B.C. municipal leaders talk housing, nfrastructure, addiction [Video]

Mayors, councilors, and experts of various stripes are in Vancouver for the annual convention of the Union of BC Municipalities, where they’re discussing thorny issues ranging from the housing crunch to the toxic drug crisis to public safety and natural disasters. 

It’s also their annual opportunity to sit down with provincial cabinet ministers and senior bureaucrats, which makes this year unusual. With a provincial election next month, there’s no guarantee any of those ministers will be able to follow up on issues discussed, and the governing party may very well change, too.

“We see an election year as an opportunity to really push our key messaging,” said Trish Mandewo, UBCM president. “We are going to all parties and saying, ‘share with us, what is your plan going forward?’”

The association is asking for $650 million annually to maintain infrastructure in their communities, plus a share of property tax and carbon tax revenues to offset costs downloaded to …