The recently announced federal Economic Response Plan includes provisions to clean up orphaned and inactive oil and gas wells in Western provinces. British Columbia, which has 350 orphaned wells, will see $120 million through this new initiative. This provision responds to advocacy by FCM and the Western Economic Solutions Taskforce, of which UBCM is a member. Other measures announced by the federal government include a loan program to reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production. Read more 

Under the authority of the Emergency Program Act, the provincial government has announced new tools to support enforcement of ministerial orders. Effective immediately, police and other enforcement authorities, including bylaw officers, may issue $2,000 violation tickets for a variety of infractions, including price gouging and the reselling of essential goods (e.g. medical supplies). Read more 

A new collaborative framework will help ensure people living in rural, remote and Indigenous communities in B.C. have access to critical health care during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The framework is adaptable to local needs and outlines immediate actions to improve health-care services and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more