Thank you (UBCM President Brenda Binnie) for that kind introduction. I would first like to acknowledge that we are gathered on the traditional territory of the Coast Salish people and it is great to be here in Vancouver. And it has been my pleasure to attend UBCM for the third consecutive year as your minister responsible for local government.
Hon. Ida Chong

UBCM conventions provide networking opportunities, a sharing and exchanging of ideas, and the developing of long-lasting friendships and partnerships.

I hope each and every one of you have felt the benefit of this convention and will continue to support your UBCM Executive as they move forward in the years ahead.

I am also extremely proud of the strong and positive partnership that our Province has built with UBCM.

Less than a year ago -- in fact, it’s been 11 months since we met in Victoria – where we heard the Premier announce some exciting new programs for B.C. communities: Spirit Squares, Towns for Tomorrow and LocalMotion; and, of course, the Green City Awards.

And now, we have some great stories to share with you on how these programs are making a difference in your communities. We’re going to show you some of those stories this afternoon.

We have been welcomed into your communities to learn about your very exciting projects and we have had a great deal of excitement announcing them with you.

And, when you see how much we have accomplished together, you’ll have to agree that we have really moved quickly in a very short 11 months.

So thank you for working with us to make these programs such a great success. This has truly been a great year!

This year’s convention holds significant importance for all of us. Over the past 25 years we have relied on UBCM Executive Director Richard Taylor quietly working behind the scenes. His steadfast approach and quick response to sudden scheduling changes has been unwavering.

As you all know, this is Richard’s last convention as Executive Director and I think we should put our hands together and salute the excellent job Richard has done for all of us.

Richard – there is no question you will be missed, but your legacy of high standards will live on.

And I would also like to say that working with President Brenda Binnie over this past year has been a real pleasure. Thank you Brenda.

Delegates, Convention 2007 offers us a chance to run with our ideas to “blue sky” and this year to “go green”.

This year’s convention theme “Climates of Change” is so timely and so important.

And I must commend the organizers for making this convention sensitive to our environment

Did you know that UBCM is using biodegradable material for signs this year and ensuring there are responsible food consumption practices here at the convention to minimize waste.

By reducing and reusing materials, as much as possible, you are putting words into action!

We have said that climate change is an urgent issue and we need to act.

That is why our Premier has set a target to reduce greenhouse gases by 33 per cent below current levels by the year 2020.

Greenhouse gases may seem abstract to some, but we know it is very real by the flooding in the upper Fraser this last summer.

We’ve seen powerful wind storms, ice jam floods, a devastating mudslide, dangerous forest fires.

You know, as well, warm winters in the Interior are partly responsible for the mountain pine beetle infestation.

Clearly, we cannot ignore the signs that climate change is here – and we have to take action.

But, where to start?

Certainly we must look at our own operations – and we are! Our government will be carbon neutral by 2010.

We are also supporting local governments to make greener, healthier choices and to ensure the environment is high on the priority list.

That’s why Premier Campbell came to UBCM last year, to announce our new Green Cities programs to provide you with more tools in your efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

These are incredibly important programs that have already started rolling out across the province.

Let’s start with LocalMotion: $40 million over four years and so far, we have provided nearly $19 million for 27 projects around B.C. .for bike paths and for walkways, offering better transportation options.

Let’s face it, we get in our cars, deal with traffic, idle at the stoplight, just to pick up 2 litres of milk, or to rent a movie, or to take the children to school.

LocalMotion will reduce traffic congestion; it will encourage us to get active and it will get us out of our cars.

We will see our children playing again in our communities and parks, and enjoying the outdoors.

With better pathways, sidewalks and safer crossings, we’re making our communities more “senior-friendly,” more accessible and more inclusive for our older citizens.

With our population aging as it is, we need to factor this into our planning.

Next, our Towns for Tomorrow program.

This program catered specifically to help small communities, of 5,000 people or less, to build sustainable infrastructure.

The province pays 80 per cent of projects that cost up to $500,000.

My colleague Blair Lekstrom – MLA for Peace River South - in his role as Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Development is working to ensure funding programs like Towns for Tomorrow are available for our smallest municipalities, who are for the most part rural in nature.

These funds are providing meaningful projects that make a real difference to the people who live in those towns.

Like in Canal Flats, where people there will finally be off a boil water advisory…

And in Wells, where they will now have their very first ball diamond… Just think about how significant that is for the community of about 240 people!

And in Ucluelet, a brand new “green” child care centre will meet high environmental standards and create 34 spaces for local children.

And then there’s B.C. Spirit Squares, creating outdoor spaces, full of local culture and history – celebrating the spirit of the people.

These are located in the centre of your towns, for people to meet and to celebrate their community heritage. These squares will be a legacy for generations to come.

I wish I had time to tell you about all of the fabulous ideas communities have for all of these programs.

There have been celebrations all around the province this summer marking these announcements.

Perhaps it is easiest, though, to just take you there…

• [Follow this link to view video. 3 min 20 sec.]

So far we’ve covered a lot of ground, from one corner of the province to the other.

This is just the beginning. There are more announcements coming for Spirit Squares — to help you celebrate B.C.’s 150th anniversary in 2008.

And there are more opportunities for you to apply for Towns for Tomorrow and LocalMotion funding, so get your applications ready for the next round.

And, of course, the fourth in the Green Cities programs… we have the first ever Green City Awards… to congratulate and to recognize those local governments for their innovative green initiatives and ideas in their communities.

I hope you stay seated for the big award show following my address.

Communities like yours play a big role taking action on climate change.

Inspired communities — offering people a host of possibilities — inspire people.

And you, as community leaders, you play a significant role in safe-guarding our environment.

Making greener choices and finding solutions that work for you and your families can go a long way.

In addition to the Green Cities program, our partnership with the federal government and UBCM is helping communities take advantage of even more green initiatives and projects through the Gas Tax Agreement Fund.

Those funds are allowing communities to take greener approaches to recycling and waste management. And, even try something entirely new.

For example, in Sechelt, they are converting landfill gas to make electricity — the first of its kind in Canada.

That’s innovation; that’s leadership!

Another program, the Canada – BC Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund, is helping local government improve drinking water and helping them to increase energy efficiency, among other things.

An upgrade of the Dawson Creek City Hall, by the way, will reduce 43 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions a year. That's a significant amount!

So, we commend you for finding solutions, and we thank you for showing such leadership.

You, our local leaders, you are in the best position to make decisions that work.

We see this also in our Resort Municipality Revenue Sharing Program.

Since legislation was passed this spring, we have already signed several agreements.

This is where a portion of hotel room tax is given back to local governments to support initiatives that will help us reach our goal of doubling tourism by 2015.

Agreements were signed in Whistler, Radium Hot Springs, Rossland, Harrison Hot Springs and Golden.

In Radium Hot Springs, not only will they use these funds to increase tourism, they will also reduce greenhouse gases by using those dollars to operate a hybrid, high efficiency diesel tour bus!

Projects like this support a province-wide effort to minimize our impact … our carbon footprint.

And, while we are working hard inside provincial borders, our Premier is reaching out to other leaders to find ways we can partner to reduce our emissions and improve the environment.

On May 31, the Province of British Columbia and State of California signed a climate change agreement.

It’s a cross-border cooperation to reduce greenhouse gases, to protect the Pacific Ocean and to strengthen economic ties.

Much as we’re working with neighbours outside our provincial borders, we are working together within.

We are being creative, working with neighbours, to strengthen ties to help our environment.

And it starts with ideas… ideas we can share.

Premier Gordon Campbell, last year, said we are going to reward local governments for taking fresh, bold approaches to make their communities greener, healthier places and we are going to learn from the best practices that are being used across the province.

The Green City Awards, as I referenced earlier, are coming right up.

• [visit Green City Awards website for details of 2007 finalists and winners.]

I know you are going to enjoy them!

Thank you so much for showing strong leadership, for taking extra steps, for working with us and for doing what you can, to make your communities greener and healthier.

And thank you for making this a great year for British Columbia!


 

Premier Gordon Campbell's 2007 UBCM Speech:
Premier Campbell's speech