The Village of Canal Flats Report to Council

Meeting Type and Date: Regular Meeting – October 15, 2019 From: Adrian Bergles, Chief Administrative Officer Prepared By: Adrian Bergles, Chief Administrative Officer Subject: Update on Union of BC Municipalities Conference Sept. 23 to 27, 2019

Recommendation: That Council of the Village of Canal Flats receive the Update on Union of BC Municipalities Conference Sept. 23 to 27, 2019 for information

Request for Decision ☐ Department Report ☐ Information Report X

Implications of Recommendation: Financial: N Policy: N Strategic Plan: N

SUMMARY INFORMATION

I, Chief Administrative Officer, Adrian Bergles along with Mayor Karl Sterzer and Councillor Marie Delorme attended the Union of BC Municipalities Conference in at the Vancouver Conference Center, September 23 to 27, 2019. Below is a recap on our meetings with the provincial ministries.

Monday, September 23, 2019, Hon. , Minister of Municipal Affars and Housing, topic: Seniors’ Housing

Mayor Sterzer, Councillor Delorme, and CAO Bergles advocated for housing and expanded services for seniors for small municipalities like Canal Flats. We were given information on the BC Housing Community Housing Fund for rental housing and I have reached out to BC Housing for more information.

Tuesday, September 24, 2019, Hon. , Ministry of Education, topic: Library Funding

Mayor Sterzer, Councillor Delorme, and CAO Bergles advocated in support of a letter previously authorized and sent on behalf of the Council of the Village of Canal Flats requesting that provincial annual library funding be increased to $20 million in 2020 (funding has been frozen for several years). The message was well received by Minister Fleming, who indicates that the province will examine its funding levels relating to libraries in coming budget cycles.

Tuesday, September 24, 2019, Hon. Doug Donaldson, Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, topic: WMA Within Canal Flats

Councillor Delorme, and CAO Bergles explained, to the Minister, the history of the Columbia Lake East Side Wildlife Management Area and the many administrative challenges that come from having a WMA within Municipal boundaries. The Village of Canal Flats acknowledged that this WMA is also a Ktunaxa Cultural Landscape, as designated through the Ktuanxa Treaty Process, and that the village remains receptive to working with the Ktunaxa on administration of these lands.

Tuesday,September 24, 2019, Hon. Scott Fraser, Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, topic: Ktunaxa Nation Treaty Negotiations.

Mayor Sterzer, Councillor Delorme, and CAO Bergles expressed the Village’s support for the ongoing Ktunaxa Treaty Negotiations to Deputy Minister Doug Caul (Minister Scott Fraser was unavailable). Village representatives expressed a desire for improved communications from the province on the treaty negotiations, specifically as they pertain to lands within Canal Flats’ municipal boundaries.

Wednesday September 25, 2019, Meeting with staff from Ministry of Children & Family Development.

Mayor Sterzer, Councillor Delorme, and CAO Bergles met with MCFD staff: Andy Davidson, Director; and Michelle Kirby, Engagement and Partnership Manager relating to two significant funding streams available for childcare space creation.

The programs are the provincial Childcare BC New Spaces Fund (up to $3 million) and the UBCM Community Child Care Space Creation Program (up to $1 million). The Community Child Care Space Creation Program is open until November 22, 2019 and the Childcare BC New Spaces Fund until January 31, 2020.

Respectfully submitted:

Adrian Bergles Chief Administrative Officer