FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Prince George, B.C. – City representatives had a busy week in Victoria as they attended the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) convention from September 22 to 26.
Council and staff advocated for solutions to issues affecting Prince George and the region, including a care facility to support people with complex mental health and addictions, support for local governments that provide medical services, and stricter bail conditions and sentencing for repeat and violent offenders.
Other highlights from the week include:
- Council attended face-to-face meetings with provincial ministers and crown corporations including Premier David Eby, Attorney General, Minister of State for Local Governments and Rural Communities, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs, Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions, Minister of State for Community Safety and Integrated Services, Minister of Environment and Parks, Minister of Infrastructure, Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth, and Minister of Forests.
- In the meeting with Premier Eby, Prince George representatives advocated for the need for a secure mental health and complex care facility, which was announced in Premier Eby’s closing remarks at the convention.
- In addition to the above advocacy items for Prince George, Council also brought forward four resolutions to be voted on by the UBCM membership. Those motions and their status are:
- Petition the Province to finalize agreements with local governments as soon as possible and include a funding component to compensate local governments providing emergency medical services and pre-hospital care through their fire and rescue services for related costs including, but not limited to, medical supplies and training. Endorsed.
- Petition the Province to declare gender-based violence, intimate partner violence, and human trafficking an epidemic in British Columbia and update BC’s Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking. Endorsed.
- Advocate for the provincial government to provide adequate funding, offices and staffing to fully support the BC Conservation Officer Service to be more active and proactive in effectively managing conservation services. Endorsed.
- Call on the provincial government to increase core funding for public libraries on a yearly basis in line with inflation and immediately increase annual core funding for libraries to $30 million as requested by the BC Public Library Partners and recommended by the province’s Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services. Endorsed with amendments.
- Councillor Cori Ramsay was elected the president of the UBCM executive. She previously served as the first vice-president after being elected at the 2024 conference.
Prince George council members were pleased to have local MLAs also included in a number of the face-to-face meetings, putting into practice the collaboration outlined in the regional advocacy MOU signed in 2024.
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Media contact:
Kendall Robertson, senior communications advisor
Mobile: 778-349-5393
Email: media@princegeorge.ca