it be removed and entered for discussion.

Year: 2007 Category: Selected Issues Status: Endorsed by AVICC and Referred to UBCM First Nations Committee Resolution: Participation Of First Nations At UBCM

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities enables full participation of First Nations in meaningful discussions and the opportunity to have full membership on all standing and select committees of the Union of BC Municipalities.

Year: 2007 Category: Selected Issues Status: Referred to AVICC to UBCM First Nations Committee Resolution: Participation Of First Nations At AVICC

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities enables full participation of First Nations in meaningful discussions and the opportunity to have full membership on all standing and select committees of the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Committees.

Year: 2007 Category: Selected Issues Status: Endorsed by AVICC and Referred to UBCM First Nations Committee Resolution: Participation Of First Nations At UBCM

Year: 2007 Category: Selected Issues Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Placement of New Power Utility Lines

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Provincial Government and BC Hydro take remedial measures to ensure that future power outages are minimized, if not eliminated by taking immediate measures to protect transformers, hydro poles and power lines and to place power lines underground in areas where they are especially susceptible to damage by weather.

Year: 2007 Category: Selected Issues Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Terasen Gas Locate Policy

R32 TERASEN GAS LOCATE POLICY Nanaimo City

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province be asked to amend the Gas Safety Regulation to require the gas utility company to attend on site to mark out buried gas line locations in connection with excavation work.

Year: 2007 Category: Selected Issues Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Water Declaration

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities work with all levels of government to develop water policies that protect and conserve natural sources of water, and ensure that the delivery, management and regulation of water and services is a public responsibility, affordable and accountable to BC citizens.

Year: 2007 Category: Late Resolutions Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Community Social Planning

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities ask the provincial government to commit to providing sustained financial support for local community social planning processes that serve to support and integrate responses to social issues throughout BC.

Year: 2007 Category: Late Resolutions Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Provincial Funding For Archaeological Costs Borne By Local Government

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province of BC consider providing funding equal to 100% of the total expenditures borne by local governments to record and document archaeological findings in accordance with the provincial Heritage Conservation Act.

Year: 2007 Category: Late Resolutions Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Revitalization Programs For Resource Communities

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities request that the province meet to develop effective revitalization programs for the province’s resource communities, including an investigation into tax restructuring to eliminate disincentives to upgrade buildings and reintroduction of the Downtown Revitalization Program.

Year: 2007 Category: Late Resolutions Status: Withdrawn by Sponsor Resolution: Trade and Investment Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA)

THEREFORE the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities requests the Union of BC Municipalities to urgently convene a meeting of concerned municipalities to form a working group that will: (a) be sufficiently resourced to undertake an immediate review of the impact of this agreement on municipalities, and (b) immediately upon conclusion of this review undertake negotiations with the Province Government to have TILMA amended so that it is in alignment with current municipal legislation and protects municipalities from the consequences of this agreement.

Year: 2007 Category: Late Resolutions Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Blood Samples Act

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the AVICC request that the UBCM, through its Executive, direct its staff to pursue and research this issue and work with the provincial government to draft a form of Blood Samples Act, similar to other jurisdictions, such as Ontario and Alberta.

Year: 2007 Category: Late Resolutions Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Conservation Investments And Incentives Initiative Fund

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities lobby the governments of BC and Canada to ensure “ALL” residents of the BC Central Coast are deemed eligible recipients and beneficiaries.

Year: 2007 Category: Late Resolutions Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: BC Ferries Route 40

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities to lobby BC Ferries and the BC Ministry of Transportation to ensure the delivery of service on Route 40.

Year: 2007 Category: Late Resolutions Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Coastal Impact of The Pine Beetle

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED the Central Coast Regional District requests the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities assistance to petition the BC Ministry of Forests and Range to review and if required, mitigate the coastal impact of the pine beetle.

Year: 2006 Category: Extraordinary Resolution Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: First Nations Membership

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities create a special membership category for First Nations wishing to join AVICC that would allow them membership rights immediately and voting privileges when self government status is achieved.

Year: 2006 Category: Referred Resolutions Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Grants-In-Lieu And Negotiated Agreement With First Nations

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that should any existing provincial or federal lands for which local governments receive grants-in-lieu become part of any negotiated First Nations agreement, senior governments should consider compensation for local government.

Year: 2006 Category: Referred Resolutions Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Electoral Area Land Use Committees

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that in addition to drafting the Regional District Tool Kit, UBCM work with the provincial government to bring in the legislative changes necessary to empower electoral area directors to act as rural boards/councils with the authority to make final and effective land use decisions relating to electoral areas;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that UBCM work with the Province to enable these rural boards/councils to make final and effective decisions on financial matters that are related solely to electoral area jurisdictions and are funded by the taxpayers from a single electoral area or funded by the taxpayers from a partnership or group of electoral areas and that these decisions not be based upon a weighted vote, but on a simple majority of rural board/council members.

Year: 2006 Category: Legislation Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Access To Public Buildings

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that all upgrades to and new construction of government public facilities be referred to the appropriate local accessibility organization for comment prior to finalizing the design drawings;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities urge the provincial government to work to develop legislation which sets in place a requirement for provincial ministries, local governments, public transportation organizations and agencies including BC Ferries services to consider and address accessibility issues;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the BC Building Code be reviewed and amended to require improved levels of access to government facilities and services for British Columbians with disabilities.

Year: 2006 Category: Legislation Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act

2006 AVICC Resolutions 2

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province be requested to investigate the adequacy of compensation that is currently provided for in the Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act for individuals faced with the termination of tenancy in manufactured home parks and that such investigation include consultation with mobile home owners’ association.

Year: 2006 Category: Legislation Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Cash-In-Lieu of Parkland

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities recommend that the provincial government amend the Local Government Act to ensure that, if cash-in-lieu is the option chosen, the amount be based on the expected sale value of the land after subdivision, as opposed to the value of the undeveloped property.

Year: 2006 Category: Legislation Status: Withdrawn by Sponsor Resolution: RCMP Funding Arrangements

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the federal and provincial governments be urged to renegotiate the provincial/federal cost sharing agreements to re-establish the 1990 rates of which the federal share was 30% to enable municipalities to further increase their crime fighting and prevention resources:

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities, the Union of BC Municipalities and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities be urged to lobby the federal and provincial government in support of this motion.

Year: 2006 Category: Legislation Status: NOT Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Mail Ballots

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities request the provincial government to amend the Electors and Elections legislation in the Local Government Act to allow all eligible electors the opportunity to vote by mail ballot in elections and other voting opportunities.

Year: 2006 Category: Legislation Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Approving Officer

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities urge the Province to ensure that regional district boards and the Islands Trust Council are granted the authority to appoint a person as an approving officer for the rural area of the regional district when and if requested.

Year: 2006 Category: Legislation Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Floodplain Bylaw Fee

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities request the provincial government to amend the Local Government Act so that regional districts can charge a fee for processing an application for a site specific exemption to a flood plain bylaw.

Year: 2006 Category: Legislation Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Ferry Property Taxation 2006 AVICC Resolutions 3

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that local governments be consulted through the Union of British Columbia Municipalities in advance of any such legislative changes being brought forward for consideration.

Year: 2006 Category: Land Use Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Parkland Dedication

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities urge the Province of BC to amend the legislation to permit funds collected in lieu of parkland dedication to be used on parkland development in addition to parkland acquisition.

Year: 2006 Category: Environment Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: E & N Pest Management Plan

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province be advised that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities opposes the use of chemical sprays to control vegetation along the E & N Railway and requests that the Minister of Environment intervene to set aside the Pest Management Plan for the E & N Railway right-of-way or otherwise amend the legislation that permits this practice.

Year: 2006 Category: Environment Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: On-Site Sewage Disposal Regulations

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities urge the Province of British Columbia to amend the on-site sewage disposal regulations to require a person increasing the size of a house connected to an existing on-site sewage disposal system to have the capacity and condition of the existing system certified by a professional as being adequate for the intended use.

Year: 2006 Category: Finance Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Funding Attainable Housing in The Province of British Columbia

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Minister of Finance be requested to make a portion of the British Columbia Property Transfer Tax available to the communities in which it is raised for the purpose of providing funding for attainable housing for working people in the Province of British Columbia.

Year: 2008 Category: Finance Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: BC Assessment Authority Property Valuations and Appeal Process

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities request the Union of BC Municipalities to establish a Task Force comprised of representatives from local government, the Province and the BC Assessment Authority, to seek new legislative remedies to create greater certainty for business, industrial and utility property class assessments.

Year: 2006 Category: Selected Issues Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Local Government Election Dates

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the municipal elections be moved back to the last Saturday of September and that, if necessary the UBCM Convention be moved to another date. 2006 AVICC Resolutions 4

Year: 2006 Category: Selected Issues Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Mental Health Services

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Ministries of Education, Health and Children and Family Development work together to develop integrated identification, diagnosis and mental health management services for children and youth in local schools, along the lines of the Community Based Mental Health Pilot Projects proposed by the Capital Regional District Family Court and Youth Justice Committee.

Year: 2006 Category: Selected Issues Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Health Connections Program

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province be requested to extend the Health Connections Program to subsidize travel for medical care for any rural residents outside their home community, regardless of distance.

Year: 2006 Category: Late Resolutions Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Policing

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities request that, as an aspect of this mandate, the UBCM Police Financing Task Force ensure clarity on how funds for the new policing model be raised and allocated in order to achieve equity for all members.

Year: 2006 Category: Late Resolutions Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Logging Practices On Private Forest Lands and Watershed Protection

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities petition the provincial government to change the legislation and policies to enable a local government to establish a Community Watershed Bylaw that extends over any public or private lands within the watershed;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the AVICC and the UBCM petition the provincial government to amend the Private Managed Forest Land Act to include representatives from the municipalities, regional districts, Islands Trust and First Nations on the Private Managed Forest Land Council;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the AVICC and the UBCM petition the provincial government to amend the Drinking Water Protection Act to require a drinking water protection plan for each community watershed.

Year: 2005 Category: Extraordinary Resolution Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Incorporation of AVICC

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities endorse the application to establish the Association under the Society in accordance with the attached Constitution;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the attached Bylaws (as printed in the Annual Report) govern the AVICC between its formation as a society and the first annual meeting.

Year: 2005 Category: Referred Resolutions Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Drug Courts

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM work with the provincial government to urge the federal government to supply adequate funding for drug treatment courts in all areas of British Columbia and accessible to all British Columbians.

Year: 2005 Category: Referred Resolutions Status: NOT Endorsed by AVICC Resolutions: Provincial Open Fire Ban

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government be requested to amend the appropriate legislation to provide that when an open fire ban is established by the British Columbia Forest Service to be in effect province-wide or in specific areas of the province, that no other authority be allowed to supercede that ban even in areas regulated by local government burning bylaws and privately owned commercial campgrounds, without exceptions.

Year: 2005 Category: Environment Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Salmon Enhancement Programs

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities on behalf of the people and local governments it represents, requests that the Prime Minister of Canada direct the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada to re-instate funding to the Salmon Enhancement Program;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities also request that the Prime Minister of Canada direct the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada to initiate no further substantive changes to the Salmon Enhancement Program funding or production without a thorough and rigorous consultation process with local government, interest groups and all fisheries stakeholders.

Year: 2005 Category: Environment Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Harbour Protection – Derelict Vessels

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities strongly recommend to the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the Canadian Coast Guard, the provincial Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection and Land and Water BC that immediate action be taken to remove any derelict vessels that have been unoccupied for a period of six months or longer from the harbours of any coastal communities requesting such action.

Year: 2005 Category: Finance Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Municipal Insurance Association Service Review

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities request that MIA conduct a full review of its services to ensure it is meeting the needs of the membership.

Year: 2005 Category: Finance Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Federal Farm Tax

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities support the FCM proposal regarding distribution of the federal fuel tax with the proviso that funds be allotted to electoral areas on the same basis as municipalities.

Year: 2005 Category: Finance Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Affordable Housing

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities urge the Union of BC Municipalities, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the provincial and federal governments to make available new monies to address the shortage of affordable housing which is being felt in communities across this province.

Year: 2005 Category: Finance Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Provincial Housing Program

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities call on the provincial government to reinstate the Homes BC program or similar comprehensive housing program to deliver much needed affordable and appropriate housing for seniors, low income families and individuals and those with special needs.

Year: 2005 Category: Governance Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Including Coastal Communities in Policy Decisions

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that both the federal and provincial governments recognize that the health and wealth of coastal communities is a central objective in their mandate, and that they explicitly address the costs and benefits of different options on coastal communities, and choose options that address the potential costs and secure long term benefits;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that both the federal and provincial governments include coastal communities in policy decisions that may impact coastal communities, and meaningfully address our concerns and interests;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOVLED that we meet with federal and provincial elected representatives and civil servants from various departments to discuss strategies and policy approaches that will explicitly address the loss of access and benefits within communities.

Year: 2005 Category: Legislation Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Registration of Notice of Natural Hazard on Property

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities lobby the provincial government to amend the Land Title Act to allow local governments to file a notice of a natural hazard on the title of a property within the jurisdiction of the local government.

Year: 2005 Category: Legislation Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Dangerous Dogs

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province of British Columbia consider an amendment to the provincial Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act to include the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association Guidelines for the breeding and care of animals in British Columbia, to be applied to all dog breeders, dog pounds, shelters and pet stores selling dogs:

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Province of British Columbia investigate the implementation of a system of monitoring, accessible to all animal control agencies, municipal police, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, that will track individuals who repeatedly keep aggressive dogs, including substantially punitive fines and penalties for repeat offenders.

Year: 2005 Category: Legislation Status: NOT Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Safe Streets Act

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities ask the BC government to rescind the Safe Streets Act:

AND FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the province is asked to adequately fund community agencies to deal with the issues of poverty, addiction and homelessness.

Year: 2005 Category: Legislation Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Federal Court of Appeal Decision on Municipal Employees in RCMP Detachments

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities request the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services Canada take action to maintain municipal employees as support staff for RCMP municipal contract policing services; and further, that if this matter should go before the Supreme Court of Canada that the City of Nanaimo and all other municipalities affected be granted intervener status.

Year: 2005 Category; Land Use Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Crown Tenures

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government ensures that the appropriate zoning for the applied-for use is in place prior to any Crown tenure being granted.

Year: 2005 Category: Tourism Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Funding For Visitor Information Centres

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities urge the provincial government to provide increased funding for community Visitor Information Centres, via Tourism BC, from $1.15 million per year to at least $3 million per year, in accordance with the recommendation of the November 2004 review of VICs undertaken by the BC Chamber of Commerce.

Year: 2005 Category: Assessment/Taxation Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Property Tax Exemptions

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities urge the Provincial Government to amend the Taxation (Rural Area) Act to require approval of the local government in which the property is located prior to granting or denying an exemption or major change under Section 15(1)(q);

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities request that BC Assessment be required to provide a list of existing exemptions under this section to the applicable local governments for review and approval.

Year: 2005 Category: Health Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Care Home Funding Formula

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities seek the commitment of the Vancouver Island Health Authority to fully fund any formula developed;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities seek the commitment of the Vancouver Island Health Authority that the formula recognize the excess care costs of individuals with extreme care needs, whether because of severe dementia and psycho geriatric systems or physical and medical conditions.

Year: 2005 Category: Health Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Residential Care Beds

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities call on the provincial government to provide adequate capital resources to re-open or build sufficient residential care beds to meet the demand on Vancouver Island and across BC.

Year: 2005 Category: Community Safety Status: Withdrawn by Sponsor Resolution: Fire Fighting Equipment Standards

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities work with WCB to forge new fire fighting equipment standards that recognize the circumstances of small municipalities and volunteer fire departments.

Year: 2005 Category: Community Safety Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Responding To The Threat Of Tsunamis

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities request that the provincial Utilities Commission and the British Columbia Transmission Corporation ensure that the next update to this plan identify tsunamis as a “managed risk program” with a commitment to analyze the risk, prioritize action and schedule the implementation of priorities, with full consultation with our Coastal Communities.

Year: 2005 Category: Selected Issues Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: UBCM Convention Be Affordable For All

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the UBCM reduce the convention registration fees and that accommodation expenses be reduced by holding the convention outside of both high and shoulder tourist season.

Year: 2005 Category: Selected Issues Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: UBCM Convention Days

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities support the City of Courtenay resolution that UBCM Annual Conventions be held over a weekend, similar to the Annual Federal of Canadian Municipalities Convention.

Year: 2005 Category: Selected Issues Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Request For Opportunity To Meet with Federal Officials

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the AVICC and UBCM invite federal ministers and senior officials, in ministries relevant to the members, to attend annual conferences and to request that the ministers/officials be available for appointments with local government representatives.

Year: 2005 Category: Expanded Gambling in BC Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Expanded Gambling in BC

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities urge the BC government to halt the expansion of gambling and reduce the increased levels that have occurred since 2001.

Year: 2005 Category: Prawn Fishery Quota Resolution: Prawn Fishery Quota

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities petition the Honourable Geoff Regan, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, to consult with affected communities on the proposal to introduce a quota system in the BC prawn fishery or other BC Fisheries as it will reduce employment and revenues in many coastal communities when other options, other than a quota, may be available.

Year: 2005 Category: Late Resolutions Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Assessment of Properties Deemed Contaminated

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the assessor under the Assessment Act be required to value a commercial or industrial undertaking as a property of a going concern if a business or activity is carried on at that property;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Section 19(4) of the Assessment Act clearly state that the valuation of the land and improvements of a commercial or industrial undertaking will take into consideration present use and revenue or rental value considerations where it is still a going concern.

Year: 2005 Category: Late Resolutions Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Vancouver Island Mountain Sport Centre

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities support the Mountain Sport Society in their application to Legacies Now for funding of a Nordic International Training Centre at Mount Washington.

Year: 2005 Category: Late Resolutions Status: Withdrawn by Sponsor Resolution: Capita; Region Emergency Services Telecommunication Costs

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities request that the federal government and provincial government provide financial support to the members for the Capital Region Emergency Services Telecommunications.

Year: 2005 Category: Late Resolutions Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolutions: Grow Operations – BC Hydro

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities correspond with the Province of BC, requesting that it require BC Hydro to release records to the RCMP and other police departments so that the detection of grow operations in the province of British Columbia can be simplified.

Year: 2005 Category: Late Resolutions Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Aquatic Management Board

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities respectfully requests the Prime Minister of Canada to reaffirm the commitment of the federal government to the purpose and principles of the West Coast Vancouver Island Aquatic Management Board (”AMB”);

AND FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the federal portion of AMB funding be provided not solely from the Pacific Region of Fisheries and Oceans Canada but also from agencies such as Indian and Northern Affairs, Western Diversification, and Environment Canada, in order to better reflect the broad nature of the AMB’s integrated management activities.

Year: 2005 Category: Late Resolutions Status: NOT Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Funding For Failed Septic Systems

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLED THAT the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities ask the Provincial Government to enact a no interest, long term loan program for repair, upgrading or replacement of septic systems that have failed or are in the process of failing.

Year: 2005 Category: Late Resolutions Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Facilities For Release Of Offenders

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that senior levels of government, both elected and administrative, create facilities through a clear and consultative process with communities in a manner that both recognizes and balances the rights of the individual and the community.

Year: 2005 Category: Late Resolutions Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: East Vancouver Island Crown Land

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities respectfully request that Land and Water BC maintain a no net loss of Crown land within the E & N Land Grant on the east coast of Vancouver Island.

Year: 2005 Category: Late Resolutions Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Safer Cities/Safety Communities Strategy

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities ask the BC government to develop and adequately fund over the long-term a Safer Cities/Safer Communities strategy, with a focus on harm reduction and prevention programs;

AND FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that this strategy include a well-developed, intelligent series of public education seminars to be delivered by the province across BC to build the knowledge base and community capacity to implement these programs.

Year: 2004 Category: Health Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Provincial Funding Of Health Facilities

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that AVICC urge the Province of BC to reinstate its historic share of major capital projects and offsetting operating cost increases to the Vancouver Island Health Authority.

Year: 2004 Category: Funding For Affiliated Care Homes Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Funding For Affiliated Care Homes

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that:

• the provincial government ensure that health authorities are required to provide equal financial treatment to all residential care homes in their jurisdiction, whether run by the health authority or by an affiliated organization; and

• the provincial government be called upon to provide guidelines for the standards for levels of care for residential care homes and detail the compensation which will be paid for providing such care; and

• the provincial government be called upon to explain its current funding regime and allocation of funding to affiliated residential care homes.

Year: 2004 Category: Finance Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Exemption From Provincial Sales Tax

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the government of the province of British Columbia supplement this federal initiative by rebating to municipal governments the province in its entirety the Provincial Sales Tax;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that such a rebate should be regarded as additional revenue for municipal governments and should not result in any reduction of grants in lieu or any other monies presently directed from the provincial government to municipal governments, nor should such rebate be seen as an opportunity to download additional responsibilities to municipal governments without providing sufficient funding to compensate for such additional responsibilities.

Year: 2004 Category: Finance Status: Withdrawn by Sponsor Resolution: Home Owner Grant Act

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities request that the Province amend the Home Owner Grant Act to increase the $525,000 limit in accordance with current assessed values or to explore alternatives to the current method of determining eligibility for the Home Owner Grant.

Year: 2004 Category: Finance Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Audit of The Gas Financial Contract and Account

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that AVICC request the BC Auditor General expedite a full audit of said account to ensure fairness to regional and BC taxpayers.

Year: 2004 Category: Finance Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Harmonization of PST On Film Production

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities request that the province harmonize the application of PST and treat film production as a manufactured product for PST purposes.

Year: 2004 Category: Justice Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Alternative Justice Program Funding Grants

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Town of Lake Cowichan with the support of the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities (AVICC) and the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) call on the Province of British Columbia to mandate, implement and fund Alternative Justice Programs where existing community organizations exist, meeting Provincial criteria and standards; or where they may exist in the future.

Year: 2004 Category: Finance Status: NOT Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Policing Costs

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that any tax to be levied be negotiated by UBCM with the province of BC based on the following principles:

a) that any formula implemented to recover policing costs be based on the principle of fairness and equity, in which all regional districts are treated equally and contribute to policing by paying their share based upon the service provided and not through an ‘ability to pay’ formula; b) that any tax to be implemented by the province to cover policing costs be identified as a provincial policing cost tax and not a regional district tax for the purpose of collection; c) that community policing remain the responsibility of the province but that a formal mechanism be developed for local government, municipalities and electoral areas, to act in an advisory capacity of policing issues affecting local communities; and d) that approximately 30% of the Provincial Rural Tax levied on the Rural Property Tax Notice be acknowledged as part of any electoral area tax contribution for community policing in each regional district.

Year: 2004 Category: Assessment/Taxation Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Adjustment Of The Weighting Of Tax Rates

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province empower municipalities with the ability to adjust the weighting of the property tax mill rate between improvements and land according to the designations of urban or rural.

Year: 2004 Category: Environment Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Unconfined Aquifer Protection

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province, in enacting groundwater protection legislation, insure that the regulatory and operational requirements that apply to the commercial, industrial and development sectors be sufficiently prescriptive and effectively administered and enforced to protect the Province’s unconfined aquifers from contamination and that the province support local government efforts to protect aquifiers and their sources.

Year: 2004 Category: Environment Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Inclusion of Hogweed On Noxious Weed List

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities request the Province to designate giant hogweed as a noxious plant in the Weed Control Regulation or some other legislation of comparable stature, impose a duty on all land occupiers to control giant hogweed and enforce that duty using provincial, rather than local government resources.

Year: 2004 Category: Environment Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Bacillus Thuringleensis Kurstaki

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Provincial and Federal governments be encouraged to fund rigorous and comprehensive pre and post spraying inventory and monitoring programs to assess the affects of Bacillus thuringlensis kurstaki spraying on non-target species in Garry Oak ecosystems.

Year: 2004 Category: Environment Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Natural Shorelines: Recognition of Importance

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities request the provincial government to pay extra attention to emerging values and roles of natural marine riparian areas in helping protect our coastal communities and the ocean waters beside them;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that members of the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities, whenever possible, will promote the values of riparian buffers along their respective marine and freshwater shorelines through policies, bylaws and guidelines, as well as through public education and awareness, whether or not there are Development Permit Areas or Environmentally Sensitive Areas designated or established.

Year: 2004 Category: Environment Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Proposed Scott Islands Marine Protected Area

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities strongly recommend to Environment Canada that the current provincially protected status of Scott Islands remain as it is and that the Ministry conduct additional studies towards minimizing bird/human conflicts in the surrounding ocean.

Year: 2004 Category: Transportation Status: NOT Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Fixed Link To Vancouver Island

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the government of British Columbia spend these dollars now to build a fixed link to Vancouver Island in time for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games with other funding from matching federal dollars, private investors and utilizing ferry rates as a toll to finance construction and future maintenance.

Year: 2004 Category: Essential Service Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Essential Service

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Government of British Columbia designate ferry services as an essential service whereby: a) work stoppages are not allowed, as a condition of employment and; b) any labour disputes be settled by a process of mediation and arbitration.

Year: 2004 Category: Energy Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: BC Hydro Locates

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that BC Hydro re-instate the field locate service for buried underground hydro service.

Year: 2004 Category: Energy Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Increased Electricity Rates

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities object to BC Hydro’s proposed increase in electricity rates.

Year: 2004 Category: AVICC Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Election of Electoral Area Representative

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the voting process respecting Electoral Area Representative should be similar to the Union of BC Municipalities where only Electoral Area Directors vote on the ballot for the Electoral Area Representative.

Year: 2004 Category: AVICC Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Significant Projects Streamlining Act

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities urge the Union of BC Municipalities to establish a legal fund to assist local governments initiating legal challenges to Bill 75.

Year: 2004 Category: AVICC Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Bill 75 – Significant Projects Streamlining Act

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities recommend that the Union of BC Municipalities provide financial assistance for legal costs incurred by a local government initiating a legal challenge to an incident of the Province’s implementation of the Significant Projects Streamlining Act.

Year: 2004 Category: AVICC Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Wharf Liability Insurance

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the affected members of the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities who wish to secure liability insurance for the operation of their community wharves join together and apply for such insurance through the AVICC.

Year: 2004 Category: Selected Issues Status: Withdrawn by Sponsor Resolution: Canadian Education Sector in Asia

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities in conjunction with the Union of BC Municipalities petition the government of the Province of British Columbia to work with the Federal Government to jointly develop a National Strategy on Intermediate Education to more aggressively promote Canada as a study destination for international students;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the province work with the Federal Government to develop a certification program for education institutions to protect Canada’s integrity and reputation and to prevent immigration scams and abuses.

Year: 2004 Category: Selected Issues Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Parking Fees in Provincial Parks

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) and the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities (AVICC) strongly recommend that the Minister of Water, Land and Air Protection remove parking fees from provincial parks.

Year: 2004 Category: Selected Issues Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Ministry of Human Resources Fund Birthing Requirements

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Ministry of Human Resources rural offices, during the time of the birthing moratorium, assist clients with the needed funds for travel and accommodations and implement the removal of the life-threatening clause requirements.

Year: 2004 Category: Heritage Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Heritage

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities urge the BC government to maintain stewardship of heritage resources by investing the appropriate funding levels required to preserve, protect and enhance our heritage resources throughout British Columbia and on Vancouver Island.

Year: 2004 Category: BC Social Assistance Rules Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: BC Social Assistance Rules

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the AVICC urge the BC government to rescind the laws imposing Income Assistance time limits and reducing benefits;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the AVICC urge the Union of BC Municipalities to also call on the BC government to rescind these regressive and punitive income Assistance rules on behalf of all communities in BC.

Year: 2004 Category: Community Schools Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Community Schools

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities urge the Provincial Government to restore funding levels to allow Community Schools to have the flexibility to provide services to the broader community.

Year: 2004 Category: Late Resolutions Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: BC Hydro Street Lighting Service

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the AVICC request that BC Hydro provide a commitment to respond to the requests to repair streetlights within 21 calendar days of being so advised in writing.

Year: 2004 Category: Late Resolutions Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: West Nile Virus Strategy

THEREFORE the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities request that the provincial government provide financial compensation for 100% of the costs associated with controlling West Nile virus.

Year: 2004 Category: Late Resolutions Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Proposed Lifting Of Moratorium on Pacific Whiting (Hake) Joint Venture Ships Threaten On-Shore Processing In Coastal Communities

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the AVICC support the retention of the moratorium on Joint Venture Vessels in BC and communicate a strong message to the Government of Canada, Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the BC Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food that effected communities must be fully consulted prior to any further decision regarding this fishery.

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.

Year: 2002 Category: Extraordinary Resolutions Status: NOT Endorsed Resolution: Term of Office

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that AVICC Constitution be amended to add Section 5(g) that states that the term of the President shall not exceed two consecutive terms effective immediately.

Year: 2002 Category: Extraordinary Resolutions Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Date of Annual Meeting

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED the AVICC Constitution Section 8(a) be amended to read: “The annual general meeting shall be held during the month of April on dates established by the Executive”;

Year: 2002 Category: Extraordinary Resolutions Status: NOT Endorsed Resolution: Days of Annual Meeting

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the AVICC Constitution be amended to read: “The annual general meeting shall be held on Friday and Saturday.”

Year: 2002 Category: Referred Resolution Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Consideration of Cooperation Agreements

RR1 CONSIDERATION OF COOPERATION AGREEMENTS

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities recommend to UBCM that the Protocol be approved.

Year: 2002 Category: Health Issues Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Health Care Services Within BC

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Minister of Health and the Province of British Columbia make an immediate, public commitment to continue to fund these services at their former 2001 levels.

Year: 2002 Category: Health Issues Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Principles of Medicare

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities support the five principles of Medicare and ask the B.C. Government to honor these principles in the reform and renewal process of our health system.

Year: 2002 Category: Health Issues Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: New Priorities for Health Funding

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities urge the B.C. Government to establish new priorities for health funding that reflects the real determinants of health and give greater emphasis to health promotion and wellness at the community level.

Year: 2002 Category: Health Issues Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Reduction in Health Ministers

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities recommend to the B.C. Government that a reduction in the number of health Ministers be seriously considered as a cost cutting measure before important health services at the community level are eliminated.

Year: 2002 Category: Health Issues Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Local Government Consultation on Health Issues

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities remind the B.C. Government of its commitments to full consultation with local governments before making major changes to our health system that could result in reduced and unequal services to the all areas of the AVICC and downloading of services onto local governments;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that AVICC ask the Union of B.C. Municipalities to also remind the B.C. Government of its protocol agreement regarding full consultation with UBCM on major issues impacting local government in B.C.

Year: 2002 Category: Legislative Issues Status: NOT Endorsed Resolution: Voting Rights for Corporations

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities petition the Provincial Government to amend Section 49 of the Local Government Act to allow a corporation to be registered as an elector to have a vote in location elections.

Year: 2002 Category: Finance Issues Status: NOT Endorsed Resolution: Local Government Royalty on Non-Renewable Resources

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Community Charter grant local governments (municipalities and regional districts) the authority to collect a royalty for non-renewable resources extracted from within their boundaries to provide long-term benefits to local communities.

Year: 2002 Category: Energy Issues Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Vancouver Island Electricity Generation Project

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the membership of Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities supports the Vancouver Island Electricity Generation Project and its essential components of a new natural gas power generation plant and the Georgia Strait Crossing Pipeline Project needed to supply the new generating plant, and that the resolution be submitted to the National Energy Board Review Panel.

Year: 2002 Category: Finance Issues Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Compensation for Crown Land

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities strongly recommend to the Community Charter Council and the Government of British Columbia that all Crown land be included in measures implementing financial compensation to the host municipalities.

Year: 2002 Category: Finance Issues Status: NOT Endorsed Resolution: Municipal Superannuation Formula- Full Pensionable Service Requirements

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 amend the Municipal Superannuation Plan “Rule of 90″ to reduce the years of service and age requirements to “85″.

Year: 2002 Category: Finance Issues Status: NOT Endorsed Resolution: Vancouver Island Regional Library Library Contribution Formula

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities request that the Vancouver Island Regional Library Board proceed with the development of a new funding formula that provides a more equitable fee to the constituents contained with their participating area and that service levels be factored into that formula.

Year: 2002 Category: Finance Issues Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Gas Franchise Fees

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities strongly request the provincial government restore equal rights on this matter immediately, and that the AVICC and the UBCM proceed immediately to convince the provincial government of this specific need for fair and equal treatment for all municipal taxpayers in all of British Columbia.

Year: 2002 Category: Finance Issues Status: NOT Endorsed Resolution: Retroactive Provision of Grants

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Canada/BC Infrastructure program be amended to provide grants retroactively for those projects that have been initiated or completed prior to completion of the grant approval process.

Year: 2002 Category: Justice and Protective Services Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Side Arms for Auxiliary Police

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the side arms issue be revisited in order to re-institute side arms to Auxiliaries and find other methods of resolving management’s concerns.

Year: 2002 Category: Justice and Protective Services Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Policing in Rural Areas and Small Communities

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Provincial Government honour their commitment to discontinue any offloading of provincial government costs onto local property owners and taxpayers without mutual agreement between the Province and Local Government.

Year: 2002 Category: Justice and Protective Services Status: NOT Endorsed Resolution: Earthquake Proofing Public Buildings

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province immediately initiate a public building assessment of earthquake vulnerability as the first step to rehabilitation or replacement on a priority basis both as a record of the extent of the problem and as the basis to request special federal infrastructure funding.

Year: 2002 Category: Taxation Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Forest Farming on Agricultural Land Reserve

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities request the BC government to recognize forest farming as a viable and realistic agricultural enterprise for taxation purposes on all ALR lands;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that forest farming on ALR lands be granted the same taxation status consideration as other agricultural initiatives.

Year: 2002 Category: Environment Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Building Code Amendment: Toilets

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the BC Building Code 1998 be amended to replace the requirement for 13.25 litre toilets with a requirement for 6.0 litre capacity toilets or dual flush technology toilets (3.0 litre and 6.0 litre).

Year: 2002 Category: Environment Status: NOT Endorsed Resolution: Security of Drinking Water

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that as a part of the process to ensure safe drinking water that testing at the user taps be mandated and that such testing be performed at Provincial labs to Provincial standards, with the cost of such testing to be free of charge or at the actual cost of such testing.

Year: 2002 Category: Environment Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Water Conservation Initiatives

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government encourage and support water conservation initiatives throughout the province and establish best practices for water conservation for all water service providers.

Year: 2002 Category: Environment Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Reinstatement of Trophy Hunting Ban on Grizzly Bears

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities request the British Columbia Government to reinstate the trophy hunting ban on grizzly bears.

Year: 2002 Category: Environment Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Community Planning Initiatives

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Islands Trust request the assistance of the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities to pursue new/revised tools through legislative amendments coincident with the Community Charter legislation review to ensure local government has the ability to effect through community planning initiatives, an enhanced degree of environmental and ecological protection for significant properties on the landscape.

Year: 2002 Category: Communities and Resources Status: NOT Endorsed Resolution: Mining and Quarry Operations

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that a new review be initiated to reduce or eliminate mining, quarrying, sand and gravel extraction and processing from all municipalities, except for certain circumstances, and then only by referendum, the costs of which would be borne by the proponent.

Year: 2002 Category: Communities and Resources Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Rockfish Management Plan

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities request the Minister to delay implementation of the rockfish management plan until there has been extensive consultation with local and regional governments and stakeholders.

Year: 2002 Category: Communities and Resources Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Softwood and Communities

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities send a directive to the UBCM, Ministry of Forests and the provincial government softwood negotiators requesting their support for a solution to the softwood lumber agreement that will:

1. Support community economic diversification. 2. Ensure that the citizens of British Columbia get full market value for our timber resource. 3. Resist call for compensation. 4. Strengthen raw log export ban. 5. Maintains environmental values.

Year: 2002 Category: Transportation Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Transport Canada Security Fee

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Federal Government be asked to rescind the $24.00 return security fee on local flights and regional flights that do not use the national airport system.

Year: 2002 Category: Transportation Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: BC Ferry Corporation- Route 40

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities call upon the government of British Columbia to reject BC Ferry Corporation’s plans for discontinuation and confirm the long term operation of the entire Route 40 service so that tourism and related economic development and investment can occur.

Year: 2002 Category: Transportation Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: BC Ferries Service

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that BC Ferries be instructed to actively pursue other options, starting with an up-to-date Strategic Plan which could include, but not be constrained to, such examples as: 1. Regionalization of the managerial structure and accountability for decision making; 2. Reorganization of the labour force; 3. Greater efficiency in scheduling and dispatch; 4. Regain the right to manage what has been abrogated by labour contracts; and 5. Improved sales and marketing strategies, etc.

Year: 2002 Category: Transportation Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Small Craft Harbours Facilities

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities respectfully requests that the Small Craft Harbours Branch revise their policy to include more broad commercial uses that are indicative of coastal communities of British Columbia.

Year: 2002 Category: Selected Issues Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Affordable Housing

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver and Coastal Communities and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities strongly urge the Government of British Columbia to maintain its commitment to the development of new social housing through appropriate funding of housing programs.

Year: 2002 Category: Selected Issues Status: Withdrawn Resolution: Genetically Engineered (GE) Foods

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities support Bill C-287 in principle and indicate such support by letter to the Minister of Agriculture, the Prime Minister’s Office and the House of Commons.

Year: 2002 Category: Selected Issues Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Provincial Off-Loading

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities request the Provincial Government acknowledge the above noted principles and thereby consult with affected local governments regarding the impact of Provincial Government funding cuts, and where such are implemented, identifying the accompanying financial resources available;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that AVICC and UBCM voice concern to the Provincial Government for this form of “soft off-loading”.

Year: 2002 Category: Selected Issues Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Provincial Downloading

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government ensure that changes brought about by the Core Review not result in local governments being forced to choose between providing the service formally provided by the province or seeing the service disappear.

Year: 2002 Category: Selected Issues Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Reduction of Provincial Government Services

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the District of Campbell River request the Provincial Government to ensure full community consultation on program reviews and funding reductions;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Provincial Government not off-load current provincial program responsibilities onto communities and families without ensuring program integrity and adequate funding;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that any transitions in program funding or delivery be done a schedule that is respectful to the service recipients, program providers and local economies:

AND BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that this resolution be submitted to the Union of BC Municipalities, the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and Rod Visser, area MLA.

Year: 2002 Category: Selected Issues Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Provincial Government Restructuring

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities (AVICC) take up the matter of provincial restructuring with the Province in concert with the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM), with a view to determining if off-loading is indeed occurring and if the Province will be compensating municipalities for the lost revenue involved if that is indeed the case.

Year: 2002 Category: Selected Issues Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Community Consultation on Funding Reductions

AND BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that this resolution be submitted to the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM), the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities (AVICC) and to the area MLA’s.

Year: 2002 Category: Selected Issues Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Full Community Consulation

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Regional District of Comox-Strathcona call on the Provincial Government to ensure full community consultation on program reviews and funding reductions;

AND FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the Provincial Government not off-load current Provincial program responsibilities onto communities and families without ensuring program integrity and adequate funding:

AND BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that any transitions in program funding or delivery be done on a schedule that is helpful to the service recipients, program providers and local economies.

Year: 2002 Category: Selected Issues Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: Transportation of Hazardous Materials

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities lobby the provincial government to provide: 1. More frequent and more stringent commercial vehicle inspection and testing for vehicles travelling Vancouver Island Highways and specifically those vehicles carrying hazardous (HazMat) material. 2. Funding and support for a HazMat Response Team m, to be located on Vancouver Island, central to the identified highway corridors, on a 24/7/365 basis, or: 3. A demand that an industry HazMat Response Team be located on Vancouver Island and supported by the Industry transporting HazMat product on Vancouver Island. 4. Funding for fire departments, which respond to highway related HazMat incidents, to address equipment and training. 5. Support for local governments to recover costs associated with response to HazMat incidents on Vancouver Island, especially for those incidents that occur outside of municipal boundaries.

Year: 2002 Category: Selected Issues Status: Endorsed by AVICC Resolution: BC Energy Sector

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the AVICC make urgent and strong representation to the provincial government to exclude the sale of BC Hydro assets from any government measures to balance the budget, to prevent the deregulation of pricing and supply of energy, to recognize the importance BC citizens attach to the legacy of ownership and 4entitlement in this core infrastructure asset, and to adopt reasonable and predictable policies that will ensure continuing responsible management of this vital public utility on behalf of BC citizens;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities also make a similar representation to the provincial government.

Year: 2001    Category:  Legislative    Status: Endorsed by AVICC

Resolution:  Public and Non-Public Water Systems
In British Columbia

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks legislate standards for the operation and maintenance of public and non-public water utilities and further that they legislate mandatory educational requirements for operators of public and non-public water utilities in the Province of British Columbia.

Year: 2001    Category:  Legislative    Status: NOT Endorsed
Resolution:  Aerial Spraying of BTK for Gypsy Moth

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities lobby the provincial government for changes to the Local Government Act to grant municipalities the power to make decisions about aerial pesticide spraying within their boundaries.

Year: 2001    Category:  Legislative    Status: Endorsed by AVICC
Resolution:  Community Airport Tax Exemption

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities requests the Union of BC Municipalities to petition the Provincial Government to add “community airports owned and operated by non-profit societies on behalf of local governments” to the list of eligible exemptions permitted under Section 346 of the Local Government Act.

Year: 2001    Category:  Legislative    Status: Endorsed by AVICC
Resolution:  Interpretation Act, Section 14(2)

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities seek the repeal of section 14(2) of the Interpretation Act.

Year: 2001    Category:  Legislative    Status: Endorsed by AVICC
Resolution:  Municipal Superannuation Fund

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities seek the approval of the Municipal Pension Board and relative legislation to permit elected local government officials to contribute to the Municipal Superannuation Fund based upon the taxable remuneration received from their elected position.

Year: 2001    Category:  Legislative    Status: Endorsed by AVICC
Resolution:  Director Benefits

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Local Government Act be amended by deleting section 789(3) in order to provide clarification with regard to the provision of benefits for directors and to ensure consistency between the provision of benefits for municipal council members and for regional district directors.

Year: 2001    Category:  Communities and Resource    Status: Endorsed by AVICC
Resolution:  Pacific Hake – A Community Policy Document

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities recommends the following:

• that the Government of Canada re-open the three-year agreement concerning the selling of the hake resource to offshore vessels within our two hundred mile limit, which agreement expires in 2002;
• and that the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans adopt and implement the recommendations put forward in the position paper on Pacific Hake Processing authored by the Regional District of Alberni-Clayoquot, namely:

–    redefine the term “shore-first priority” for fish deliveries to make it a true shore-first priority;
–    permit shore-based plants to buy American Hake when necessary.

• incorporate representation from communities of Alberni-Clayoquot in the decision making process associated with the hake resource;
• that this issue be addressed within the independent review of fisheries consultative processes established by the federal government;
• and that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities support and recommend the adoption of the policy position put forth in the Pacific Hake Processing position paper.

Year: 2001    Category:  Communities and Resources    Status: Referred
Resolution:  Trees as a Crop

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities encourage the Provincial Government to investigate private land forestry and agroforestry through the development of a program of “Trees as a Crop” for consultation and consideration.

Referred Back To Sponsor

Year: 2001    Category:  Communities and Resources    Status: Endorsed by AVICC
Resolution:  Support to the Agricultural Sector
On Vancouver and Gulf Islands

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the AVICC urges all members to review policies and regulations attracting agriculture in their communities, with a view to reinforcing opportunities for farming to contribute to the local economy, specifically to promote greater consumer reliance on Island produced farm goods:

AND FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the AVICC undertake a review of a possible role for the Association in support of Island agriculture for presentation at the next AVICC Annual General Meeting.

Year: 2001    Category:  Transportation    Status: NOT Endorsed
Resolution:  Highway Informational Signs

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities immediately request the Ministry of Transportation and Highways to reconvene the Stakeholders Advisory Committee and respond to its recommendation and to allow specific, appropriate signage on highways by-passing existing communities which will show community population and identify, by name or logo, certain businesses providing camping, accommodation, food or fuel and the distance to those services.

Year: 2001    Category:  Transportation    Status: Endorsed by AVICC
Resolution:  Federal Funding for Docks

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Federal government be pressed to fulfill its mandate by providing annual funding to ensure essential dock facilities in BC are maintained to standards which allow safe and on-going public access and the transportation of goods and services.

Year: 2001    Category:  Transportation    Status: Endorsed by AVICC
Resolution:  Rural Road Maintenance

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Provincial Government be requested to allocate more financial resources to facilitate the improvement of rural roads and arteries to provide safe unencumbered freedom of movement therein.

Year: 2001    Category:  Transportation    Status: Endorsed by AVICC
Resolution:  Ferries are an Extension of the Highway Network

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Government of British Columbia deem that all ferry systems throughout the Province are an extension of the highways systems and should be funded, administered and managed as such.

Year: 2001    Category:  Transportation    Status: NOT Endorsed
Resolution:  Funding for the BC Ferry Corporation

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the interior ferry service institute a user pay toll system similar to that of the coastal fleet and the net proceeds be applied to the cost of operations of the ferry system.

On Motion, Was Postponed Indefinitely

Year: 2001    Category:  Finance    Status: Endorsed by AVICC
Resolution:  Payment of Utility Levy by Satellite TV Companies

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Local Government Act be amended to include satellite TV companies as utilities that must pay the utility taxes to municipalities.

Year: 2001    Category:  Finance    Status: Endorsed by AVICC
Resolution:  Incentives for Municipal Incorporation

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities urge the government of the province of British Columbia to again, provide assistance to the extent that it did in the past;

AND FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the AVICC and the UBCM urge that:

• incentives applied to per capita grants be at a maximum;
• structuring proposals contain firm infrastructure offers; and
• improvements to road (upgrades) prior to incorporation are again forthcoming.

Year: 2001    Category:  Finance    Status: Endorsed by AVICC
Resolution:  Funding of Senior Government Library

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities petition the provincial government to double its per capita funding:

• from $1.90 to $3.80 per person for any municipality with a population over 40,000.
• from $2.40 to $4.80 per person for any municipality with a population between 12,000 – 40,000.
• from $2.90 to $5.80 per person for any municipality with a population of less than 12,000.
• from $3.80 to $7.60 per person for the rural portions of a regional library system;

with these rates also being adjusted annually on the basis of changes in the Consumer Price Index.

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities petition the Federal government to start funding public libraries at a rate of $2.00 per capita, to be adjusted annually on the basis of changes in the Consumer Price Index.

Year: 2001    Category:  Finance    Status: NOT Endorsed
Resolution:  Infrastructure Grants

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM request the Provincial Government to authorize access of improvement districts to infrastructure capital grants.

Year: 2001    Category:  Assessment    Status: NOT Endorsed
Resolution:  Review of Structure of BC Assessment
Authorities Residential Property Classification

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities petition the Minister of Municipal Affairs to review the structure of BC Assessment Authority’s current residential property classification, with consideration given to the creation of separate property classes for primary residences (i.e.: in particular those receiving the Homeowners Grant) and secondary residences, in order that primary residential assessments are not unduly affected by the existence of secondary residences used for recreation or vacation purposes.

Year: 2001    Category:  Justice and Protective Services    Status: Endorsed by AVICC
Resolution:  Funding for Fire Fighter Training in Remote Communities

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Provincial Governments be requested to negotiate an agreement with the Justice Institute of BC to renew its former practice of sending instructors into remote communities to provide fire fighter training, rather than fire departments and local governments having to incur the high costs of sending their fire fighters elsewhere for training.

Year: 2001    Category:  Justice and Protective Services    Status: Endorsed by AVICC
Resolution:  First Responder Program

THEREORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Provincial Government be urged to compensate fire departments for the full cost of their services provided under the First Responder Program.

Year: 2001    Category:  Land Use    Status: Endorsed by AVICC
Resolution:     Compensation to Farmers and LandownersFor Value of Land Lost from Agricultural Production as a Result of Arrangements for the Construction and Maintenance of Streams, Ditches and Waterways

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that a government program be established that will compensate farmers and landowners for the value of their land which is lost from agricultural production as a result of arrangements for the construction and maintenance of streams, ditches and waterways.

Year: 2001    Category:  Land Use    Status: Referred
Resolution:  On-Site Sewage Systems Authority

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Ministry of Health, in the development of the Sewage Regulations, provide municipalities and regional districts with the authority to manage on-site sewage systems for individual properties.

Referred Back To Sponsor

Year: 2001    Category:  Selected Issues    Status: Endorsed by AVICC
Resolution:  Community Health Board Members

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the process be amended to ensure that all Community Health Board members as well as the CHSS Boards be democratically elected.

Year: 2001    Category:  Selected Issues    Status: NOT Endorsed
Resolution:  Elk Causing Damage to Golf Courses

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities call on senior government to deal with the elk problem immediately.

Year: 2001    Category:  Selected Issues    Status: NOT Endorsed
Resolution:  Improvement Districts

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities and the Union of BC Municipalities request the Provincial Government to consider the formation of new water improvement districts.

Year: 2001    Category:  Selected Issues    Status: Endorsed by AVICC
Resolution:  BC Health Authorities Review

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities request the Province of British Columbia to review the governance structure of BC Regional and Community Health Authorities in order to increase efficiencies and eliminate duplications.

Year: 2001    Category:  Selected Issues    Status: NOT Endorsed
Resolution:  911 Emergency Response

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the government passes legislation that the use of 911 for other than emergencies will be punishable by a fine.

Year: 2000    Category:  Emergency Resolution    Status: Endorsed by AVICC
Resolution:  Coastal Communities

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that we incorporate coastal communities in the name of our organization to read “Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities”.

Year: 2000    Category:  Legislation    Status: NOT Endorsed by AVICC
Resolution:  Ministerial Approval of Regional District Plans

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Regional District be allowed to adopt Community Plans without ministerial approval.

Year: 2000    Category:  Legislation    Status: NOT Endorsed by AVICC
Resolution:  Deadline for Completion of Financial Plan

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities propose to the Minister of Municipal Affairs an amendment to the Municipal Act to require completion of an approved financial plan by December 31st each year for the next fiscal year, plus a further four years as required under the current Municipal Act.

Year: 2000    Category:  Legislation    Status: Endorsed by AVICC
Resolution:  Resource Extraction Permitting

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities recommend to the Minister of Energy and Mines that local government be included in the process to permit or disallow resource extraction on sites within their boundaries.

Year: 2000    Category:  Legislation    Status: NOT Endorsed by AVICC
Resolution:  Voter Identification

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that small communities under 5,000 be allowed not to require two pieces of identification for voter registration.

Year: 2000    Category:  Legislation    Status: Endorsed by AVICC
Resolution:  Condominium Construction Standards

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities be urged to petition the province for more substantial legislation to protect local governments when condominium owners sue for building water damage.

Year: 2000    Category:  Legislation    Status: NOT Endorsed by AVICC
Resolution:  Storm Drainage

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the Province of British Columbia be strongly encouraged to enact legislation that bars any action in negligence or nuisance against public authorities in respect of water discharged from culvert crossings that have been in place for 10 years or more.

Year: 2000    Category:  Legislation    Status: REFERRED
Resolution:  Campaign Financing Recording and
Disclosing Requirements

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government amend the Municipal Act – Campaign Financing, Recording and Disclosing requirements to improve the filing process, including candidates having no contributions, candidates being elected by acclamation, and candidate’s banking requirements.

Endorsed and Referred to AVIM Executive

Year: 2000    Category:  Legislation    Status: Withdrawn
Resolution:  Advisory Planning Commissions and
Board of Variance Deliberations

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that revisions to the Municipal Act or regulations by the Lieutenant Governor in Council be considered to exempt Advisory Planning Commissions and the Board of Variance from public deliberations.

Year: 2000    Category:  Legislation    Status: Endorsed by AVICC
Resolution:  Qualification as Property Owner for Elections

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Municipal Act be amended to ensure that the conveyance of an undivided interest in land cannot be used to secure votes in a local election.

Year: 2000    Category:  Legislation    Status: NOT Endorsed
Resolution:  Election of Regional District Director
And Alternate

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Ministry of Municipal Affairs amend section 786 of part 24 of the Municipal Act to either delete the provision of non-elected alternates or, with input and assistance of the Union of British Columbia Municipalities, create an election process that will ensure election of both director and alternate.

Year: 2000    Category:  Legislation    Status: Endorsed by AVICC
Resolution:  Advisory Planning Commissions

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Minister of Municipal Affairs be urged to withdraw APC’s from the in camera provisions as stated in Bill 88.

Year: 2000    Category:  Legislation    Status: Referred
Resolution:  Emergency Preparedness

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Provincial Government be lobbied to amend the legislation to provide for the authority in emergencies be given to the Electoral Area Director of the Regional District.

Not Dealt With By Conference – Refered To Executive

Year: 2000    Category:  Communities and Resources    Status: NOT Endorsed
Resolution:  Annual Allowable Cut

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the unused portion of the five year cut control quota in any five year period be banked with the Minister of Forests and be made available for distribution to the licensees, Community Forests, First Nations and value added producers to ensure stability and continuity in our local economies.

Year: 2000    Category:  Communities and Resources    Status: Referred
Resolution:  Forestry Advertising Campaigns

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities request the provincial and federal governments to support a campaign aimed at countering these unfair and untruthful campaigns that threaten the very existence of our workers, our communities and our resource-dependent economies.

Referred To The Avim Executive

Year: 2000    Category:  Transportation    Status: Endorsed by AVICC
Resolution:  Recognize Powell River as a Deep Sea Port

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities recommend to the federal and provincial governments that adequate funds and planning resources be provided to assist communities presently involved in the ports development process.

Year: 2000    Category:  Transportation    Status: Endorsed by AVICC
Resolution:  Establish a Passenger Rail Authority
on Vancouver Island

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that AVIM member municipalities be requested to endorse the efforts of the Society to maximize the service with the establishment of a rail passenger authority on Vancouver Island and the AVIM Executive assist and participate in stakeholder meetings in support of the Vancouver Island Railway Society initiative;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that AVIM forward this resolution to both the Union of British Columbia Municipalities and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities strongly supporting the Vancouver Island Railway Society for the re-establishment of a quality passenger rail service on Vancouver Island.

Year: 2000    Category:  Transportation    Status: Endorsed by AVICC
Resolution:  BC Ferry Service from Horseshoe Bay to
Departure Bay

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the government of British Columbia through the BC Ferries Corporation be requested to immediately replace the PacifiCats with the pre-existing “C” Class ferries and make broad-based press releases to provincial and national tourist organizations assuring them of full ferry service via Horseshoe Bay and Departure Bay.

Year: 2000    Category:  Finance    Status: Endorsed by AVICC
Resolution:  Reimbursement by ICBC for Motor Vehicle
Accident Response

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities request that the Provincial Government require the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia to reimburse municipalities, regional districts, or improvement districts for the costs connected with fire department or emergency services attendance at motor vehicle accidents.

Year: 2000    Category:  Finance    Status: Endorsed by AVICC
Resolution:  Library Services to First Nations

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities request the assistance of the Union of British Columbia Municipalities in approaching the federal government for the purpose of obtaining a per capita financial contribution for the provision of library services to First Nations populations.

Year: 2000    Category:  Justice & Protective Services    Status: Endorsed by AVICC
Resolution:  Adequate Staffing for RCMP Detachments

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Federation of Canadian Municipalities urge the Solicitor General to ensure adequate staffing for RCMP detachments in small communities in Canada.

Year: 2000    Category:  Justice & Protective Services    Status: Endorsed by AVICC
Resolution:  Use of RCMP Resources

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Federation of Canadian Municipalities urges the Solicitor General to ensure adequate staffing for RCMP detachments in all communities in Canada.

Year: 2000    Category:  Land Use    Status: Endorsed by AVICC
Resolution:  Inclusion of Statement of Notice on Regional
Health Authority Sewage Disposal Applications

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Ministry of Health includes the following phrase to the bottom of all septic disposal permits issued on Vancouver Island:

The approval of the septic system and the issuance of this permit in no way relieves the owner or occupier of the responsibility of adhering to all other legislation which may apply to the land.  This includes Agricultural Land Commission and Forest Land Commission regulations as well as zoning, subdivision or other land use bylaws, and decisions of any authorities that have jurisdiction.

Year: 2000    Category:  Selected Issues    Status: Endorsed by AVICC
Resolution:  Premature Building Envelope Failure

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government proceed and implement the necessary legislation and policies to create a provincially funded financial assistance program for residents of the province who have been financially affected by the premature building envelope failure (leaky building) crisis.

Year: 2000    Category:  Selected Issues    Status: Endorsed by AVICC
Resolution:  Funding of Intermediate Care Facilities

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities draw to the attention of the Ministry of Health that sufficient funds need to be allocated for the immediate construction and operation of additional intermediate care facilities.

Year: 2000    Category:  Selected Issues    Status: Endorsed by AVICC
Resolution:  Funding for Cigarette Addiction Programs

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities request the province set aside a substantial portion of money generated from cigarette taxes and put it into programs that assist smokers in quitting their smoking addiction.

Year: 2000    Category:  Selected Issues    Status: Endorsed by AVICC
Resolution:  Support for Canadian Farmers

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the province of British Columbia support all Canadian farmers from coast to coast.

Year: 2000    Category:  Selected Issues    Status: Endorsed by AVICC
Resolution:  Elections for Regional Health Board Directors

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the province of British Columbia be requested to have elections for the majority of Directors on Regional Health Boards or Community Health Councils.

Year: 2000    Category:  Selected Issues    Status: Endorsed by AVICC
Resolution:  Predator Control

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities, the Union of British Columbia Municipalities and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities petition the federal and provincial Fisheries Minister to enable the commercial harvest of seals and sea lions.

Year: 2000    Category:  Selected Issues    Status: Endorsed by AVICC
Resolution:  Development of Agriculture

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities, fully supporting the IFA representations, urges the government to give immediate consideration to introducing policies and regulations that will promote the development of agriculture on the Island, both to address competitive disadvantages Island agricultural producers encounter under the current provincial regulatory regime, and to prevent any further deterioration in the significant contribution the agricultural sector makes to the economic health of Vancouver Island.

Year: 2000    Category:  Selected Issues    Status: Referred
Resolution:  Power Generation Requirements

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities seek the support of the Union of BC Municipalities to lobby the federal and provincial governments to develop and assist with funding of state of the art incinerator to burn solid waste and that BC Hydro be urged to purchase the electricity generated from the plant.

Not Dealt with By Conference – Refered To Executive

Year: 1999     Category:  Legislation    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Mobile Home ‘Tax Sale’

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Municipal Act  be amended to treat mobile homes in the same way as is provided in Section 403, 407 and 408 of the Municipal Act.
Year: 1999     Category:  Legislation    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Amendments to the Pesticide Control Act

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities petition the provincial government to amend the Pesticide Control Act regulations to include the following requirements;

1.    that local governments be notified in writing of all Applications for Use Permits on rail lines, highway and right-of-ways;

2.    that such applications require signs to be erected, that are suitably sized, legible from a distance, and prominently displayed so that they will be easily noticed.  The signs must be installed at the application stage and remain for not less than 30 days in the areas where pesticide applications are proposed and must clearly advise residents of their rights of intervention and opportunities to appeal the application;

3.    that such applications be advertised in a minimum of two consecutive issues of newspapers circulated in the places where the sites of the proposed application of pesticides is located and that the advertisements be suitably sized and prominently displayed so they will be easily identified;

4.    that the paragraph to be included in the Application for Use Permit be re-written to provide understandable information advising residents of their rights of intervention and appeal opportunities;

5.    that local government input be required.

Year: 1999     Category:  Legislation    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Municipal Regulatory Compliance – Colleges

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that colleges and university colleges be subject to the same requirements as universities with respect to complying with municipal regulations.

Year: 1999     Category:  Legislation    Status: REFERRED
Resolution:  Community Borrowing Charges Levied on Land and Improvements

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities be urged to encourage the Union of B.C. Municipalities to circulate a petition to its member municipalities urging the B.C. government to amend the Municipal Act to allow persons subject to special charges based on the assessed value of land and/or improvements to commute for payment in cash, as permitted for charges based on parcel or frontage.

Endorsed and Referred To Municipal Act Review Process

Year: 1999     Category:  Legislation    Status: Referred
Resolution:  Mines Act Amendment

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the AVIM make a request to the province for legislative change to include a requirement for consideration of the adopted planning policies of the local government jurisdiction.

Endorsed and Referred to UBCM Executive to review in relation to the Guide to the Development and Soil Removal Bylaws

Year: 1999     Category:  Legislation    Status: Referred
Resolution:  Review of Section 210 of the Municipal Act

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities encourage the Ministry of Municipal Affairs to review Section 210 of the Municipal Act and consider amendments which would allow an acclaimed person, in the event of a by-election to take the oath of office within a more reasonable time period.

Endorsed and Referred to Municipal Act Review Process

Year: 1999     Category:  Legislation    Status: Referred
Resolution:  Condominium Act – Bare Land Strata Approval

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the AVIM request that the UBCM petition the Provincial Government to work with UBCM to address these and other problems with the Condominium Act.

Endorsed and Referred to the UBCM Executive and Ministry of Finance and Corporate Relations immediately

Year: 1999     Category:  Taxation    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Interest Rate on Taxes in Arrears or Delinquent

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities support a proposal to the Union of British Columbia Municipalities that the interest rate on taxes in arrears or delinquent be set at a rate to reflect market conditions.

Year: 1999     Category:  Communities and Resources    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Assured Supply of Economical Clean Water to
ALR Farm Properties

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities request that the provincial government provide local governments with special infrastructure grants from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food to assist in providing an assured supply of economical, clean water to ALR farm properties as an integral part of its commitment to preserve farm land for future generations of British Columbians.

Year: 1999     Category:  Communities and Resources    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Allocation Priority for Onshore Processors

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities endorse the present Department of Fisheries and Oceans allocation priority for the onshore processors and that this should only be strengthened to ensure the continued existence of onshore processors and only after their needs are met should additional quotas be given to off-shore factory vessels.

Year: 1999     Category:  Communities and Resources    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Opposition to Sale of Public Land Forest Tenures

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities petition the Provincial Government expressing opposition to the sale or trade of Crown Land without adequate local government and public involvement.

Year: 1999     Category:  Health    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Communications Between the Provincial Ambulance Service
and Health Clinics in Rural Communities

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Ministry of Health be requested to develop and institute policy and practices for after hours communication between the provincial ambulance service and on call medical and nursing staff in rural communities served by health clinics.

Year: 1999     Category:  Transportation    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Controlled Highway Access

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that municipalities be given the same power as previously held by the Minister of Transportation and Highways to prohibit access to highways within their jurisdiction.

Year: 1999     Category:  Transportation    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  BC Ferries As Essential Service

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities lobby the British Columbia Ferry Corporation and the government of the Province of British Columbia to recognize that the ferries to the Sunshine Coast, Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, Powell River, Queen Charlottes, North and Central Coast are essential services, and recognize that they are part of the highway system of British Columbia, and that they will  be funded as such.

Year: 1999     Category:  Finance    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Regional Districts – Grants-In-Lieu Funding Formula

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities immediately support consultation and negotiation with the Minister responsible for the Crown Corporations Secretariat, Minister of Municipal Affairs, Minister of Finance and Corporate Relations for regional districts to be included under the current funding formula.

Year: 1999     Category:  Finance    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Fees for Fire Inspections

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities requests the Union of British Columbia Municipalities to petition the Minister of Municipal Affairs to enact legislation to permit municipalities to charge a fee for regular fire inspections.

Year: 1999     Category:  Finance    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Canada/BC Infrastructure Works Extension

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Union of British Columbia Municipalities be urged to petition the Provincial Government to continue with the funding of the program and implement Phase III of the Canada/BC Infrastructure Works program, with particular emphasis on sewer and water systems.

Year: 1999     Category:  Finance    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Federal Transfer Payments

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the federal government be requested to restore the transfer of funds for health care, education and other programs to the provinces.

Year: 1999     Category:  Justice and Protective Services    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Auxiliary Constable Program

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities make strong representation through the Union of British Columbia Municipalities to the Attorney General to reinstate full provincial funding for the Auxiliary Constable Program with retroactive effect to the first of January, 1999.

Year: 1999     Category:  Justice and Protective Services    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  WCB Regulations – Firefighter Seating and Transport

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of British Columbia Municipalities petition the Province of British Columbia for a longer transition period for local governments to comply with Parts 31.27 and 31.29 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations of the Workers’ Compensation Board of British Columbia;

Year: 1999     Category:  Justice and Protective Services    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Funding for Street Level Drug Units

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that since the Federal Government has seen fit not to fund street level drug units to conduct investigation of illicit drug trafficking at the street level, that the Province of British Columbia be requested to fund street level drug units throughout the Province to conduct street level investigations in assistance to small detachments that are, at this point, unable to do so for themselves.

Year: 1999     Category:  Environment    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Plastics Recycling

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Federal and Provincial Governments be encouraged to enact packaging legislation to standardize packaging materials and encourage technological advancements to assist in developing ways to provide for more plastics to be recyclable.

Year: 1999     Category:  Environment    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Source Control

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that all communities be encouraged to consider and adopt consistent Source Control programs, bylaws and enforcement practices.

Year: 1999     Category:  Selected Issues    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Public Inquiry into Employment Insurance Benefit Program

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Federal Government be urged to administer employment insurance benefits separate and apart from the Federal Budget, per se and that all moneys collected for employment insurance be used for that purpose.

Year: 1999     Category:  Selected Issues    Status: REFERRED
Resolution:  Memoranda of Understanding

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the UBCM Executive consider any proposals for Memoranda of Understanding with care and caution;

AND FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM Executive utilize a process of consultation with its member governments during the drafting phase for proposed Memoranda of Understanding.

Endorsed and Referred to UBCM Executive

Year: 1999     Category:  Selected Issues    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Electoral Boundaries Commission Changes

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Cabinet be requested to take into consideration the unique geography, history and community interests, together with the existing traditional social, political and economic linkages of the electoral districts rather than basing its decision based solely on the current under population of an electoral district.

Year: 1999     Category:  Selected Issues    Status: REFERRED
Resolution:  Cultural Task Force on the Arts and Culture

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the AVIM Task Force on the Arts and Cultural Tourism now become the AVIM Standing Committee on the Arts and Cultural Tourism, whose mandate will include but not be limited to:

• continuing the process of self-education in the current and future opportunities presented in arts and culture and the dissemination of such knowledge with local Boards, Councils and citizens;
• sharing information on the arts and culture (inventories, events, future plans, etc.) among AVIM members so as to encourage longer tourist visits through local government cooperation;
• ensuring those agencies on whom local governments depend for marketing the arts and culture (i.e. Chambers of Commerce, regional tourist associations, Tourism Vancouver Island et al.) understand the full range of artistic products available to tourists and promote the arts and culture as an important component in their marketing strategies;
• exploring partnerships which will result in a more comprehensive and better organized effort to fully maximize the social and commercial benefits of the arts and culture including those with the provincial and federal governments;
• reaching out to First Nation neighbours to fully explore any and all opportunities which may promote improved cultural understanding and mutual benefit.

Endorsed in Principle and Referred to the incoming Executive pending receipt of a final report from the Present Task Force

Year: 1999     Category:  Selected Issues    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities and the Union of BC Municipalities petition the provincial government to reduce FAS and partial FAS through a province-wide education and awareness campaign to include:

a)     Warning labels on all beverage alcohol containers that clearly inform purchasers and
consumers of alcohol that:

• there is no recommended safe levels of alcohol consumption during pregnancy; and
• drinking during pregnancy can cause alcohol-related birth defects including FAS and partial FAS;

b)     A multimedia advertising campaign capable of reaching communities of all sizes and locations that includes:

• TV, radio and newspaper advertising comparable to the anti-smoking and AIDs awareness campaigns;
• warning signs in places where beverage alcohol is purchased (bars, restaurants and liquor stores);

c)     The inclusion of a module on FAS in alcohol and drug prevention programs and family life curricula in all elementary and secondary schools, in all professional education programs.

Year: 1999     Category:  Selected Issues    Status: NOT Endorsed
Resolution:  Hi-Tech Industry

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities petition the province to provide research grants for hi-tech industry in British Columbia and that the 7% sales tax be waived for the purchase of hi-tech equipment, as there are no research grants or tax credits offered to hi-tech industries to encourage development in this area.

Year: 1999     Category:  Selected Issues    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  RCMP Staffing Shortages

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities make strong representation to the provincial and federal authorities to immediately fill staff positions agreed to in existing contracts.

Year: 1999     Category:  Selected Issues    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Motion of Condolence

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities unanimously express condolences to the family of honoured Elder, Gabriel Bartleman, and to the Saanich First Nations people with heartfelt appreciation and respect for the work that Gabriel Bartleman has accomplished and for the direction that he has set.

Year: 1999     Category:  Selected Issues    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Natural Gas Pipeline

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the members of the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities demand that the B.C. Government rescind the Vancouver Island Natural Gas Pipeline Act and immediately end this geographical discriminatory legislation that only applies to Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast.

Year: 1998     Category:  Special Resolution    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Vancouver Island Land Use Plan

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the social and economic impacts of this plan be assessed through a pilot project on Vancouver Island for a period of one year to enable all Vancouver Island communities to understand the social, environmental and economic impacts of this plan.

Year: 1998     Category:  Legislation    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution: Amalgamation of Public Transit and School Busing

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities and the Union of B.C. Municipalities urge the provincial government to create enabling legislation that would permit public transit and school bus operations to be amalgamated, with the objective of enhancing or at least maintaining services at an overall reduced cost to the taxpayer.

Year: 1998     Category:  Legislation    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution: Fees for Fire Inspections

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities request the Union of British Columbia Municipalities to petition the Minister of Municipal Affairs to enact legislation to permit municipalities to charge a fee for fire safety inspections for hotels and other public buildings in the municipality.

Year: 1998     Category:  Legislation    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution: Scope of Powers of Board of Variance
And Appeal of Board Rulings

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities petition the provincial government to revise the Municipal Act provisions regarding Boards of Variance, to define the scope of powers of Boards of Variance, and to provide for an adequate course of appeal for both citizens and local government councils and further that the resolution be referred to the UBCM Review of the Municipal Act.

Year: 1998     Category:  Legislation    Status: REFERRED
Resolution: Regulation of Auxiliary Uses

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities and the Union of BC Municipalities request the Ministry of Municipal Affairs to consider in the re-write of the Municipal Act that municipalities be given the ability to regulate auxiliary uses by such methods as OCP map designations or other means.

Referred to the AVIM Executive

Year: 1998     Category:  Legislation    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution: Regulation of Strata Subdivisions

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities and the Union of BC Municipalities recommend changes to the Condominium Act and Municipal Act that would allow municipalities to be given approval powers for the strata-titling of new buildings.

Year: 1998     Category:  Legislation    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution: Handling Drainage Works

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities and the Union of BC Municipalities request that the scope of Section 560 and 561 be broadened and any other relevant section to include all levels of local government.

AND FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that this resolution be referred to the UBCM Review of the Municipal Act.

Year: 1998     Category:  Taxation    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution: Exemption of Property Taxes for Library Facilities

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities petition the Minister of Municipal Affairs to amend the Municipal Act so that land, improvements or both occupied by an established public library under the Library Act are granted exemption from property taxes.

Year: 1998     Category:  Taxation    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Hi-Tech Industry

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities petition the province to provide research grants for hi-tech industry in British Columbia and that the 7% sales tax be waived for the purchase of hi-tech equipment, as there are no research grants or tax credits offered to hi-tech industries to encourage development in this area.

Year: 1998     Category:  Taxation    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Assessment Appeal Board Decision

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities and Union of British Columbia Municipalities strongly urge the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and the BC Assessment Appeal Board to resolve all outstanding major industry appeals for 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997 as soon as possible in 1998, in order that local governments may know the true impact of successful appeals and the impact that they will have on tax revenues.

Year: 1998     Category:  Communities and Resources    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Forest Tenures

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities urge the provincial government to broaden the mandate of its Community Forest project to include consideration of tenure models for individuals, corporations and co-ops as well as municipalities.

Year: 1998     Category:  Communities and Resources    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Forestry Section 88 Grants

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Ministry of Forests reinstate Section 88 Grants for improvements and development of roads that lead into and provide egress from communities.

Year: 1998     Category:  Communities and Resources    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Protection and Restoration of Fish Habitat

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver island Municipalities urge the provincial and federal governments to provide resources and expertise to local governments to step up initiatives for the protection and restoration of salmon habitat streams on Vancouver Island.

Year: 1998     Category:  Communities and Resources    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Aid to Coastal Communities

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities ask British Columbia’s senior Cabinet Minister David Anderson to reinstate funding for this very valuable program for coho stocks:

AND FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that Minister Anderson commit his government to a multi-million-dollar, multi-year labor transition strategy for coastal communities who are being severely affected by the moratorium on directed coho fishing and declines in other B.C. salmon stocks as a result of mismanagement by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

Year: 1998     Category:  Health    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Regional Hospital District Boundaries

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Mount Waddington Regional Hospital District urges the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities to encourage the province to allow the return of those Vancouver Island Municipalities who wish to return to the original Regional Hospital District boundaries.

Year: 1998     Category:  Transportation    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Road Transfer

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that this Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities conference lobby the government to abandon this method of downloading:

AND FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the Minister of Transportation and Highways discuss an alternate road maintenance method with the affected communities before proceeding with this plan.

Year: 1998     Category:  Transportation    Status: NOT ENDORSED
Resolution:  Devolution of Arterial Highways

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities petition the Ministry of Transportation and Highways to upgrade to current standards all arterial highways that the Ministry intends to devolve to municipalities prior to devolution.

Year: 1998     Category:  Transportation    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Vancouver Island Highway Project Safety

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities lobby the Minister of Transportation and Highways to demand the Vancouver Island Highway Project add a connector route at Hamm Road or an alternate road in the vicinity between Courtenay and Campbell River to provide a route for local residents, businesses, tourists and emergency response vehicles to serve the highway between Courtenay and Campbell River.

Year: 1998     Category:  Transportation    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Four Lane Highway to Campbell River

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities write the Minister of Transportation and Highways, with copies to the Ministry of Fisheries, Ministry of Environment and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, to demand the following actions:

1.    that the originally planned four lane Vancouver Island Highway between Courtenay and Campbell River be reinstated to mitigate potential environmental damage;

2.    that further improvement be made to the environmental protective measures on the streams along the Vancouver Island Highway Project; and

3.    that immediate, increased and more vigilant enforcement of environmental violations along the Vancouver Island Highway Project be undertaken.

Year: 1998     Category:  Transportation    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Four Lane Highway to Campbell River

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities and the Union of BC Municipalities urge the provincial government to construct as overland route from Squamish to Powell River.

Year: 1998     Category:  Transportation    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Grants in Lieu for Regional District by
The B.C. Ferry Corporation

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government be encouraged to redress this taxation exemption/inequity immediately.

Year: 1998     Category:  Finance    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Regional Library Funding

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities petition the Minister of Municipal Affairs to review grant allocations for the Vancouver Island Regional Library with a specific goal of increasing provincial funding to a yearly negotiated percentage of the total library budget.

Year: 1998     Category:  Finance    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Accounting for Specific Taxes

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the province of British Columbia be requested to account for taxes and other charges levied for specific purposes by reporting these revenues and their related expenditures on a basis other than by inclusion in general revenues so that the effectiveness of these charges can more reasonably be assessed.

Year: 1998     Category:  Finance    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Infrastructure Grants

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that a format be adopted that will calculate the municipal contribution according to its municipal tax revenue per capita, such as the total municipal revenue divided by its population, compared to the provincial municipal tax average.

Year: 1998     Category:  Finance    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Devolutionof Arterial Highways

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities oppose the Ministry of Transportation and Highways and the Province of British Columbia in their efforts to devolve the highways to municipal government.
Year: 1998     Category:  Justice and Protective Services    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Emergency Road Markers

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities petition the Province of British Columbia to begin a province wide program to have emergency road kilometer markers placed at regular intervals along all major highways in B.C.

Year: 1998     Category:  Justice and Protective Services    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Proceeds of Crime

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government be encouraged to accelerate the policy and legislation recognizing the roles of municipal policing services and authorizing appropriate sharing of resulting revenues where applicable.

Year: 1998     Category:  Selected Issues    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Reduction of TRIM Mapping Cost

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Regional District of Mount Waddington urges the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities to encourage the province to provide the TRIM maps and cadastral maps to local governments at no cost and that the province encourage the free exchange of information generated on those maps amongst all government ministries, local governments and agencies.

Year: 1998     Category:  Selected Issues    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Municipal Arts and Culture Development

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities encourage the UBCM to continue the Arts and Culture Steering Committee with the mandate to further municipal cultural development.

Year: 1998     Category:  Selected Issues    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Vancouver Island Cultural Tourism

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities establish a Task Force to look at the issue of cultural tourism and r_commend a mechanism which would support this growth and coordinate Island cultural tourism to maximize audience and economic benefits.

Year: 1998     Category:  Selected Issues    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Vancouver Island Film Production Union

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities actively pursue the establishment of ‘Vancouver Island as a Film Production Local by lobbying the provincial government and the appropriate Unions.

Year: 1998     Category:  Selected Issues    Status: NOT ENDORSED
Resolution:  Crown Lands within Municipalities

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities petition the provincial government to transfer all crown land within municipalities in fee simple to the municipality,  and that land be managed by those municipalities.

Year: 1998     Category:  Selected Issues    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Multilateral Agreement on Investment

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities communicate directly with the Premier of British Columbia urging him to intervene with the federal government immediately and demand that the federal negotiator file a permanent and explicit exemption in the MAI limiting its application to areas of federal jurisdiction; and to direct resources to the exploration of options that would safeguard the province, and thereby municipalities and regional districts which are the functions of provincial jurisdiction, against any erosion of provincial rights and powers resulting from the MAI as currently drafted.

AND FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities call on the federal government to initiate a full public debate on the Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI).

Year: 1998     Category:  Selected Issues    Status: REFERRED
Resolution:  Protection of Archeological Sites

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that in the interest of protecting our culture and heritage that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities urge the Ministry of Small Business, Tourism and Culture to review their policy in this regard.

ENDORSED and referred to the UBCM Municipal Act Review Committee

Year: 1998     Category:  Selected Issues    Status: Endorsed by AIM
Resolution:  Support to the Agricultural Sector

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities inform the province of the highest priority that Vancouver Island municipalities attach to safeguarding the future of farming and the farm community, and urge the province to demonstrate its commitment to a profitable and competitive agriculture industry by actively providing legislative, policy, and resource support to the Vancouver Island farm communities’ initiatives to develop and implement the necessary strategies to address Vancouver Island’s increasingly uncertain agriculture future.

Year: 1998     Category:  Selected Issues    Status: Endorsed by AIM
Resolution:  Consumer Product Stewardship Program

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities and the Union of BC Municipalities request that the provincial government exempt the ‘eco- fee’ structure from provincial taxes and encourage the federal government to do the same;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that AVIM and UBCM petition the provincial government to ensure that industry has the disposal means at hand before implementing ‘eco- fees’ on various products.

Year: 1998     Category:  Selected Issues    Status: Endorsed by AIM
Resolution:  Students Eligibility Walk Limits

THERE FORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities and the Union of BC Municipalities lobby the provincial government to take local conditions into consideration when setting eligibility walk limits.

Year: 1998     Category:  Selected Issues    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Existing School Enrollment Capacity

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities and the Union of BC Municipalities lobby the provincial government to consult with local governments to mitigate the effects of increasing the school’s enrollment.

Year: 1998     Category:  Selected Issues    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Commercial Harvest of Seals and Sea Lions

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities and the Union of BC Municipalities petition the federal and provincial Ministers of Fisheries to enable  the commercial harvest of seals and sea lions.

Year: 1998     Category:  Selected Issues    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Transfer of Water Lots

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities petition the provincial government to transfer water lots in fee simple to the municipality, if requested by that municipality.

Year: 1998     Category:  Selected Issues    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Herbicide Use on Vancouver Island

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities in writing protest this form of herbicide use by E & N Railway anywhere on Vancouver Island.

Year: 1998     Category:  Referred Resolutions    Status: NOT ENDORSED
Resolution:  Business Licence Fees

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Union of British Columbia Municipalities request the provincial government to amend the Municipal Act to provide authority:

1.    to authorize the municipality to add outstanding Business Licence fees to property taxes as arrears; and
2.    to authorize the municipality to charge a double Business Licence fee for unpaid Business Licences.

Year: 1998     Category:  Referred Resolutions    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Revenue Taxation of Telephone Companies

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities and Union of British Columbia Municipalities petition the provincial government to require payment of this tax and that this resolution be referred to the UBCM Municipal Act Review Committee.

Year: 1998     Category:  Referred Resolutions    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Photo Radar

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Attorney General be petitioned by the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities to implement a policy of cooperation and liaison with local governments on all matters pertaining to the Photo Radar Ticketing Program.

Year: 1998     Category:  Referred Resolutions    Status: WITHDRAWN
Resolution:  Economically Priced Water for Lands in the Alr

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities request that the provincial government take steps to provide farmers in the ALR with an assured supply of economically priced, clean water as an integral part of its commitment to preserve farm land for future generations of British Columbians.

Year: 1998     Category:  Referred Resolutions    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Consensus on Sustainability

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Union of British Columbia Municipalities urge all organizations interested in the long term health of BC’s forests and other resources, and resource-dependent industries, to work with all British Columbians toward promoting sustainability in its broadest and most widely accepted sense, taking into full account ecological, economic and social values.

Year: 1997     Category: Special Resolutions      Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution: Impacts of Provincial Cutbacks

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that this Summit denounce these reductions on the basis that:

1.    The reductions contravene the Local Government Grants Act enacted after a joint review of the previous revenue sharing program – legislation that was promised to provide certainty and predictability.
2.    The social and economic consequences of cutbacks in terms of increased tax burden, job losses, increased crime and loss of valued services will lead to a decline in the quality of life in many communities.
3.    They were delivered unilaterally and without the provincial government’s promised consultation.
4.    The cutbacks are a classic case of downloading.
5.    The numbers the provincial government is using to describe the magnitude of the cuts are misleading to the public as to the real impacts to British Columbians.
6.    There was insufficient notice to communities.
7.    The cuts erode any certainty and predictability for 1998 and beyond.
8.    The cutbacks fail to account for service provided to the province by municipalities at little or no cost.
9.    The cuts compound the impacts already identified from provincial government action to give property tax breaks to major railways and other Crown corporations, to eliminate services that were available in many communities and to cancel valued programs, including building standards.

Year: 1997     Category: Special Resolutions      Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution: Courthouse Closures

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities petition the government to halt implementation of closure of courthouses until these issues have been examined and resolved through consultation with local government.

Year: 1997     Category: Special Resolutions      Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution: Public Private Partnerships

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that:
a)  the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities request Mr. Don Lidstone to proceed with finalizing the required amendments to the Municipal Act to allow Public/Private Partnerships
and
b)  that these proposed amendments to the Municipal Act be sent to the Union of British Columbia Municipalities to be presented to the Minister of Municipal Affairs to review with the intent of streamlining the Municipal Act to allow Public/Private Partnerships.

Year: 1997     Category: Special Resolutions      Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution: Reform of Municipal Legislation

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that this special UBCM Financial & Legislative Summit call on the provincial government to enact at the next session of the House, legislation that addresses local government needs for legislation that:

• recognizes that local governments are competent levels of government with well defined duties and powers to plan and manage the affairs of their communities
• eliminates provincial government approvals
• facilitates the streamlining of government
• empowers local government through deregulation
• facilitates administrative efficiencies and cost-effective local government
• provides greater flexibility to manage local government, and
• addresses the need for new revenue sources, given local governments added responsibilities;

AND FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the Summit support renewal of the Municipal Act with initial directions to be reviewed at the 1997 UBCM Convention.

Year: 1997     Category: Legislation    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution: Enactment of Bylaws and Resolutions

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities support and endorse a resolution to the Union of British Columbia Municipalities urging that the Municipal Act be amended by including a provision in the British Columbia Municipal Act which is equivalent to Section 107 of the Ontario Municipal Act that provides for “lame duck” regulations.

Year: 1997     Category: Legislation    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution: Municipal Charter

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the government of British Columbia be requested to replace the existing Municipal Act with a new Municipal Charter or Act giving municipalities not only defacto responsibilities as currently spelled out in the Municipal Act, simplify local governance and give municipalities and regional districts the necessary powers, but to also give them the necessary access to revenue sources enabling them to meet the staggering problems of being in the front-line in the struggle of global survival.

Year: 1997     Category: Legislation    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution: Amendment to Municipal Act

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that a provision be added to the Municipal Act similar to section 294(8) of the Vancouver Charter so that  all municipalities will have the same protection from law suits concerning building permits, where law suits may arise many years after the permit was issued.

Year: 1997     Category: Legislation    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution: Remuneration – Electoral Area Directors

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government be requested to amend section 808(3) of the Municipal Act to stipulate that a portion of the cost of remuneration for Electoral Area Directors may be apportioned among the electoral areas of the Regional District.

Year: 1997     Category: Legislation    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution: Tax on Vacant Parcels of Land

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities ask the province to amend the Municipal Act  which would permit municipalities to levy a parcel tax on vacant parcels of land in the city which will benefit from the sewer and water infrastructure currently in place, but which do not currently pay user fees.

Year: 1997    Category: Legislation    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution: Provincial Reductions

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the province of British Columbia reconsider its actions and reinstate the grant-in-lieu of tax for the Parliament Buildings and the Lieutenant Governor’s residence and all similar crown properties throughout the province.

Year: 1997     Category: Legislation    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution: Revenue Equalization

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities petition the provincial government to apportion a share of the property taxes, royalties and stumpage payments that are paid by the resource industries in those unorganized areas, to the adjoining municipalities.

Year: 1997     Category: Legislation    Status: NOT Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution: Wage Loss Reimbursement

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities seek the support of the Union of British Columbia Municipalities in having an appropriate amendment to the Municipal Act enacted by the province that would allow councils to provide for such wage loss reimbursement within the Council Remuneration and Expenses bylaw.

Year: 1997     Category: Legislation    Status:  Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution: Wildland/Urban Interface Hazard

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing be requested to approach the Provincial Cabinet to adopt an Order in Council addressing the wildland/urban interface in the following manner:

1.    Local governments be encouraged through the Beware and Prepare Community Planner to identify areas which are prone to wildland/urban interface fires, and to establish appropriate policies regarding land use patterns within and adjacent to these areas.

2.    Section 976(5)(a) of the Municipal Act be amended by adding an additional category ‘wildlife/urban interface fire hazard areas’ to enable local governments to establish development permit guidelines and utilize mitigating measures to minimize the risk to public safety and loss due to property damage through interface fires.

Year: 1997    Category: Community and Resources     Status: NOT Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution: Land Use – Provincial Forest Policies

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities and the Union of British Columbia petition the provincial government to empower an independent commission to look into privatizing crown land forest land and to ensure an equitable distribution among local existing and interested corporation, contractors and individuals.

Year: 1997     Category: Community and Resources    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution: Funding By Forest Renewal BC Of Road Construction and
Maintenance in Forest Based Communities

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities recommends to Forest Renewal BC that Forest Renewal BC fund road construction and maintenance projects where it can be demonstrated that such works will enhance long term resource community stability, provide opportunities to diversify local economies and create conditions that support permanent jobs within forest based communities.

Year: 1997     Category: Community and Resources    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution: Request for Increased Membership – Forest Renewal BC
Communities Committee

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities request that the Board of Directors of Forest Renewal BC increase the number of members from the forest based communities of Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast on its Communities Committee, both to more accurately reflect the value of Vancouver Island and Sunshine Coast forestry as a percentage of the forestry industry in BC and to more sufficiently address the needs of Vancouver Island and Sunshine Coast forestry workers in a time of rapid and often difficult transition.

Year: 1997     Category: Community and Resources    Status: Referred
Resolution: Fish Farm Tenures

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities demand that the provincial government provide the industry with security of tenure and immediately lift the moratorium granting new farm tenures for the industry to grow and contribute to Vancouver Island and other coastal communities.

Referred to the AVIM Executive

Year: 1997     Category: Health    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Health Regionalization

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Minister of Health disband this new Regional Health Board concept and establish single elected and accountable Regional Boards and/or Community Health Councils, within existing Regional District boundaries throughout the province.

Year: 1997     Category: Selected Issues    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Closure and Removal of Railway Infrastructure

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities strongly oppose the closure and removal of railway infrastructure.

Year: 1997     Category: Selected Issues    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Mileage Distance Markers on The Island Highway

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities petition the Ministry of Transportation and Highways to install kilometer sign posts at 5 kilometer intervals on the Island Highway.

Year: 1997     Category: Selected Issues    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Closure of Provincial Building Standards Branch

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities request the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to facilitate a meeting with the Union of British Columbia Municipalities and Associations representing the construction industry to develop a program to deal with disputes regarding the interpretation of the building code and that the Minister of Municipal Affairs be petitioned to re-instate the full services of the Building Standards Branch.

Year: 1997     Category: Selected Issues    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Downtown Revitalization Program

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities lobby the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing to immediately reinstate the Downtown Revitalization Program.

Year: 1997     Category: Selected Issues    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Expansion of Navy Bases

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities request the Federal Government to deploy navy personnel and equipment to other ports along the west coast, such as Prince Rupert, Port Hardy and Port Alberni where they would be available for services to mariners.

Year: 1997     Category: Selected Issues    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Transfer of Additional Ships to the West Coast

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities request the Federal Government to place an appropriately larger segment of the Canadian Navy on the west coast.

Year: 1997     Category: Selected Issues    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Casions & Video Lottery Terminals

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities advise the provincial government that they are opposed to the operation of casinos and video lottery terminals within British Columbia and that the province prepare legislation calling for a province wide referendum on the issue prior to proceeding further.

Year: 1997     Category: Selected Issues    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  West Coast Trail

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities support the District of Port Hardy’s submission that the provincial government commit funds to the development of the North Coast Trail as promised in the summer of 1995.

Year: 1997     Category: Selected Issues    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Capture of Orca Whales

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities respectfully request of the government of Japan that it do everything in its power to return these captive orcas to their family in the ocean as soon as possible.

Year: 1997     Category: Selected Issues    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Service Fee for Utility Installation

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities strongly request the provincial government to restore equal rights on this matter immediately, and that the AVIM and UBCM proceed immediately to convince the provincial government of this specific need for fair and equal treatment for all municipal taxpayers in all of the province of British Columbia.

Year: 1997     Category: Referred Resolutions    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Filling RCMP Temporary Vacancies

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of British Columbia Municipalities request the Attorney General to permit RCMP detachments to backfill vacancy positions that affect the policing complement.

Year: 1997     Category: Referred Resolutions    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Impaired Drivers

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM recommend to the provincial government through the offices of the Ministry of Transportation and Highways, Ministry of Health and the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia that a program of assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of impaired drivers be instituted forthwith on a user pay basis.

Year: 1997     Category: Referred Resolutions    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution:  Impact of Municipal Bylaws on Value
of Land Undergoing Expropriation

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government be urged to amend Section 32(g) of the Expropriation Act so that it reads:

“In determining the market value of land, no account shall be taken of any increase or decrease in value of the land that results from the enactment or amendment of a zoning bylaw, official community plan or analogous enactment made with a view to the expropriation.”

Year: 1997     Category: Referred Resolutions    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution: Donation of Food Act

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of British Columbia Municipalities request the provincial government to enact a Donation of Food Act in the province as soon as possible.

Year: 1997     Category: Referred Resolutions    Status: NOT Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution: Commercial Assessment Increase Phasing

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of British Columbia Municipalities urge the province to enact legislation to phase in land and improvement assessments for Class 6 (Business & Other) properties, where there has been an increase in excess of 20 percent from one assessment year to another.

Year: 1997     Category: Referred Resolutions    Status:  Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution: Restrictions to Vehicle Size

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of British Columbia Municipalities petition the provincial government to enact regulations for highways outside of municipal boundaries which would regulate the size of vehicles permitted in residential neighborhoods within Electoral Areas; or alternatively, that the province grant authority to regional districts to establish an extended service to provide for such regulations within residential neighborhoods of electoral areas.

Year: 1997     Category: Referred Resolutions    Status:  Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution: Extension of Farm Practices Act to
Aquaculture and Non-ALR Lands

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government be requested to abandon the application of the Farm Practices Protection (Right to Farm) Act to aquaculture and lands not within the Agricultural Land Reserve.

Year: 1997     Category: Referred Resolutions    Status:  Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution: Farm Practices Protection Act –
Land Use Standards

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government be requested to refrain from enacting regulations to apply uniform land use standards to all Agricultural Land Reserve lands in the province.

Year: 1996     Category: Communities and Resources    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution: Community Forests

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Ministry of Municipal Affairs bring forward the necessary legislation to incorporate provisions in the Municipal Act to accommodate local Government participation in Community Forest ventures, provided acceptable standards are included to protect the interests of the electorate.

Year: 1996     Category: Communities and Resources    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution: Visual Quality Objectives (Logging Viewscapes)

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that “Visual Quality Objectives” be reviewed in the resource management guidelines.

Referred to the AVIM Community and Resources Sub-Committee.

Year: 1996     Category: Communities and Resources    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution: Fisheries – Genetic Diversity and Hatchery Operations

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities to undertake initiatives to ensure the preservation of enhancement of fish habitat in presently and potentially productive small streams;

AND FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that AVIM oppose the federal government plans to eliminate the funding under the Salmon Enhancement Program to fish hatcheries in British Columbia.

Year: 1996     Category: Communities and Resources    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution: Fish Hatchery Closures

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities protest the Department of Fisheries and Oceans proposed plan to shut down fish hatcheries along the B.C. Coast

Year: 1996     Category: Communities and Resources    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution: Coastal Communities Fisheries

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities advise the Department of Fisheries and Oceans that they must recognize that coastal communities are stakeholders in the fisheries industry and as such must be included in the management and planning process and that the following recommendations be presented to that Department:

a)    incorporate coastal communities’ investment in fishery related on-shore infrastructure and their priority for sustaining its employment bases in fish processing and related services as a part of management planning and processes.

b)    allow regional management boards to enter into joint management agreements for the day-to-day management of fisheries resources.

c)    prior to the adoption of any revisions to the Fisheries Act that the Standing Committee review the revisions to the Act must come to the West Coast to receive input from our coastal communities.

Year: 1996     Category: Communities and Resources    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution: Coastal Fisheries Resources

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities petition both the Premier of British Columbia and the Prime Minister of Canada to have their respective governments take whatever further action required to halt the decline in our fisheries resources and to begin the process of remediation and rebuilding of the fisheries stocks and habitat throughout coastal British Columbia.

Year: 1996     Category: Communities and Resources    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution: Forest Tenure Review

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities request the Ministry of Forests to undertake a Tenure Review Process to examine all aspects of the issue.

Year: 1996     Category: Communities and Resources    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution: Bid Proposal Sales – Small Business Forest Enterprise Program

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the evaluation process for Section 16.1 Bid Proposal Sales under the Small Business Forest Enterprise Program be amended to:

a)    give greater weight to local employment and economic considerations.
b)    provide for smaller annual cut levels, starting at 5,000 cubic meters per year.
c)    provide for the establishment of a local log market that supports wood manufacturing and value added activities in the region where the forest resources are located.

Referred to the AVIM Executive

Year: 1996     Category: Justice    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution: Sexual Offenders Registry

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province of British Columbia immediately enact a Sexual Offenders Registry designated to inform councils regional district boards and school boards, through the RCMP or local police about the presence in the community of a convicted sexual offender.

Referred to the AVIM Executive

Year: 1996     Category: Selected Issues    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution: Cancellation of New Victoria Youth Custody Center

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government be strongly urged to proceed with replacement of the Victoria Youth Custody Center forthwith.

Year: 1996     Category: Selected Issues    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution: Devolution of Harbors/Ports

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities petition the Federal Government to immediately defer any decisions until there has been adequate consultation with local governments.

Year: 1996     Category: Selected Issues    Status: REFERRED
Resolution: Municipal Legal Advice

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the UBCM hire on retainer, to be determined by blind tender, a group of lawyers to provide municipal advice, bylaws and material and provide this material and advice as a part of the package of services supplied by the UBCM to its members.

Referred to the AVIM Executive

Year: 1996     Category: Selected Issues    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution: Hospice/Palliative Care Program Funding

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of B.C. Municipalities request the provincial government to provide adequate funding to ensure that hospice/palliative care is available in all communities.

Year: 1996     Category: Selected Issues    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution: Postal Service

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Regional District of Comox-Strathcona write to the Chairman of this review, expressing dissatisfaction with the procedure of public hearings and requesting more extensive community dialogue and that the matter be brought before the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities Annual General Meeting

Year: 1996     Category: Selected Issues    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution: Canadian Unity

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the council of the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and other means initiate direct contact with municipalities of the province of Quebec with overtures of friendship and an invitation to visit our community and that possibilities for exchange be pursued for exchange visits of teams of community leaders between British Columbia and Quebec and that a committee be established to explore ways in which we can support and encourage community initiatives related to keeping Canada united:

AND FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities support and encourage local, provincial and federal initiatives designed to keep Canada united.

Endorsed in Principle and Referred to the AVIM Executive

Year: 1996     Category: Selected Issues    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution: Provincial Funding of RCMP

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities request that the provincial government provide sufficient funding to maintain a needed level of policing for the rural areas throughout the province.

Year: 1996     Category: Selected Issues    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution: Liability for Regional District Services

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities request that section 820.1 (3) Municipal Act be amended to apportion the amount to satisfy a claim only to those areas in a Regional District which are participants in the service to which the claim relates by eliminating the words “… except where the action arose from the negligence of the board, its agents or servants, the amount shall be apportioned in the same manner as that set out in section 808 (3).

Referred to the AVIM Executive

Year: 1996     Category: Selected Issues    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution: Development Permit Powers for Single Family, High Density Projects

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities be requested to make the appropriate representations to the provincial government to secure amendment to the Municipal Act, to include single family development at densities equal to or greater than 30 units per hectare in Section 945(4)(e) of Division (1) of Part 29 of the Municipal Act.

Year: 1996     Category: Selected Issues    Status: NOT Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution: Unity Day

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that October 30, 1996 be declared Unity Day across Canada and as a part of that day, individual municipalities and regional districts across Canada recognize and celebrate this affirmation of the value of this confederation by raising the flag of the province of Quebec or in any other manner that they deem appropriate.

Year: 1996     Category: Selected Issues    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution: Provincial Highway Patrol

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Provincial Government address this inequity by means such as assuming full responsibility to provide Highway Patrol or fairly funding the portion of local police costs to provide this service on provincial highways.

Year: 1996     Category: Selected Issues    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution: Vancouver Island Recreational Corridor

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities indicate their support in principle by requesting the Minister of Environment, Lands and Parks, the Ministry of Forests and B.C. Forest Renewal consider assisting with the establishment of this Recreation Corridor, for the benefit of all.

Year: 1996     Category: Selected Issues    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution: Expansion of Provincial Travel Assistance Program

AND FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the Ministry of Health start a study to be done by the Regional Health Boards to determine the extent of this problem and bring forth recommendations for inclusion in the overall Travel Assistance Program.

Year: 1996     Category: Selected Issues    Status: Endorsed by AVIM
Resolution: Rights and Ownership – Canadian Inside Passage

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities support most strongly the protection of Canadian rights and ownership in the Inside Passage and that the Premier and Prime Minister be so advised promptly.

Year: 1996     Category: Selected Issues    Status: REFERRED
Resolution: B.C. Telephone Job Cuts

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Municipalities, on behalf of its communities, correspond with the CRTC, Chief Executive Officers of B.C. Telephone, Members of Parliament and MLA’s denouncing these job cuts.

Referred to the AVIM Executive