Members of the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) Board participated in the annual Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) Convention held in Vancouver this past week. The UBCM Convention, currently celebrating its 116th year, gives local government leaders from across the province an opportunity to meet annually and respond to complex issues facing BC communities.
This week provided local governments of all sizes a chance to express their concerns, share their experiences and take a united position on challenges from climate change to economic pressures. Outcomes from the Convention assist in the creation of new policies, both at the local and provincial levels of government.
“The UBCM Convention provides a platform for various levels of government to work together,” said RDN Chair Ian Thorpe. “We recognize the importance of mutual collaboration with other local governments, and we brought forward some specific challenges to help bring change to our region.”
For the 2019 UBCM Convention, the RDN Board focused on key issues affecting residents including transportation, climate change and environmental stewardship. RDN Board members brought forward resolutions on the following:
- Regulating and enforcing vehicle parking on provincial roads to request extending authority for regional districts to regulate and enforce vehicle parking on provincial roads and right-of-ways.
- Traffic calming to request the development of new criteria and standards to improve safety for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists in areas designated for growth in Electoral Areas.
- Traffic control and enforcement on rural roads to request that the Province increase resources for regulation and enforcement of traffic regulations on rural roads.
RDN Representatives also met with provincial ministers to advance the development of a Vancouver Island Transportation Master Plan, the use of rainwater as a potable water source, and the approval of the RDN’s Solid Waste Management Plan.