Cannabis Tax Revenue Advocacy 
 
As part of its work to secure a cannabis taxation revenue sharing agreement with the Province, UBCM has provided Finance Minister Carole James findings from its local government cannabis cost survey. UBCM President Arjun Singh and Vice-President Maja Tait delivered this information to the Minister as part of a recent meeting to discuss options for revenue sharing. Read more 
Suspension of the Rural Dividend Fund  
 
The BC Liberal Caucus is calling on the Province to immediately re-instate the Rural Dividend Fund. Communities were recently informed that funds would be temporarily reallocated to a new forestry worker program and current applications have been suspended until further notice. Read more 
Federal Parties Urged to Commit to Permanent Transit Funding  
 
The Mayors' Council on Regional Transportation is renewing its call for political parties to commit to a permanent transit fund during the federal election campaign - warning that rapid transit projects including SkyTrain to Langley and to UBC and other Phase Three Plan projects will be delayed if there is uncertainty about federal funding beyond current commitments. Read more    
Responding to the Opioid Epidemic 
 
 
The opioid overdose epidemic was the focus of conversation Monday afternoon at the BC Mayor's Caucus as Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart, Dr. Bonnie Henry and Carol Leclerc presented different perspectives and potential solutions to the epidemic. Read more
Funding for Community Wellness and Harm Reduction   
 
Local governments can now apply for funding through the Community Action Initiative, in partnership with the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions. Applications will be accepted from September 23-November 1, 2019. The program provides grants ranging from $15,000 to $50,000 to support collaborative projects such as stigma reduction campaigns; community dialogues; needle recovery programs; and culturally-based healing that helps connect people to health care services. Read more    
Taking a Stand For Safety  
 
The statistics may be familiar, but they remain no less shocking: one in three women in Canada will be physically or sexually assaulted in their lifetime. 60,000 assaults occur annually in Canada, more than 1,000 per week. 8,000 women and children reside in shelters because of abuse. Indigenous women are six-times more likely to be killed than non-indigenous women. Read more
New intake for Child Care Spaces   
 
Minister of Children and Family Development, Katrine Conroy, announced new intakes of the Community Child Care funding programs administered by UBCM today. Read more
Hydrogen 101  
 
On Tuesday delegates were introduced to the potential role hydrogen can play in a low carbon economy. Representatives from the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources highlighted the recently published Hydrogen in BC study, and the upcoming Hydrogen Roadmap, which support CleanBC targets. Read more 
September 24, 2019
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