Councillor Cheung submitted the attached draft resolutions for LMLGA for Council's Consideration.
Note: Resolutions going forward to the 2026 conference must be received by Wednesday, February 25th at 5:00 p.m.
Resolution #1: Mandatory Governance Education and Testing for Local Elected Officials
WHEREAS local government elected officials make policy decisions that affect both current and future residents, and therefore require knowledge of governance, financial management, legal responsibilities, and the difference between the roles of elected officials and staff;
AND WHEREAS there ought to be adequate and effective training to enhance decision making, policy creation and over arching policy development (such as the ongoing housing crisis);
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that LMLGA and UBCM request the Province of British Columbia to establish a mandatory, standardized, online governance training program and test for all newly elected and re-elected municipal and regional officials to be completed within six months of assuming office;
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Province provide all elected officials with a standardized guidebook covering key governance principles, municipal financial literacy, codes of conduct, conflict of interest rules, and clarification of the roles and responsibilities of Council and staff as part of this mandatory training.
Resolution #2: Authorization for Municipal Use of CCTV Cameras for Public Safety Surveillance
WHEREAS local governments in British Columbia are increasingly seeking to implement closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems to enhance public safety, deter crime, and support law enforcement investigations and the current interpretation and enforcement of privacy legislation by the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (OIPC) restrict the deployment of municipal CCTV systems, even when intended for clearly defined public safety purposes;
AND WHEREAS these privacy-related barriers prevent local governments from proactively using modern surveillance tools that can assist in crime deterrence, improve community safety, and provide evidence in criminal investigations;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that LMLGA and UBCM request the Province of British Columbia to enact clear enabling legislation that authorizes local governments to implement and operate CCTV camera systems for public safety purposes, including crime prevention and investigation, subject to strict guidelines;
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that such legislation include province-wide standards and oversight mechanisms addressing transparency, data retention limits, access controls, signage and notification, and regular privacy impact assessments to ensure a balanced approach between public safety and individual privacy rights.