Lobbying Information
Subject Matters
- Aboriginal Affairs
- Agriculture
- Arts and Culture
- Employment and Training
- Environment
- Fisheries
- Forestry
- Health
- Housing
- Immigration
- Infrastructure
- Justice and Law Enforcement
- Regional Development
- Taxation and Finance
- Telecommunications
- Transportation
Subject Matter Details
Grant, Contribution or Other Financial Benefit, Policies or Program
- Advocacy efforts around the design and implementation of the Build Canada Communities Component Agreement and the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund. The Communities Component Agreement was signed between the Government of Canada and Province of BC and UBCM in July, 2008 and is an infrastructure funding program for municipalities under 100,000 in population. UBCM will participate in the Communities Component Management Committee. The Stimulus Fund was announced in Budget 2009.
Federal Departments involved are Transportation & Infrastructure Canada. In the past 6 months UBCM has provided briefings on this file to the BC Conservative Caucus, the BC Liberal Caucus and the BC NDP Caucus; and has been in contact with Minister Stockwell Day and Minister Chuck Strahl.
- Funding for Province-wide Community to Community Forum - working with First Nations Summit, UBCM requested and received a commitment of funding from Indian & Northern Affairs Canada.
- UBCM administers the Federal Gas Tax Transfer Program in British Columbia. Our staff are in contact with Infrastructure Canada staff on a regular basis. UBCM has both staff and a Board representative on an oversight committees for this program. In addition, UBCM has staff and a Board representative on oversight committee and staff joint secretariat for the Building Canada Plan -- Communities Component, and in that regard, UBCM are in frequent contact with staff of Western Economic Diversification.
Legislative Proposal, Bill or Resolution
- Resolution from membership forwarded to Minister of Justice & Attorney General and Minister of Public Safety, asking that local governments be allowed to share in the proceeds from property seized due to the cultivation and / or production of illegal substances on the premises or to acquire such property for community purposes at no cost.
- Resolution from membership forwarded to Minister of Transport, Infrastructure & Communities asking for federal recognition of the need for parallel corridors to be provided within rail rights of way, specifically through:
support of joint-use agreements with railway companies for Rails-with-Trails corridors; and
amendments to the Canada Transportation Act to authorize provincial and local governments to apply to the Canadian Transportation Agency, in absence of agreement with the railway company, for authority to place trails within rail rights of way.
- Resolution from membership forwarded to Prime Minister, Minister of Justice & Attorney General, and Minister of Public Safety, asking for revision of the Criminal Code as follows:
update sections related to disclosure, search warrants and lawful access to enable law enforcement agencies to arrest, charge and convict criminals involved in organized crime;
enable law enforcement agencies to manage and monitor new forms of communication technology.
Resolution also called for long term, annual federal funding for police forces to combat gang violence and enable the deployment of highly-intensive gang surveillance operations over an extended period of time.
Policies or Program
- Federal Round Table on Aboriginal Rights & Title, March 2010 - UBCM representatives participated.
- Letter to the Minister of Fisheries & Oceans seeking consultation with communities prior to the transition of aquaculture regulation to the federal government from the provincial government.
- Resolution from membership forwarded to Minister of Canadian Heritage asking the federal government to reinstate full funding to the creative sector and related programs, and to consider additional investment as part of economic stimulus programs.
- Resolution from membership forwarded to Minister of Citizenship, Immigration & Multiculturalism asking the federal government to immediately cancel all outstanding refugee transportation and pre-entry medical loan debt and to cease seeking repayment of the transportation and pre-entry medical costs for new Government Assisted Refugees coming to Canada.
- Resolution from membership forwarded to Minister of Environment, Minister of Public Safety and Minister of Fisheries & Oceans, asking the relevant agencies to permit proactive, preventative repairs to dykes and work in the streambed in order to mitigate flood risk and the potential for damage from floods.
- Resolution from membership forwarded to Minister of Fisheries & Oceans asking the federal government to cease all efforts to de-staff light stations and instead commit to maintaining light station staffing levels indefinitely.
- Resolution from membership forwarded to Minister of National Revenue and Minister of Transport, Infrastructure & Communities, asking for a flexible funding formula for infrastructure programs (such as Building Canada Fund - Communities Component, and Infrastructure Stimulus Fund) with the capability to increase the funding level where it can be demonstrated that local financing of one-third of the costs will place an undue burden on local tax payers.
- Resolution from membership forwarded to Minister of Transport, Infrastructure & Communities asking the federal government to prioritize expansion of internet and cellular phone service, and to provide incentives for companies to offer adequate cell phone and internet services to all rural residents.
- Resolution from membership forwarded to Prime Minister and Minister of Human Resources & Skills Development, requesting the following changes to the EI system:
a) reduce the number of hours of work hours required to qualify;
b) eliminate regionalization of EI eligibility and benefits (which are tied to regional unemployment rates) and require a minimum number of hours worked that would be the same across the country;
c) enhance benefits from current levels (55% of claimant’s weekly average earnings); and
d) eliminate the 2 week waiting period for EI.
- Resolution from membership forwarded to Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Infrastructure & Communities asking the federal government to direct NAV Canada not to withdraw Remote Aerodrome Advisory Service (RAAS) and other key aeronautical services from community and regional airports in British Columbia.
- Resolution from membership forwarded to Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Infrastructure & Communities, asking for development of streamlined application processes for general infrastructure funding programs accessed by local governments. No specific program requested but rather a general request.
- Resolution from membership forwarded to Prime Minister, Minister of Human Resources & Skills Development, and Minister of Transport, Infrastructure & Communities, asking the federal government to:
work with community partners to develop a National Affordable Housing Strategy to respond to the specific needs of British Columbians; and
provide long-term funding for construction of the full range of affordable housing choices needed in communities across the province.
- Resolution from membership forwarded to Prime Minister, Minister of National Revenue and Minister of Transport, Infrastructure & Communities, asking the federal government for significant, assured and stable revenue sources, with the first priority for application being to fund the infrastructure gap. No specific program requested but rather a general request.
- The RCMP Contract for local governments in British Columbia is due to expire in 2012. Negotiations for a new contract are underway. UBCM is an advisor to the Provincial negotiator from the Province of BC involved in RCMP contract discussions.
Policies or Program, Regulation
- Letter to Health Canada inquiring about the process for issuing and following up on medical marijuana licenses.
- Letter to the Minister of Health and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency requesting mandatory labeling for all GMO foods consumed in Canada.
Regulation
- The Riparian Areas Regulation is a provincial regulation. UBCM staff sit on a Riparian Areas Coordination Committee along with federal staff from Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
Communication Techniques
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Written communication
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Oral communication
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Grass-roots communication
Government Institutions
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Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada
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Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
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Canadian Heritage (PCH)
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Citizenship and Immigration Canada
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Environment Canada
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Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)
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Health Canada (HC)
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Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC)
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Infrastructure Canada (INFC)
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Justice Canada (JC)
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Members of the House of Commons
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Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)
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Prime Minister's Office (PMO)
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Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada (PSEPC)
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Public Safety Canada (PS)
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Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
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Solicitor General Canada (SGC)
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Transport Canada (TC)
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Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD)
In-house Organization Details
Description of the organization's activities
The Union of British Columbia Municipalities has represented local government interests within the Province of B.C. to the provincial and federal governments since 1905. Local governments, including municipalities and regional districts are UBCM's members. Membership is voluntary and all local governments in BC are members of UBCM. It promotes collaboration between all orders of governments that promote shared public objectives. Interactions with federal government fall into 3 broad categories - (1) advocacy work related to federal programs and legislation; (2) collaboration and information sharing and local government capacity building; and (3) delivery of programs. Category (2) includes co-sponsoring conferences with federal and other agencies or involvement of federal government officials in the UBCM Annual Convention. Category (3) relates to UBCM's role as a signatory to the Federal Gas Tax Transfer Agreement and the Public Transit Agreement, and our role as program administrator under those agreements. UBCM is committed to openness and transparency. Information is available on the UBCM website (www.ubcm.ca) on the scope of all UBCM activities, including advocacy. In addition to its advocacy/representation role, UBCM provides additional services to its members such as are described under Service and Awards and Funding Programs headings of the website. In pursuit of the community and local government interests, UBCM has set out the areas of its concerns under Section D. Members of the UBCM propose resolutions that may affect a wide range of federal matters. If endorsed these are conveyed following the annual convention. Copies of such resolutions can be accessed at www.ubcm.ca (under Resolutions and Policy). UBCM is the exclusive group representing local government in BC. In addition to administering the Federal Gas Tax Transfer Program in BC, UBCM participates in various infrastructure programs such as the Build Canada Program.
Responsible officer name and position during the period of this registration
Gary MacIsaac,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Organization's membership or classes of membership
Membership in the UBCM is voluntary. All local governments in B.C. including municipalities and regional districts are members.
Government funding
End date of the last completed financial year:
2010-06-30
List of Government Funding
Government Institution
|
Funding Received in Last Financial Year
|
Funding Expected in Current Financial Year
|
Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada
|
$50,000.00
|
Yes
|
Infrastructure Canada (INFC)
|
$254,239,500.00
|
Yes
|
Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD)
|
$250,000.00
|
No
|
In-house Organization Contact Information
Address:
60 - 10551 Shellbridge Way
Richmond, BC V6X 2W9
Canada
Telephone number:
604-270-8226
Ext.
105
Fax number:
604-270-9116
Lobbyists Details
Employees who lobby for the organization
- Marylyn Chiang,
Policy Analyst |
No public offices held
- Marie Crawford,
Associate Executive Director |
No public offices held
- Brant Felker,
Gas Tax Policy & Program Officer |
No public offices held
- Brenda Gibson,
General Manager, Gas Tax/Public Transit |
No public offices held
- Gary MacIsaac,
Executive Director |
No public offices held
- Reiko Tagami,
Information and Resolutions Coordinator |
Public offices held
- Paul Taylor,
Relationships and Communication Advisor |
No public offices held
- Ken Vance,
Senior Policy Advisor |
No public offices held
- Marlene Wells,
Policy Analyst |
No public offices held
- Jared Wright,
Senior Policy Analyst |
No public offices held