Building Support for Nanaimo at UBCM

NEWS RELEASE - Distributed September 23, 2026 9:00 AM

Last week, local government leaders from across British Columbia gathered in Vancouver for the annual Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) Convention. The convention provides a valuable forum for elected officials to meet with provincial ministers and senior government representatives to discuss issues that matter most to their communities.

During the convention, Nanaimo City Council and senior staff met with provincial leaders to advance the City's priorities, advocate for increased support and investment, and discuss solutions to some of Nanaimo's most pressing challenges.

At this year's convention Council met with Premier Eby, the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, the Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, the Minister of Infrastructure, the Minister of Health, the Minister of Mining and Critical Minerals, and the Parliamentary Secretary for Mental Health and Addictions.

Key priorities discussed during the meetings included:

• Continued provincial partnership and support to address Nanaimo's interconnected housing, health and social challenges.
• Sustained provincial grant programs that help local governments fund critical infrastructure and capital projects.
• Stronger measures to address repeat offending and reduce pressures on local resources and frontline services.
• Clear timelines and funding commitments for a new patient tower and cardiac catheterization lab at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, as well as a replacement building for Nanaimo District Secondary School.
• Provincial support to address the ongoing impacts of historic mine voids through risk mitigation and remediation programs.
• Expanded treatment and recovery options, improved access to care, and practical solutions to address mental health and substance use challenges while reducing impacts on neighbourhoods and businesses.

During the convention, local governments come together to debate and vote on resolutions which were previously endorsed by Councils or Regional Boards. The resolutions sessions provide an opportunity for local governments from across the province to express concerns, share their experiences and take a united position.

A resolution put forward by Nanaimo calling on the provincial and federal governments to ban raw log and lumber cant exports from British Columbia, ensuring locally harvested timber is processed within the province to support forestry jobs, value-added manufacturing and a stable fibre supply for BC mills, was endorsed. Also endorsed was a resolution calling on the Province to update the BC Motor Vehicle Act and associated regulations and design standards to align with modern active transportation best practices, while consulting municipalities to ensure local transportation needs and challenges are reflected in the changes.

"The challenges facing Nanaimo are complex and require strong partnerships across all levels of government," said Mayor Leonard Krog, "UBCM provides an important opportunity to bring Nanaimo's priorities directly to provincial decision-makers. From public safety and health care to housing, infrastructure and economic development, Council was united in advocating for the investments and policy changes our community needs to succeed."

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