Meeting #:
R8/2023
Date:
Time:
-
Location:
CVRD Civic Room, 770 Harmston Ave, Courtenay

We respectfully acknowledge that the land we gather on is Unceded
territory of the K’ómoks First Nation, the traditional keepers of this land.


WHEREAS the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) represents the interests of member municipalities on policy and program matters that fall within federal jurisdiction; 


WHEREAS FCM’s Board of Directors is comprised of elected municipal officials from all regions and sizes of communities to form a broad base of support and provide FCM with the united voice required to carry the municipal message to the federal government; and


WHEREAS FCM’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held in conjunction with the Annual Conference and Trade Show, May 25 to 28, 2023, followed by the election of FCM’s Board of Directors;


THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Council of the City of Courtenay endorse Councillor Will Cole-Hamilton to stand for election on FCM’s Board of Directors for the period starting in May 2023 and ending June 2024; and


BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City assume all costs associated with Councillor Will Cole-Hamilton attending FCM’s Board of Directors meetings.

WHEREAS the Government of Canada has made the decision in Budget 2023 to make municipalities responsible for all retroactive costs stemming from the latest RCMP collective bargaining agreement; 


WHEREAS these extraordinary one-time costs, which in some jurisdictions amount to millions of dollars, will cause significant hardship for communities and residents across the country, and were negotiated without meaningful consultation or a seat at the table for the municipalities responsible for paying the bill; 


WHEREAS municipal governments are already paying a growing share of policing costs, but unlike other orders of government, cannot run deficits to spread out the impact of these extraordinary one-time sums, and have limited revenue tools; 


WHEREAS local governments will now be forced to make difficult decisions that will impact residents, such as cutting essential services, reducing policing levels, raising property taxes significantly, and/or cancelling work on local infrastructure, at a time when Canadians' concerns about community safety and the cost of living are already rising; and


WHEREAS going forward, it is critical that municipalities be proactively engaged in any forthcoming processes related to contract policing to prevent this occurring again; 


THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the City of Courtenay join the Federation of Canadian Municipalities in calling on the federal government to commit to ensuring that local governments are meaningfully consulted, fully informed, and at the table on issues related to policing costs given the municipal role in keeping our communities safe; and


BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the City of Courtenay convey this support in writing to our Member of Parliament, Gord Johns, the Minister of Public Safety, Marco Mendocino, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. 

WHEREAS quality childcare is a vital part of any community, supporting families, underpinning economic development and providing a safe and nurturing environment for children; and 
 
WHEREAS the 2019 Comox Valley Child Care Action Plan, developed by the Comox Valley Regional District in partnership with the City of Courtenay recommended that "all communities consider permissive exemptions for childcare services", something the Town of Comox has been doing for decades;
 
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT staff prepare a report for Council outlining the options for, and impact of, providing permissive tax exemptions for community owned non-profit childcare organizations. 

WHEREAS lack of appropriate and affordable housing has been identified as one of the most urgent issues facing the Comox Valley; and


WHEREAS the Province has encouraged municipalities to implement a speculation and vacancy tax to encourage empty units to be made available to the market;


THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council direct staff to coordinate with local governments within the Comox Valley, and report back to Council on the options and implications of a vacancy tax in the City of Courtenay.

THAT Council close the meeting to the public pursuant to the following subsections of the Community Charter:


90   (1) (a) personal information about an identifiable individual who holds or is being considered for a position as an officer, employee or agent of the municipality or another position appointed by the municipality;


(i) the receipt of advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose.