The triple threats of wildfires, opioids and housing needs facing British Columbia are the focus of a weeklong gathering of elected municipal and provincial leaders in Vancouver at the annual Union of B.C. Municipalities convention.

A record attendance of more than 2,000 delegates is expected at the convention, which starts Monday and concludes Friday with a speech by Premier David Eby.

UBCM president Jen Ford said in an interview that itB次元官网网址檚 a very challenging time to be in local government.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of really hard topics and weB次元官网网址檙e not afraid to face them together.B次元官网网址�

Many communities in B.C. have been dealing with some kind of climate-change related emergency, either wildfires, floods, landslides or drought, she said. Adding to those troubles are the overlapping crises of affordability, homelessness and mental health and addiction issues.

On Monday, delegates will hear from Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, who is expected to discuss B.C.B次元官网网址檚 drug decriminalization program and public use of illegal substances, while Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon will lead a forum on housing and building communities.

B次元官网网址淢etro Vancouver is anticipating one million new residents by 2050 and we know that climate change is completely changing the rules for infrastructure needed by communities,B次元官网网址� said Ford, a member of Whistler council and the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District chair.

B次元官网网址淲e need to build sustainable communities and we need to know that the province is committed to developing a robust infrastructure plan: hospitals, schools, daycares, roadways,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淎ll of these items need to be in place so that all of the housing we want to come on line is supported and not on the backs of existing taxpayers.B次元官网网址�

The New Democrat government is expected to introduce housing-focused legislation this fall that streamlines provincial approval processes, said Ford, adding the new legislation follows recent laws aimed at increasing the supply of homes and rental properties.

HenryB次元官网网址檚 participation in a forum on decriminalization and public drug use comes less than a week after the federal government approved changes to B.C.B次元官网网址檚 drug decriminalization policy to prohibit people possessing illegal substances near playgrounds and parks.

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The new changes mean illegal drug possession within 15 metres of playgrounds, waterparks and skate parks will be prohibited starting Monday, although possession was already prohibited at school grounds, hospitals, airports and child-care facilities.

The federal government gave B.C. an exemption from the law to allow for the removal of criminal penalties for people caught with a small amount of illicit drugs for personal use.

Ford, who said the UBCM executive is considering introducing a special decriminalization resolution at the convention, said the new prohibitions are a step forward, but municipalities are looking for further bans to include parks and sports fields.

B次元官网网址淭hey havenB次元官网网址檛 touched that one yet,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been hearing from residents that the current rules, which allow consumption in parks and sports fields, are not working.B次元官网网址�

The UBCM has passed previous motions endorsing decriminalization, B次元官网网址渂ut what really needs to happen is we need adequate housing and treatment supports to support the work of decriminalization,B次元官网网址� said Ford.

The BC Coroners Service reported last month at least 1,455 deaths in the province attributed to toxic drugs so far this year, with 12,739 overdose drug deaths since April 2016 when the province first declared a public health emergency.

It was a record wildfire season in the province, with almost 24,000 square kilometres of area burned and more than 400 structures, mostly homes, destroyed.

Ford said wildfires will also be discussed by delegates in sessions on future plans, safer communities and health impacts.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of interest from our members on what went right and what could be improved upon for the future,B次元官网网址� she said.

B次元官网网址淲e are hearing from our members that the process for accessing funding to support fire smarting our communities can be too onerous for such a critical issue,B次元官网网址� Ford said.

The province ended its state of emergency on Thursday, saying cooling temperatures had reduced the wildfire risks.

During the peak of the fires, about 70,000 people were either on evacuation order or alert as wildfires threatened several communities.

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Dirk Meissner, The Canadian Press