UBCM convention: Two of three special resolutions focussed on housing
Mayors and councillors voting at the annual convention of the Union of BC Municipalities have passed three special resolutions, two of them focussed on housing and the third on rural health care.
Special Resolution 2, which has been the subject of much conversation during the week-long gathering, passed handily demanding the province “invest in a long-term, predictable allocation-based funding program to support expansion and operation of local government infrastructure services to support provincially mandated housing growth.”
The third special resolution calls on the province to develop temporary shelters and support services for asylum-seekers, which has been the subject of bickering between the provincial and federal governments.
Special Resolution 1 calls for the review of local government contributions to regional hospital districts, citing the unsustainability of 40 per cent contributions made by smaller communities.
UBCM uses those member-voted resolutions to show the provincial government their priorities for the year and where they want senior governments supports, with special resolutions representing the most important issues.
This year there are 267 resolutions, 30 per cent more than last year, which deal with subjects as varied as mental health liaison officers, agricultural water management, illegal buoys, and vacancy control.
A city councilor from Nelson made a rare motion from the floor for an emergency resolution on "modernizing carbon pricing" that will be heard after all the other resolutions are handled on Friday, the last day of the convention.
Rik Logtenberg provided CTV News with the full resolution that "the UBCM request a significant portion of carbon pricing revenue be directed to local governments to support climate action initiatives such as transit, energy efficiency programs for homes, and adaptation of critical infrastructure, thereby directly helping local communities and their residents prepare for the impacts of catastrophic climate change."
The NDP government surprised observers when the premier announced last week that he would scrap the consumer carbon tax if the federal government removes its current requirement.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Pablo Rodriguez to sit as an Independent MP after resigning from Trudeau's cabinet
Longtime cabinet minister Pablo Rodriguez will be sitting as an Independent MP after stepping down as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s transport minister and Quebec Lieutenant, CTV News has learned.
Lebanon is rocked again by exploding devices as Israel declares a new phase of war
Walkie-talkies exploded in Beirut and other parts of Lebanon on Wednesday in a second wave of attacks targeting devices a day after pagers used by Hezbollah blew up, state media and officials for the militant group said. At least 20 people were killed and more than 450 wounded in the second wave, the Health Ministry said.
CTV News in Italy Stolen Winston Churchill 'Roaring Lion' portrait returned after ceremony in Italy
A special ceremony at the Canadian Embassy in Rome marked the successful recovery of an iconic portrait of Winston Churchill after a two-year search by Ottawa police.
Huge python grabs Thai woman in her kitchen, squeezes her two hours before she can be freed
A 64-year-old woman was preparing to do her evening dishes at her home outside Bangkok when she felt a sharp pain in her thigh and looked down to see a huge python taking hold of her.
Quebec woman charged with first-degree murder in death of five-year-old boy
A 29-year-old Quebec woman is facing a first-degree murder charge in the death of a five-year-old boy southwest of Montreal.
Ontario police arrest 2 suspects, search for 3 others in door-to-door-sales fraud
Two people have been arrested, and three others are still at large in connection with a door-to-door sales fraud that police said victimized more than 200 people across Ontario.
NASA scientists recreate Mars 'spiders' on Earth for first time
NASA scientists have successfully replicated spider-like shapes found on the surface of Mars in a laboratory setting for the first time.
Ontario mother scammed out of $1,800 in Taylor Swift ticket scam
An Ontario mother lost $1,800 hoping to get Taylor Swift tickets for her seven-year-old daughter. 'I don't understand how someone could just take advantage of someone and their hard-earned money, and it was a gift for a seven-year-old girl,' Dana Caputo, of Tottenham, Ont., told CTV News Toronto.
Melania Trump says she stands 'proudly behind my nude modelling work'
Former U.S. first lady Melania Trump posted a new video on social media Wednesday defending her previous nude modellingwork as she promoted her new book.