COVID-19: Measures municipalities are taking to move forward

Prepared by Thea Sample with Aidan Shirley.

As we navigate through these uncertain times, the Columbia Institute remains committed to providing resources and information for good civic governance. We encourage all municipalities to follow directions from provincial, federal, and public health authorities.

We know that municipalities play a vital role in the public health of our communities, and our collective response to the COVID-19 pandemic will be aided by proactive measures, good public policy decisions, and actions from all levels of government.

Here are some helpful municipal resources:

• FCM COVID-19 resources for municipalities
• UBCM COVID-19
  • UBCM: March 13, 2020 Update
  • UBCM: March 18, 2020 Update
  • UBCM: Provincial and Federal supports for homeowners, renters, March 25, 2020
  • UBCM: Provincial & federal stimulus packages, March 25, 2020
  • UBCM: Ministerial Orders for Local Government, March 26, 2020
  • UBCM: Request for Essential Services Critical Supplies, March 30, 2020
  • UBCM: Factsheet for renters and landlords, April 1, 2020
  • UBCM: New guidelines for bylaw officers enforcing COVID-19 orders, April 2, 2020
  • UBCM: COVID-19 Outreach & Advocacy, April 3, 2020
• COVID-19 Provincial Support and Information
• Helping rural, remote and Indigenous communities respond to COVID-19
• BC Housing COVID-19
• LGMA COVID-19 Resources for BC Public Agencies

Here are a few resources and articles about steps taken by municipalities to ensure our collective safety in response to COVID-19:

• BC’s swift response to long-term care crisis sets the bar for other provinces – May 11, 2020
• COVID-19: Vancouver city staff unveil plan for housing woes made worse – May 2, 2020
• Cuts are coming to city halls across B.C. Here’s what you need to know – April 29, 2020
• The Paris Mayor won’t let coronavirus slow her car-free ambitions – April 29, 2020
• COVID-19: Homeless to be housed in empty hotels – April 26, 2020
• B.C. first province in Canada to give cities more leeway that allow cities to run deficits – April 16, 2020
• Cochrane Town Council begins plans for post-COVID economic recovery – April 16, 2020
• B.C. announces new relief for local businesses, municipalities – April 16, 2020
• Donating, not dumping: Dairy farmers give excess milk to N.L. food banks – April 16, 2020
• New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern, ministers take 20% pay cut in coronavirus solidarity – April 15, 2020
• Canada launches national takeout day to support local restaurants – April 15, 2020
• Cities face massive financial shortfalls because of COVID. How can they cope when they can’t run deficits? – April 13, 2020
• Victoria helps with food production for 1st time since WWII – April 4, 2020
• Port Moody offers free online resources to help residents stay connected while staying apart – April 3, 2020
• Cities lead the charge on the coronavirus front lines – April 2, 2020
• B.C. government preps for added risks of wildfire season – March 28, 2020
• COVID-19 and mobility options: Metro Vancouver stakeholders have come together to improve mobility and land-use planning to create a more livable region, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic – March 25, 2020.
• COVID-19 Action Plan: B.C.’s first steps to support people, businesses – March 23, 2020
• Mayors are shouting at strangers to stay inside – March 23, 2020
• Public playgrounds closed in Lower Mainland to fight coronavirus – March 20, 2020
• TransLink suspending all bus fares to promote social distancing – March 19, 2020
• Should local governments enforce quarantines? – March 18, 2020
• Metro Vancouver cities shut down facilities due to COVID-19 – March 16, 2020

Here are a few centralized public resources on COVID-19:

• CBC
• CTV
• Global News
• Maclean’s
• The Tyee
• National Observer
• Behind the Numbers (CCPA Policy Blog)
• COVID-19 Quick Sheet: Public Health Orders (‼️) & Government Announcements (from Bowinn Ma’s office)
• Live Coronavirus Tracker (Worldometer)
• The following U.S. news outlets are providing free access to their COVID-19 stories: NPR, New York Times, Washington Post, New Yorker

Many municipalities and band councils in BC have set-up Covid-19 webpage resources:

• City of Burnaby
• City of Chilliwack
• City of Coquitlam
• City of Delta
• City of Fort St John
• Haida Nation
• Heiltsuk Nation
• City of Kelowna
• District of Kitimat
• City of Langley
• City of Maple Ridge
• City of Merritt
• District of Mission
• Musqueam Nation
• City of Nanaimo
• City of Nelson
• North Shore Emergency Management
• City of North Vancouver
• District of North Vancouver
• District of Oak Bay
• Okanagan Indian Band
• City of Penticton
• City of Port Moody
• City of Prince Rupert
• City of Quesnel
• City of Richmond
• District of Saanich
• District of Sechelt
• Skidegate Band Council
• District of Sooke
• Town of Smithers
• Squamish Nation
• City of Surrey
• City of Terrace
• City of Trail
• City of Vancouver
• City of Vernon
• City of Victoria
• District of West Vancouver
• City of White Rock

Please share articles and updates for us to post here at tsample@columbiainstitute.ca.