When RDCK board chair Aimee Watson, along with other directors and staff, attended the Union of B.C. Municipalities Conference in Vancouver in September, they had individual meetings with five cabinet ministers.
The purpose was to lobby for specific actions they want to see from the provincial government in areas that are the province’s responsibility but affect rural communities, such as policies in agriculture, residential tenancies and recycling.
The scheduled meetings with ministers are limited to 15 minutes, so the municipal leaders have to be brief and precise.
“Often referred to as speed-dating, the meetings are short but productive,” Watson said.
The RDCK is well-known to various ministries, she said, because many of the issues span several years and they have built relationships, which often lead to results over time.
At the 2023 UBCM, members of the RDCK board and staff met with five ministries about five specific issues.
Irrigation for agriculture in the Creston Valley
Drought-like conditions in the Creston Valley are on the rise. In the 2021 drought year, valley cherry producers suffered losses in the $14-million range.
The RDCK requested the Ministry of Agriculture give financial support to design and implement a new water system suitable for irrigation needs in the Creston Valley.
Borrowing power for fire equipment replacement
Regional District fire services are made up of small communities with limited financial resources. Fire apparatus are required to be replaced after 25 years in service. Without a costly referendum, rural communities are unable to borrow over 25 years to reduce the annual cost to taxpayers.
The RDCK requested the Ministry of Finance change legislation that would allow regional districts to borrow for the replacement of fire apparatus over a period of 25 years without going to voter approval, subject to that service having been established by referendum.
Small water system proposal
Small water systems attempting to meet health compliance for potable water are faced with expensive and time-consuming provincial government processes.
The RDCK has created a proposal for how residents may plan, build, manage and operate small water systems, and asked the Ministry of Municipal Affairs to assist in planning and funding a pilot project.
Increased funding for the Residential Tenancy Branch
The RDCK believes the 2018 revisions to the Residential Tenancy Act are suitable for big cities but discriminate against landlords in rural areas because they are a disincentive to creation of secondary suites and purpose-built rental properties.
The board requested the Ministry of Housing to look into increasing funding to the Residential Tenancy Branch to speed up decisions that support landlords.
Deficiencies in recycling regulations
Recycling in the province is run by Recycle BC, in a system in which producers of waste pay for the recycling process. There are multiple problems with the current system, according to the RDCK, including limited inclusion of household hazardous wastes, the cost of RDCK-run depots, lack of curbside services, and the exclusion of industrial, commercial and institutional waste. It costs the RDCK about $1.7 million per year in taxation to run its recycling program, which the RDCK says should be paid for by the producers of the waste through Recycle BC.
The RDCK requested that the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change amend the Recycling Regulation to addresses issues in rural and remote communities and move the cost from residents to producers.
READ MORE:
• Decriminalization, climate change and housing top issues at UBCM conference
• Housing policy centre stage as UBCM delegates grill trio of B.C. ministers
• Glass half empty: Rural Kootenay water systems struggle to meet health standards
