Vernon Council advocating on behalf of the city at UBCM Convention

Sep 26, 2025 | 12:18 PM

Vernon council is advocating for the city at the annual Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM) convention.

A release from the city said council and senior staff members attending the convention have met with key provincial ministers responsible for housing, finance, transportation, forestry and environmental stewardship. Those meetings allowed Vernon’s representatives to lay out key priorities and the unique needs of the community with the goal of developing plans and policy that can help the city with its growth, livability, and long-term resilience.

“UBCM is a valuable opportunity to bring Vernon’s voice directly to provincial leaders,” Mayor Victor Cumming said in a release.

“This year we made a strong case for solutions that reflect Vernon’s unique needs, from transit innovation and housing tools to environmental sustainability. We’re returning with stronger relationships and a clearer path to advancing the priorities that are vital to our residents.”

Housing was the top priority in those meetings.

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The city said council members met with Christine Boyle, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs, to discuss housing supply, zoning challenges, and the tools municipalities need to address housing issues. Representatives from Vernon noted the city has been facing a “serious affordable housing shortage” as well as rental vacancy rates hovering around one per cent, which are affecting residents, the local economy and overall community well-being.

The provincial and federal governments are primarily responsible for housing, though the city did establish a Non-Market Housing Land Task Force in the summer to help address the housing shortage by advocating for contributions of both provincial and federal land to be used for affordable housing projects.

“Our task force is working closely with senior government partners to identify opportunities to unlock public land for affordable housing,” Cumming stated.

“We’re ready to collaborate on planning, approvals, and fast-tracking projects that meet Vernon’s housing needs.”

Council also met with Mike Farnworth, Minister of Transportation and Transit, with the goal of developing more opportunities to improve local transportation infrastructure, align provincial support with Vernon’s transit needs, and find transit solutions that would increase frequency and efficiency within the city.

A meeting was also held with Finance Minister Brenda Bailey. Concerns were raised of the impacts of provincial vacancy tax legislation on recreational second homes, and the city requested that a “more tailored approach” be developed that “considers the minimal effect these properties have on local housing availability.”

Council and staff also met with Randene Neill, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, where they discussed the importance of water as “a foundational resource in the Okanagan” and highlighted Vernon’s committment to sustainability, and the leadership role the city was taking in regional water management and restoration efforts. They also emphasized the need for continued collaboration between municipalities and the province to support long-term water security.

Along with having these meetings, Vernon brought forward two resolutions at the UBCM convention: Modernization of Municipal Wastewater Regulations and Sewer System Regulations, and a Change to the UBCM Voting Schedule. The decisions of those resolution discussions were not immediately known as of time of publication.

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by Liam Verster

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