Langley City Council's Provincial Asks Endorsed by Other Councils at UBCM Convention

Earlier this month, I posted about the four resolutions from Langley City Council that we sent to the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) convention for debate and potential endorsement by the UBCM membership. UBCM members are local government elected representatives.

Locally elected representatives from across BC gathered at the Vancouver Convention Centre last week for the annual UBCM convention. I posted about Langley City Council's meetings with various provincial government ministers at UBCM last week. You can read about those meetings in part one and part two of a series.

I wanted to provide a brief update on Langley City's submitted resolutions.

Many municipalities put forward resolutions calling on the provincial government to create a comprehensive funding framework that supports local fire departments that respond to medical emergencies. Our resolution was combined with similar resolutions from the Nanaimo Regional District, Tofino, Port Alberni, and the Okanagan-Similkameen Regional District. The UBCM membership approved this resolution.

Langley City also proposed a resolution asking that the provincial government expand its Homeless Response and Shelter Support program to more municipalities. Unfortunately, Langley City has the third-largest population of people who are unhoused in Metro Vancouver, yet this program has not been implemented in our community. The membership also approves this resolution.

There is no courthouse in Langley City or Township, even though we have a combined population larger than Kelowna or my hometown of Vernon, each with provincial and supreme courts. There is only one courthouse in the South of Fraser in Metro Vancouver (in Surrey.) In growing communities or rural areas, getting access to court services can be challenging. Langley City's resolution calling on the province to expand access to court services was approved by the UBCM membership.

Langley City Council also put forward a resolution calling on the province to provide funding or other supports to help communities "complete the required updates to Official Community Plans, Environmental Servicing Plans as well as to review the impacts on all community infrastructure" due to new housing legislation. Many UBCM members thought this request was too broad, and the membership did not endorse it.