Trees burned by the Bush Creek East Wildfire surround two houses that survived the fire and the remains of another that burned, in Squilax, B.C., Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. The triple threats of wildfires, opioids and housing needs facing British Columbia are the focus of a weeklong gathering of elected municipal and provincial leaders in Vancouver at the annual Union of B.C. Municipalities convention. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The triple threats of wildfires, opioids and housing needs facing British Columbia 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.
UBCM president Jen Ford said in an interview that it’s a very challenging time to be in local government.
“There’s a lot of really hard topics and we’re not afraid to face them together.”
Many communities in B.C. have been dealing with some kind of climate-change related emergency, either wildfires, floods, landslides or drought, she said. Adding to those troubles are the overlapping crises of affordability, homelessness and mental health and addiction issues.
On Monday, delegates will hear from Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, who is expected to discuss B.C.’s drug decriminalization program and public use of illegal substances, while Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon will lead a forum on housing and building communities.
“Metro Vancouver is anticipating one million new residents by 2050 and we know that climate change is completely changing the rules for infrastructure needed by communities,” said Ford, a member of Whistler council and the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District chair.
“We need to build sustainable communities and we need to know that the province is committed to developing a robust infrastructure plan: hospitals, schools, daycares, roadways,” she said. “All of these items need to be in place so that all of the housing we want to come on line is supported and not on the backs of existing taxpayers.”
The New Democrat government is expected to introduce housing-focused legislation this fall that streamlines provincial approval processes, said Ford, adding the new legislation follows recent laws aimed at increasing the supply of homes and rental properties.
Henry’s participation in a forum on decriminalization and public drug use comes less than a week after the federal government approved changes to B.C.’s drug decriminalization policy to prohibit people possessing illegal substances near playgrounds and parks.
The new changes mean illegal drug possession within 15 metres of playgrounds, waterparks and skate parks will be prohibited starting Monday, although possession was already prohibited at school grounds, hospitals, airports and child-care facilities.
