Lobbying Information
Subject Matters
- Aboriginal Affairs
- Agriculture
- Economic Development
- Employment and Training
- Environment
- Fisheries
- Forestry
- Health
- Housing
- Infrastructure
- International Trade
- Justice and Law Enforcement
- Municipalities
- National Security/Security
- Regional Development
- Taxation and Finance
- Transportation
Subject Matter Details
Grant, Contribution or Other Financial Benefit, Policies or Program
- Advocacy efforts around the design and implementation of the Building Canada Communities Component Agreement and the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund. The Communities Component Agreement was signed between the Government of Canada and the Province of BC 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.
- Resolution B107 from membership forwarded to Minister of Transport, Infrastructure & Communities and Minister of State (Transport), requesting that the federal and provincial government commit to a funding program that will support the economic viability of short-line railways, thereby maintaining valuable railway transportation infrastructure and corridors. The resolution further called on the federal government commit to protecting rail rights-of-way during discontinuance to ensure that all communities, the Province of British Columbia and the government of Canada maintain transportation options to respond to economic development and community needs into the future.
- Resolution B128 from membership forwarded to Minister of Transport, Infrastructure & Communities, Minister of National Revenue and Minister of Finance, calling on the Province of BC and the federal government to reinstate the original reporting and deadline requirements for the Towns for Tomorrow program.
- Resolution B130 from membership forwarded to Minister of Transport, Infrastructure & Communities, Minister of National Revenue, Minister of Finance and the Prime Minister, calling for flexibility regarding the deadlines for infrastructure construction spending and each applicant to be dealt with on a case by case basis in order to maximize the effectiveness of the grants and create quality infrastructure for all Canadians.
- Resolution B71 from membership forwarded to Minister of Transport, Infrastructure & Communities, Minister of National Revenue, Minister of Finance and the Prime Minister, requesting that the federal government enact a permanent continuation to the Community Works Fund program with funds provided being indexed to account for the effects of inflation.
- Resolution B74 from membership forwarded to Minister of Transport, Infrastructure & Communities, Minister of National Revenue, Minister of Finance and the Prime Minister, calling on the Province of BC and the federal government for the addition of significant funding components to infrastructure grant programs to assist local governments with major facilities projects such as municipal halls, fire halls, public safety buildings and public works yards.
- Resolution B75 from membership forwarded to Minister of Transport, Infrastructure & Communities, Minister of National Revenue and Minister of Finance, calling on the federal government to share revenue with BC local governments equivalent to 1% of the HST on an annual basis to help them fund important services and infrastructure to their citizens, as deemed by the local government deems to be in the best interest of the community.
- Resolution B77 from membership forwarded to Minister of Transport, Infrastructure & Communities, Minister of National Revenue, Minister of Finance and the Prime Minister, calling on the federal government to work with the provincial government to revise the federal gas tax agreement to expand the eligibility criteria and allocate to local governments a greater portion of federal gas tax revenues in a manner that allows for sustainable financial planning.
- 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.
Grant, Contribution or Other Financial Benefit, Policies or Program, Regulation
- Resolution B82 from membership forwarded to Minister of Environment, Minister of Finance and Minister of Transport, Infrastructure & Communities, to communicate that local governments cannot commit to the wastewater treatment plan upgrades required in the Canada-Wide Strategy for the Management of Municipal Wastewater Effluent (CCME) Strategy and the Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations, without a funding formula that includes funding contributions from the provincial and federal governments.
Legislative Proposal, Bill or Resolution
- Resolution B70 from membership forwarded to Minister of Transport, Infrastructure & Communities, Minister of State (Seniors), Minister of State (Transport) and Minister of Human Resources & Skills Development, requesting federal and provincial governments to work together to ensure that Canadian public transportation providers be required by law, similar to the United States Americans with Disabilities Act, to provide physical access for disabled passengers travelling in Canada.
Legislative Proposal, Bill or Resolution, Policies or Program
- Resolution B138 from membership forwarded to Minister of Fisheries & Oceans, Minister of Environment, Minister of Natural Resources and Minister of Transport, Infrastructure & Communities, calling on the federal government to implement a legislated ban on west coast offshore oil and gas exploration and programs.
- Resolution B139 from membership forwarded to Minister of Transport, Infrastructure & Communities, Minister of Fisheries & Oceans, Minister of Environment and Minister of Natural Resources, calling on the federal government to establish a legislated ban on bulk crude oil tanker traffic through Dixon Entrance, Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound in British Columbia.
- Resolution B18 from membership forwarded to Minister of Transport, Infrastructure & Communities, Minister of State (Transport) and VIA Rail Canada, calling on the federal government to support joint-use agreements with railway companies for rails-with-trails corridors. The resolution further requests legislative amendments to the Canadian Transportation Act to recognize the need for parallel corridors to be provided within rail rights of way and authorize provincial and local governments to apply to the Canadian Transportation Agency, in absence of agreement with a railway company, for authority to place trails within rail rights of way where this can be done safely.
Legislative Proposal, Bill or Resolution, Regulation
- Resolution B53 from membership forwarded to Minister of Public Safety and Minister of Transport, Infrastructure & Communities, calling for provincial and federal building codes to be amended to allow communities to apply accessible building standards to all residential classes.
- Resolution B64 from membership forwarded to Minister of Public Safety calling for the federal government to work with the Province of BC to enact more stringent regulations under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and Precursor Control Regulations to restrict the importation of key precursor products and ensure that only legitimate manufacturers are able to obtain precursor chemicals; and enforce the regulations and monitor the end use from bulk sales of precursor chemicals.
Policies or Program
- Federal Round Table on Aboriginal Rights & Title, March 2010 - UBCM representatives participated.
- Letter to Hon. Tony Clement, Minister of Industry, to express concern with the June 26, 2010 decision by Statistics Canada to discontinue the mandatory long-form questionnaire in favour of a voluntary National Household Survey for the 2011 Census.
- Letter to Minister of Indian Affairs & Northern Development requesting clarification of the work that the federal government is undergoing with respect to its additions to reserve policy, with a further request that UBCM have an opportunity to provide input into a policy review.
- 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.
- Presentation by UBCM RCMP Local Government Working Group to members of the BC Conservative Caucus on key issues related to RCMP contract negotiations.
- Resolution B108 from membership forwarded to Minister of International Trade and Minister of Transport, Infrastructure & Communities, urging the government of Canada not to provide the European Union with access to sub national government procurement; and advising of a request to the provincial government to negotiate a clear, permanent exemption for local governments form the comprehensive economic trade agreement (CETA).
- Resolution B109 from membership forwarded to the RCMP, requesting that the RCMP work with the provincial government and regional districts to develop the necessary strategies and tools that will enable regional districts to assist in the elimination of illegal marijuana grow-ops and other drug manufacturing operations in rural areas and to ensure that environmental and safety concerns left in the aftermath of such operations are addressed.
- Resolution B112 from membership forwarded to Minister of Health and Minister of Human Resources & Skills Development, requesting that the necessary government ministries work with medical education programs to identify and develop appropriate changes in the Canadian medical education system required to ensure that general practitioners can meet the needs of rural Canadians, such as proficiency in surgery, anesthesia and obstetrics.
- Resolution B140 from membership forwarded to Minister of Natural Resources, Minister of Environment and Minister of Transport, Infrastructure & Communities, expressing opposition to tar sands oil being shipped in pipelines across northern BC for loading onto crude oil tankers.
- Resolution B15 from membership forwarded to Minister of Transport, Infrastructure & Communities, Minister of Environment and Minister of State (Transport), asking the federal government to work with the Province of British Columbia to expand or create an electrified passenger and freight rail network linking most of the urban centres of the country making it the predominant mode of transportation for both intra-urban and inter-urban travel.
- Resolution B153 from membership forwarded to Minister of Human Resources & Social Development requesting that the federal government reconfigure the current Employment Insurance regional boundaries to reflect the geographic and economic realities in British Columbia.
- Resolution B30 from membership forwarded to Minister of Fisheries & Oceans, Minister of Environment, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure & Communities and Minister of Public Safety, asking the federal government to work with the provincial government to develop a coordinated approach to the timely and adequate removal of all types of derelict and abandoned vessels, barges and docks in all situations. The resolution further requested that the federal government consider the following strategies: funding mechanisms such as a fee on vessel registrations or a surcharge on marine fuel to fund the removal of derelict and abandoned vessels, barges and docks; designated disposal areas where owners can take their unwanted boats and structures to provide an alternative to abandonment on public property; and education and vessel product stewardship programs, for example fibreglass boat recycling centres.
- Resolution B54 from membership forwarded to Minister of Transport, Infrastructure & Communities, Minister of State (Transport) and Canada Post Corporation, asking that Canada Post be requested to amend its unaddressed admail policy to include an exemption for bulk mail-outs by local governments.
- Resolution B59 from membership forwarded to Minister of Public Safety, Minister of Environment and Minister of Natural Resources, calling for the initiation of a Fire Smart Canada Community Program similar to the FireWise program in the United States and the Partners in Protection Fire Smart Canada proposal.
- Resolution B66 from membership forwarded to Minister of Transport, Infrastructure & Communities, Minister of State (Transport), Minister of Public Safety and Canada Post Corporation, calling for Canada Post to investigate options for increased security of Super Mail Boxes and implement a solution to reduce illegal access and theft of mail from the Super Mail Boxes.
- Resolution B79 from membership forwarded to Minister of Fisheries & Oceans and Minister of Environment, calling for the establishment of a large, ecologically zoned national marine conservation area reserve (NMCAR) in the southern Strait of Georgia from the proposed southern end of Haro Strait up to and including Gabriola Passage, and urging immediate action on this initiative while respecting First Nations interests in the area.
- Resolution B8 from membership forwarded to Minister of Environment, Minister of Public Safety, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure & Communities and Minister of Fisheries & Oceans, calling for development of a long term funding strategy to maintain and improve the level of flood protection for communities.
- Resolution B80 from membership forwarded to Minister of Environment, Minister of Health and Minister of Agriculture & Agri-food, requesting the federal government to require a federal environmental assessment be completed prior to the commencement of operation of all co-generation power plants fuelled by agents containing potentially toxic compounds, who receive grants from agencies that are solely funded by the federal government.
- Resolution B97 from membership forwarded to Minister of Fisheries & Oceans, calling on the federal government to support both the commercial fishing industry and the sports fishing industry equitably as they are both critical economic generators for residents within the province.
- Resolution C10 from membership forwarded to Minister of Public Safety and President of the Treasury Board, requesting that the new RCMP contract to be negotiated between the provincial and federal governments explicitly assign to other orders of government all costs incurred for resources drawn from outside a local government's jurisdiction in the normal course of any major criminal investigation.
- Resolution SR1 from membership forwarded to Minister of Public Safety, President of the Treasury Board and the Prime Minister, expressing local government concerns related to the delivery of local police services by the RCMP and the strength of these concerns. The resolution further expressed intent to undertake the following actions as soon as possible: meet with federal cabinet representatives to discuss local government concerns with the rapidly increasing costs of RCMP services and the need for increased accountability of the RCMP; request local governments to write to their federal Member of Parliament, the federal Minister of Public Safety and the President of the Treasury Board, highlighting concerns with the rapidly increasing costs of RCMP police services and the need for increased accountability; meet with the federal BC Conservative Caucus to discuss local government concerns with the rapidly increasing costs of RCMP services and the need for increased accountability of the RCMP; and meet with provincial cabinet representatives to discuss local government concerns with the rapidly increasing costs of RCMP services, the need for increased accountability of the RCMP and measures that the province can take to assist in addressing these issues.
- Submitted the paper, "UBCM’s Response to Canada’s New Approach to Supporting the BC Treaty Process," to the Minister of Indian Affairs & Northern Development. The paper is a response to the federal treaty negotiation mandate changes announced in 2010.
- 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.
- Resolution B146 from membership forwarded to Minister of Health and Minister of Public Safety, calling on the federal and provincial governments to work together toward the goal of decentralizing the administration and oversight of legitimate medical cannabis use and production from federal authority to provincial health ministries as part of their public and personal health mandate.
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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Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)
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Canada Post Corporation (CPC)
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Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
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Environment Canada
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Finance Canada (FIN)
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Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)
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Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (DFAITC)
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Health Canada (HC)
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Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC)
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Industry Canada
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Infrastructure Canada (INFC)
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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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Treasury Board Of Canada Secretariat (TBS)
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VIA Rail Canada
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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, described under the Services & 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 in the Resolutions & Policy section of the UBCM website. 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. Certain eligible First Nations are also 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 & Resolutions Coordinator |
Public offices held
- Paul Taylor,
Relationships & Communications 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