Langley City at the Annual Union of BC Municipalities Convention: Advocacy and Awareness

Around this time every year, local elected folks from around BC gather for the annual Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) convention. The convention either takes place in Vancouver or Victoria. This year, it is in Victoria. There are several key components of the convention.

The first is that the UBCM membership, including myself and other elected folks, debates resolutions, and if these resolutions are approved, they are forwarded to the province to represent the views of all municipalities in BC. These resolutions also help inform the advocacy efforts of the UBCM to the provincial government. The resolution usually calls on the UBCM or the provincial government to take a specific action. Langley City has four resolutions for debate, which were previously endorsed by other elected folks from the Lower Mainland earlier this year.

Waiting for an appointment with a provincial minister.

Councillor Albrect, Councillor Wallace, Myself, MLA Amna Shah, Councillor Mack, and Fraser Health CEO Dermot Kelly.

The second is that the provincial government provides 15-minute mini meetings for local governments to meet with provincial ministers and staff. These are good advocacy opportunities. Langley City Council met or is meeting with:

• MLA Christine Boyle, who is the Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs to ask to continue to support the redevelopment of the Langley Lions Housing project to support more housing options for lower-income seniors, expand the Heart and Hearth program to Langley to support people who are living rough, and provide more long-term housing option in Langley with support to help give people a way out of homelessness.
• MLA Josie Osborne, who is the Minister of Health to ask for complex-care mental healthcare beds for people in Langley, including for those who are living rough.
• MLA Amna Shah, who is the Parliamentary Secretary for Mental Health and Addiction to ask for the “Car” program or Mobile Integrated Crisis Response to launch in Langley. This program pairs a police officer with a nurse to provide on-site emotional and mental health assessments and crisis intervention when someone calls 911.
• Bobbi Plecas, who is the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure to ask for continued investment into health care infrastructure and schools in Langley to prepare for the arrival of the SkyTrain.

The third reason is to learn from others about what is happening in their community, including issues and possible solutions, either by attending panels and presentations or informally over lunch or dinner.

The conference runs all week. I’m attending Tuesday through Thursday, though we have representation from Langley City Council all week.