Last week, several City of Fort St. John Council Members and staff attended the 2025 Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) Annual Convention to ensure a strengthened voice in provincial advocacy. Held annually, the UBCM Convention brings together elected officials and staff from municipalities across British Columbia to collaborate, vote on resolutions, and meet directly with provincial ministers.
Fort St. John submitted six advocacy resolutions, five of which conference attendees endorsed. These resolutions addressed critical topics, including:
- Streamlining licensing for out-of-province and internationally trained healthcare professionals
- Efficient resource permitting
- Expansion of industrial electrification
- Sustainable funding for co-op housing programs
- RCMP invoice transparency and contract costs
- A natural gas and LNG strategy (referred to the UBCM Executive)
“The annual UBCM Convention is a vital opportunity for Fort St. John to ensure our unique challenges and opportunities are heard at the provincial level,” shared Mayor Lilia Hansen. “From healthcare staffing to resource development, we were proud to bring forward solutions that reflect the needs of our residents and industries. I’m especially encouraged by the strong support we received for our resolutions and the productive conversations we had with provincial leaders, including a commitment from the Premier to visit our region in 2026.”
In addition to the successful advocacy efforts, Councillor Gord Klassen was elected to the UBCM Board of Directors, ensuring continued representation for northern communities.
Council members also met with Premier David Eby and four provincial ministers to discuss issues ranging from land use and permitting to advocacy for natural resource sectors and consultation with local governments.
The City looks forward to seeing the outcomes of these discussions and continuing to work with provincial partners to advance the interests of Fort St. John and the broader Peace region.