Flood mitigation was one of the big issues discussed by the Hope mayor and councillors during this year’s Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM) convention in Vancouver.
From Sept. 18 to Sept. 22, local government officials from around B.C. flocked to Vancouver for the week long event where community-specific issues were addressed and resolutions were made.
The event, which included representation from the District of Hope, typically includes workshops on various local governance issues, networking opportunities, meetings with provincial cabinet ministers and keynote addresses by provincial party leaders.
This year, Mayor Victor Smith — who previously attended UBCM as a councillor — was at the convention, along with a few District of Hope councillors, to raise a number of concerns especially with regards to flood prevention and mitigation.
“It was good,” Smith said. “We were talking about diking and gravel removal. If we could remove gravel it would probably help us a lot. But diking — some of our areas we need strengthening in our dikes. Particularly, by the hospital, if it ever breached there it would be devastating for our community and businesses. Like, really bad.”
In addition to speaking with provincial officials, Smith said that he and the councillors also spoke with other municipalities — such as Merritt — on how their communities are addressing issues brought forth by the November 2021 floods.
Formed a hundred years ago, the UBCM provides a voice for local governments, one which allows them to have their issues heard at provincial level. Through conventions — which continues to be the main forum for UBCM policy-making — UBCM provides an “opportunity for local governments of all sizes and from all areas of the province to come together, share their experiences and take a united position.”
It also gives delegates the chance to vote on resolutions that normally petition senior levels of government for action and support.
This year, multiple municipalities brought forth issues related to infrastructure, homelessness, housing affordability, and climate change (especially with regards to wildfires and floods).
Another big issue was community safety which MLA Jackiet Tegart said was a “very common theme throughout.”
“There was a general feeling throughout that municipalities are really asking the provincial government to take a look at the decriminalization of drugs and [how it’s affecting] communities,” Tegart said, who is the MLA for the Fraser-Nicola electoral riding. “And that there are no support systems for these vulnerable people. And it is the provincial government’s responsibility to do something about it. And that was reflected in how many people came to our roundtable.
“And there was an energy about, let’s get moving. And let’s fix some things. So, that’s sort of what I sensed. Lots of conversations, lots of problem solving.”
@KemoneMoodley
kemone.moodley@hopestandard.com
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