(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)

Cities and towns in B.C. have compiled a list of problems in their municipalities that they want to try to resolve, from bail reform to public toilets, and next week's Union of BC Municipalities convention is where those resolutions will be presented.

The UBCM convention is being held in Victoria this year and municipalities have put forward ideas they want other municipal politicians to support and then they'll be presented to the provincial government. The union has a committee that goes through the hundreds of ideas, or resolutions, put forward by municipalities to decide which ones ought to be considered, and which ideas aren’t worth bringing forward at the convention.

Penticton wants a regionally balanced approach to supportive housing. The city is arguing that BC Housing has been building supporting housing and shelters, but smaller communities aren’t getting the same kind of access that bigger cities have. It wants supportive housing funding to be distributed to rural areas and smaller communities so people can have access to shelter in their own communities.

Kamloops has several concerns including repeat offenders, provincial funding for the RCMP and public toilets.

The City of Kamloops is arguing that RCMP negotiations with provincial and federal governments leave municipalities with little wiggle room when it comes to policing decisions. UBCM supports Kamloops on the issue and is going to go to the province to ask that higher levels of government involve municipalities in RCMP negotiations to help stem the consistently increasing cost of policing.

Kamloops’ complaint that the justice system is too soft on prolific offenders is echoed by other municipalities like Nelson. UBCM is going to try to push the provincial government to put harsher sentences on repeat offenders to keep them off the streets for longer, and impose more electronic monitoring of those who get released on conditions.

It can be tough for folks in Kamloops to find a place to use a bathroom when they’re out and about, according to the city. Some areas don’t have public restrooms since the city has had to shut many down due to vandalism, drug use and the maintenance costs. UBCM’s committee didn’t have a recommendation since it wasn’t sure if the province would be able to do much to help with the situation.

Osoyoos is seeking protection from “defamatory attacks” on local government leaders. Osoyoos wants legislation that protects local government leaders from statements made by the public. The union shot down the town’s request, and not for the first time as Osoyoos tried to get a similar resolution passed last year. Elected officials are allowed to pursue legal action under BC’s Libel and Slander Act.

West Kelowna wants provincial funding to help with accessibility requirements for disabled people, and changes to FireSmart and wildfire mitigation funding.

West Kelowna wants more funding from the province for municipalities to be accessible to those with disabilities. It specifically wants money for consultants, audits and projects. There are already two funding programs from the province for cities. Local governments can get $25,000 for accessibility projects, education and policy. There is also another program where governments can get $3,500 as well as support to help municipalities meet accessibility standards.

West Kelowna is complaining about a lack of funding and too much red tape from the provincial government for wildfire mitigation efforts. The Ministry of Forests responded to a similar complaint from municipalities in 2023. The ministry said that cities can get funding, they just need to submit an application to prove that the community is at risk and has a mitigation plan. 

Vernon is trying to get support to modernize municipal wastewater regulations. Vernon along with Lake Country, Coldstream and the Columbia Shuswap Regional District have pointed out that municipal wastewater rules haven’t been seriously reviewed in more than 20 years.

The municipalities want the province to review the law to make sure it’s up to date with new technology, environmental pressures and cities’ needs. UBCM has pushed for the federal and provincial government to look into aspects of water and sewer regulations in the past, but it supports asking the province for a full review to make sure regulations are up to present day challenges. 

Kelowna is a member of the UBCM but hasn’t filed any resolutions for this year’s conference.

Click here to see all the resolutions for this year's conference.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Jesse Tomas or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw. Find our Journalism Ethics policy here.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. SUBSCRIBE to our awesome newsletter here.

News from © iNFOnews, 2025