By Janet Southcott Next week our City of Powell River elected officials will have the chance to lobby the provincial government.
It is an annual opportunity afforded through the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) convention, a gathering of city councils and electoral area directors throughout BC, as well as senior local government staff and provincial ministers, sharing, networking and participating in education on topics of influence to BC residents.
The convention provides an atmosphere of support for each isolated community, where many voices come together as one over resolutions unique to a geographic area, or common to all.
All of council and six of the seven regional directors will be in Vancouver September 21 to 25 attending workshops, clinics and the annual general meeting for UBCM. This year, the theme is “excellence in action.”
The information and networking experienced by our elected officials and senior local government staff at this and other conferences throughout the year is invaluable in supporting the work they do throughout our community.
There are two opportunities for our elected officials to lobby provincial government. One is through the collective voice of individual communities uniting over issues. The other is through individual communities being granted short meetings with ministers and ministerial staff.
At the most recent City of Powell River council meeting, Councillor Maggie Hathaway referred to such meetings as “speed dating.” Arrangements are made ahead of time, the minister is provided with background information about the topic the community will be speaking on, and follow-up takes place after the meeting.
Hathaway described the 15-minute process of being ushered into the meeting room, sitting with the minister and his or her staff, speaking on the topic at hand, then, sometimes in mid-sentence, being ushered out as another community delegation enters.
It is a chance to be heard by the provincial government.
To find out more about UBCM I recommend visiting ubcm.ca and clicking on the annual report for 2015. Reading the “letter of transmittal” to membership, you will be instantly aware of the importance of this group. UBCM has been an advocate for local government in BC for 110 years and has a membership of 198 local governments and six first nations.
The group presents study papers to provincial government relating to matters of interest to membership and this year focused on addressing gaps within the provincial process. Recently, UBCM presented on the effect ferry fare increases have on socio-economics for local communities. UBCM also delivers workshops around the province on various subjects relevant to all communities, such as this year’s focus, the renewed federal gas tax fund.
While our elected officials and senior staff are in Vancouver we can be confident that every waking hour is put to good use. The contacts they make and the experience they carry back will provide many returns that will serve our community well throughout the rest of their electoral term.
Janet Southcott is a resident of Powell River with an interest in municipal politics.
