UBCM President Ramsay Rebukes B.C. Government Over Frustration
Outgoing UBCM president Cori Ramsay says local governments are frustrated and the province tried to silence criticism.
KEY POINTS
- UBCM President Cori Ramsay says members feel deep frustration with the provincial government
- Government ministers asked Ramsay to tone down criticism, saying UBCM sounded like the opposition
- UBCM pressure led to withdrawal of a private member's bill on professional submissions
- Province advanced Heritage Conservation Act reforms after consulting only First Nations
- UBCM and business groups refused to sign a non-disclosure agreement for further engagement
Union of B.C. Municipalities President Cori Ramsay delivered a sharp rebuke to the provincial government in her opening address at the UBCM convention in Vancouver on Wednesday. She told delegates the dominant feeling among members is frustration.
Ramsay said UBCM's executive decided to become more forthright in public criticism, prompting government ministers to ask her to tone it down because the organization sounded like the opposition. Ramsay replied that UBCM sounds like the opposition because the opposition actually listens to local governments.
“UBCM sounds like the opposition because the opposition listens to local government complaints.”
The pressure campaign achieved a win when a governing-party MLA's private member's bill was withdrawn. The bill would have forced municipalities to prioritize submissions from registered professionals over their own technical reviews.
On Heritage Conservation Act reforms, the province moved ahead after consulting only First Nations. Forests Minister Ravi Parmar delayed the bill and promised more engagement, but demanded UBCM sign a non-disclosure agreement to participate. UBCM and business groups refused.
The government may introduce a bill this fall. Ramsay has requested a meeting. Her one-year term ends at this convention; Squamish Councillor Jenna Stoner will succeed her as president, elected unopposed.
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