bcpoli – coriramsay

November 26, 2025November 26, 2025

Bill M216 Submission Deadline Extended

When we use our collective voices and come together in advocacy, we get results.

I’m glad to share with you that UBCMs requested extension has been granted for the feedback submission period on Bill M216 until January 6 at 3pm. My thanks to the Standing Committee for considering this request.

Local governments will be deeply impacted by this bill if it proceeds and I want to ensure everyone has time to voice their concerns and perspectives and be heard. That’s why I immediately asked for an extension upon seeding the Dec 2nd deadline, knowing it was not nearly enough time for councils and boards.

Thank you to everyone who has already shared their feedback with the Standing Committee and UBCM – and thank you to those local governments who are diligently working to get their submission in by the deadline.

For those who may not have considered a submission on this private members bill, I would encourage you to learn more about Bill M216 and the consider potential impacts to your local government.

UBCM has released several Compass articles now on Bill M216, including the recent article that came out this morning which can be found here.

If there’s been any confusion about my position on Bill M216, and if you’ve received emails with nuances that I’ve been consulted on this Bill, let me clear it up for the record: UBCM has not been consulted and I am opposed to Bill M216.

Here are a few reasons why:

the definition of a PGA professional differs from that of the Community Charter and in a Lidstone & Company legal bulletin, they say the following: “Note that ‘PGA professional’ is a far broader category than the Community Charter’s qualified professional and includes agrologists, science technologists, technicians,
applied biologists, engineers, geoscientists, forest professionals, and architects. Planners are not included, and many classes of the proposed “PGA Professionals” under Bill M216 have no health and safety expertise regarding matters that would devolve to them under this Act.” I find the expansion of the definition and the allowance of additional professionals without life safety experience deeply concerning, and coupled with an ability to make submission we must accept will bring about significant unintended consequences.
Under section 3 of the Bill, developer paid PGA professionals may submit documents that are in contravention of local bylaws and the local government would have to accept documents that violate their own bylaws, or go through dispute resolution.
One intent is to remove liability from the local government but local governments will still be named in lawsuits and what happens when the qualified professional does not have the appropriate level of insurance to cover a claim, will local governments be on the hook?
Section 5 of the Bill removes the peer review function that exists now between local government planners and developers and would require local governments to do dispute resolution through a superintendent located in Victoria when there is a concern with a submission
A superintendents office in Victoria will backlog development and slow down permitting
This bill applies to more than zoning permits – and the Lidstone legal brief states: “Professional reliance also applies to building design and construction, subdivision,
infrastructure design and construction, wildfire or hazard development permits,
riparian protection, flooding/landslide protection, geotechnical site issues, and
more.” Again, the peer review function serves a deeper purpose and removing this function with things such as riparian protection and wildfire development permits are on the line – this is removing essential checks and balances.
this bill has already passed second reading with zero consultation done with local governments and our input matters. Our staff are knowledgeable professionals with a deep understanding of the local context and excluding their expertise is a grave error in my opinion.
Professional reliance is something local governments can already do – if it’s right for the local context – and with proper checks and balances through the peer review process; this bill would move us backwards and regulate professional reliance making it mandatory removing local autonomy and decision making when it comes to land use

I encourage not just local governments, but any impacted stakeholders to utilize this additional time to provide a submission, utilizing the granted extension period. And please, continue to copy UBCM on your submissions so we have a deeper understanding of your views on this Bill.

With gratitude.

March 4, 2025

Provincial Budget 2025

Today I had the priviledge of attending the Provincial Budget Speech at the Legislature as the UBCM special guest for the Honourable Minister Brittny Anderson. Before I delve into my insights and thoughts on the provincial budget, I wanted to give an update of activities since January.

January

The first two months of the year have flown by so quickly. In January, the City of Prince George hosted the Natural Resources Forum with amazing turnout. Roughly 1,300 participants descended on our community which included many local and provincial government colleagues from across the Province. I was pleased that Premier Eby was able to join us to deliver remarks in person. Additionally, a number of Cabinet Ministers were also able to attend and give remarks.

In January the City of Prince George also deliberated our municipal budget. This was a lengthy debate of almost 18 hours on top of the additional hours each of us spent on our own time reviewing operating and capital budgets. Council settled on a 6.21% tax levy increase. I did write a draft blog on this but couldn’t find time to finalize and publish so I may still try to get that out.

February

February was just as busy with a UBCM executive meeting discussing local government advocacy priorities. Additionally, Council kicked off discussion of first and second reading for our Official Community Plan with the first public hearing scheduled for March 19.

March

This brings us to this first week of March. Yesterday, I had the pleasure of joining the FCM BC Caucus to discuss regional issues and hear from our local government colleagues. Many local governments are concerned over the tariffs and discussing how to prioritize local/regional/Canadian spending.

Provincial Budget

Today, I attended the Provincial budget as an observer from the members gallery. I have never been to a budget announcement so I wasn’t sure what to expect. First, UBCM staffers were included in the Budget Lock-Up – something I feel shows the importance of the relationship. This gave UBCM staff early access this morning to review the budget prior to the announcement which allowed them to publish The Compass immediately following the announcement. The only caveat was sacrificing phones and all technological devices until after the announcement.

I listened intently to Minister Bailey give her remarks and all the while wondering how each aspect of the budget she announced would impact local governments across the province.

Of note was the increased funding for HEART/HEARTH to support communities experiencing homelessness, funding for addiction, treatment and recovery, funding to address the healthcare shortage, as well as funding for community safety to address street disorder and repeat violent offenders. All these items are supported by UBCM resolutions many local governments have been advocating for. Finally, tariffs were a huge topic within the budget and we do not yet know how this will impact the province.

One item I do applaud Minister Bailey for advancing is investment in our tech sector which she has a strong background in. There is a great opportunity to advance tech and open up opportunity across the province (and yes, northern communities still have broadband issues which we bring up often). I am hopeful to see how this evolves.

The opposition was critical of the provincial deficit while also criticizing the government for not putting aside more than $4B in reserves to deal with the tariffs. The opposition also called upon the government to delay the budget given the tariff announcements today.

Following the budget announcement I was able to connect with Premier Eby, and Ministers Bailey and Anderson. I look forward to working with them all and others over the next year in my position on UBCM and on council to make progress on our collective and individual advocacy efforts.

How budget actually shakes out for local governments only time will tell. I for one will be keeping a close eye on the UBCM Compass and the Province to see what happens next.

October 8, 2022October 8, 2022

The difference a vote can make

I was at the dog park this week speaking with a young 29 year old elector who told me he had absolutely no interest in voting. We chatted for a bit about the importance of getting out to vote but I couldn’t persuade him to participate because to him, one vote wouldn’t make a difference. It got me to thinking – how many local government elections are shaped by one vote – one elector?

I heard a story ages ago from the Mayor of the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality Mayor Gary Foster about his election to council in the 90s where he tied with the last place candidate. Both candidates went before a judge to make a determination and that judge drew names from a hat, and declared him the winner of the election. According to The Candidate’s Guide for Local Government Elections in BC, this is still a current practice and there are two ways to deal with a tie: drawing names from a hat, or doing a runoff ballot.

So going back to the question: does your vote really matter – can one vote really make a difference? I reviewed all the voting data from every local government election in 2018 and found some interesting examples that prove one vote really does make a difference.

Anmore, Burns Lake, Highlands, Keremeos, Lion’s Bay, Lytton, McBride, Midway, New Hazelton, North Saanich, Radium Hot Springs, Silverton, Telkwa, Trail, and Zeballos had councils where every candidate was acclaimed. One could argue that a single person putting forward their nominations papers could have produced an entirely different outcome in the election.

In Belcarra, the last place elected councillor won by just one vote, and in Armstrong, Cumberland, Gold River, Greenwood, Pouce Coupe, Powell River, Sparwood, and Squamish, the last place elected councillor won by just two votes. Those communities where the last place elected councillor won by less than 10 votes: Qualicum, Slocan, Hazelton, Merritt, Sicamous, Creston, Port Alice, Sayward, Logan Lake, Coquitlam, New Denver, and Barriere.

Here’s the full list ending with Nanaimo, which had the biggest spread between the last place elected councillor with a 2564 vote spread.

Community	Vote Difference
Anmore	0
Burns Lake	0
Highlands	0
Keremeos	0
Lion’s Bay	0
Lytton	0
McBride	0
Midway	0
New Hazelton	0
North Saanich	0
Radium Hot Springs	0
Silverton	0
Telkwa	0
Trail	0
Zeballos	0
Belcarra	1
Armstrong	2
Cumberland	2
Gold River	2
Greenwood	2
Pouce Coupe	2
Powell River	2
Sparwood	2
Squamish	2
Qualicum	3
Slocan	3
Hazelton	4
Merritt	4
Sicamous	4
Creston	5
Port Alice	6
Sayward	7
Logan Lake	8
Coquitlam	9
New Denver	9
Barriere	10
Fort St James	12
Kent	12
Stewart	12
Wells	14
Queen Charlotte	15
Sooke	16
Montrose	18
Port Edward	18
Port McNeill	19
Salmo	19
Clearwater	20
Masset	20
West Vancouver	20
100 Mile House	21
Metchosin	22
Sun Peaks	22
Peachland	23
West Kelowna	23
Alert Bay	25
Hudson’s Hope	25
Cache Creek	26
Duncan	26
Fraser Lake	26
Fruitvale	26
Port Hardy	27
Gansle	29
Canal Flats	32
Vanderhoof	33
Grand Forks	34
Dawson Creek	35
Lantzville	35
Ashcroft	36
North Cowichan	36
Fort St John	37
Fernie	38
Smithers	38
Tahsis	39
Clinton	44
Princeton	45
Oliver	47
Mission	49
Tofino	51
Pemberton	53
Tumbler Ridge	53
Mackenzie	55
Port Alberni	57
Whistler	59
Houston	61
Lillooet	61
Port Clements	65
Valemount	68
Coldstream	69
Hope	69
Terrace	72
Gibsons	77
Kitimat	82
Campbell River	84
Castlegar	84
Rossland	85
Courtnay	89
Harrison Hot Springs	90
Kaslo	92
Maple Ridge	92
Richmond	97
Williams Lake	97
Sechelt	98
Ucluelet	98
Enderby	99
White Rock	99
Lumby	101
District North Vancouver	101
Salmon Arm	101
Langley	103
Golden	104
Revelstoke	111
Warfield	115
Invermere	118
Chase	120
Elkford	125
Nakusp	126
Ladysmith	127
Colwood	129
Chetwynd	134
Kimberley	135
Taylor	136
City of North Vancouver	137
Lake Cowichan	151
Penticton	151
Osoyoos	163
Northern Rockies	165
Prince Rupert	165
Port Moody	171
Quesnel	176
View Royal	187
Burnaby	215
Langford	236
Summerland	259
Surrey	261
Bowen Island	286
Cranbrook	292
Parksville	311
Spallumcheen	323
Nelson	331
Comox	365
Pitt Meadows	374
Oak Bay	398
Vernon	407
Saanich	424
Central Saanich	432
Abbotsford	482
Port Coquitlam	565
Esquimalt	571
Delta	601
Prince George	692
Kamloops	732
Sidney	763
Chilliwack	814
Victoria	1147
New Westminster	1298
Kelowna	1602
Vancouver	1692
Nanaimo	2564

Full dataset can be viewed here.

It might not seem like your vote makes a difference but it can and it does. So, this election, we have two more days of advanced voting opportunities and general voting day for you to get out and cast your vote. It very well could be the difference between your candidate getting elected or not.

August 19, 2022September 1, 2022

Councillor Cori Ramsay seeking re-election in 2022 municipal election

August 31, 2022

Prince George, BC – Today, City of Prince George incumbent Cori Ramsay announced her intentions to seek re-election for the position of councillor in the 2022 municipal election. First elected in 2018, Ramsay has served the community as a strong advocate and collaborative leader for the last four years.

Over the course of the term Ramsay was appointed to the city’s Finance & Audit Committee, Accessibility Committee, and the Select Committee on Poverty Reduction. Additionally, Ramsay also ran for election to the North Central Local Government Association (NCLGA) board and during her time on the board (2019 – Present) became President (2021-2022) of the association representing 39 local governments across northern BC.

Last year, Ramsay was appointed to the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) Board, and currently sits on the Health and Social Development and Indigenous Relations Committees. She intends to run for election to the UBCM board this September at the associations Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Key priorities Ramsay hopes to focus on in the upcoming term include, but are not limited to:

Health and social well-being of our community, namely, the complex social issues impacting our community such as homelessness, mental health and addictions.
Strategic and targeted advocacy
Strong economic growth and resiliency
Infrastructure reinvestment
Art, culture, recreation, parks, trails, transit and green spaces
Truth and Reconciliation
Climate mitigation and adaptation

On running for re-election, Ramsay says this: “I will continue to work hard for the residents of Prince George. It is so important to have young voices and female representation around the council table and I hope you will vote for strong advocacy and collaborative leadership on October 15th as you head to the polls to cast your ballot.”

Cori Ramsay grew up living in poverty in the lower mainland and moved to Prince George at the age of 15 to come live with her Aunt and Uncle. She went on to study at UNBC, graduating with a English Literature degree in 2010. She complete her graduate diploma in public relations at UVIC in 2022 and currently works as Lead Marketing Analyst for Integris Credit Union.

To learn more about Cori Ramsay, visit coriramsay.ca.

-30-

Media Enquiries:

Cori Ramsay
250-613-2610
cori.ramsay@princegeorge.ca