Thoughts on BC Politics and More

  UBCM president Jen Ford said in an interview that it’s a very challenging time to be in local government. The triple threats of wildfires, opioids and housing needs facing B.C. are the focus of a weeklong gathering of elected municipal and provincial leaders in Vancouver at the annual Union of B.C. Municipalities convention. A record attendance of more than 2,000 delegates is expected at the convention, which starts Monday and concludes Friday with a speech by Premier David Eby ... CLICK HERE for the full story

  While some industry conventions are filled with frivolity, expect the mood from B.C. mayors and councillors meeting in Vancouver next week to be decidedly mixed.   "It's a challenging time for many people for many different reasons," said Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM) President Jen Ford, in advance of the annual UBCM convention, which begins on Sept. 18.   The convention serves as an opportunity for municipal and regional politicians to meet and trade best practices, and also a chance to lobby the B.C. government through policy sessions, formal resolutions and scheduled one-on-one meetings.    While around half of the delegates were newly elected in last year's elections, the themes of this convention are much the same as 2022, with a significant focus on the challenges surrounding mental health and drug policy, housing affordability, health-care supports and climate disasters ... CLICK HERE for the full story