The BC Urban Mayors’ Caucus has outlined its top priorities for the provincial government, urging Premier David Eby and his cabinet to address critical issues facing urban communities across the province.
The mayors of 16 major municipalities in BC, including Prince George Mayor Simon Yu, sent a letter to the premier in December detailing 13 key recommendations aimed at tackling local challenges around issues such as mental health and substance use, community safety, housing, and municipal infrastructure.
“Premier Eby has expressed his intention to approach governance differently this term. While there have been some changes, such as shifts in the municipal affairs portfolio, we are awaiting the release of the ministerial mandate letters to fully understand the direction his cabinet will take on issues important to local governments,” said Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto co-chair of the BC Urban Mayors' Caucus. “The recommendations we’ve put forward are the result of careful consideration and consultation. We are hopeful that the Premier will listen to local governments and act on these suggestions.”
Chlliwack Mayor Ken Popove, co-chair of the caucus, echoed those sentiments. "Mandate letters provide a clear framework for understanding the provincial government's priorities," he said. "Our recommendations reflect the diverse challenges urban municipalities are facing, and we believe that by acting on these, the government can work alongside local authorities to achieve better outcomes for British Columbians."
The suggestions include actions for a variety of provincial ministries:
- Expanding access to detox and stabilization beds and increasing local government involvement in mental health and addiction services.
- Establishing minimum shelter unit requirements and operational standards for supportive housing.
- Reforming BC Housing to enhance collaboration with municipalities and improve sheltering efforts.
- Supporting local governments in creating community safety and well-being plans, and establishing a provincial safety improvement initiative for urban downtowns.
- Advocating for bail reform and faster processing of repeat offenders through the court system.
- Collaborating across ministries to address complex issues such as poverty, encampments, and street disorder.
- Expanding civilian-led mental health response programs and exploring cannabis revenue-sharing programs with local governments.
The caucus is asking that the Premier incorporate these priorities into the forthcoming ministerial mandate letters, which typically outline each minister’s responsibilities. As of now, the mandate letters for the current cabinet have not been released, though interim appointment letters were issued when the cabinet was sworn in on November 18, 2024.
The BC Urban Mayors’ Caucus, which includes the mayors of Abbotsford, Burnaby, Chilliwack, Coquitlam, Delta, Kamloops, Kelowna, Maple Ridge, Nanaimo, New Westminster, Prince George, Richmond, Saanich, Surrey, Vancouver and Victoria, represents 55 per cent of the province’s population.
The group's primary action areas include mental health and substance use treatment, community safety, affordable housing and transit.
