Concerns about data centres, AI, kick scooters and bears are among the topics considered in more than 200 resolutions drafted by municipal politicians set to meet at the annual Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM) conference in September.

This year’s convention runs Sept. 14-18 at the Vancouver Convention Centre, where politicians will debate resolutions important to their municipalities and others across the province.

All passed resolutions will be forwarded to the provincial government.

Here’s a look at five of the resolutions:

This one is from the Kootenay Boundary Regional District. The resolution says the rapid proliferation of AI and data centres has increased demand for energy and water resources, raising concerns about environmental sustainability.

Local governments require clear provincial guidance and regulations to effectively manage the environmental impacts of data centre operations, the resolution says.

“Therefore, be it resolved that UBCM urge the province of British Columbia and the BC Utilities Commission to introduce regulations governing the design and operation of new and existing data centres, aimed at minimizing and controlling their energy and water consumption to ensure the long-term sustainability of these critical resources and further, that these entities engage communities around the issue of data centres.”

• Regulating AI “to safeguard democracy”

This resolution is from Victoria council. The resolution says AI should be considered a national security threat that presents risks to all levels of government and the principles that uphold democratic society.

The resolution says AI has developed rapidly in recent years, in some cases “sowing social discord, generating often false and misleading information and becoming a tool of bad actors.”

Victoria council wants the UBCM and Federation of Canadian Municipalities to request provincial and federal governments to work with municipalities to create “reasonable and enforceable regulations of AI technologies that safeguard democracy and national sovereignty, mitigate social and political divisions and proactively combat misisinformation and disinformation.”

• Need for province-wide regulation of electric kick scooters

This resolution is from New Westminster. The resolution says electric kick scooters are growing and will likely continue to be a preferred mode of transportation in municipalities across B.C. regardless of participation in the provincial pilot program.

Uncertainty and inconsistent public information remain regarding the safety implications of their use on public highways in B.C., says the resolution, which adds that regulation and enforcement are inconsistent between municipalities.

There is also a lack of provincewide safety data collection and education programs.

“Therefore, be it resolved that UBCM call on the Government of British Columbia to conclude the electric kick scooter pilot program and establish provincewide regulations and data-informed education programs governing the safe use of electric kick scooters on public highways across British Columbia.”

• Continuation of the Bear Smart Program

This resolution is from Port Moody. It points out the provincial government halted processing of the Bear Smart Community Program applications in late 2025.

The resolution says responsibility to manage bear conflicts with people rests with all stakeholders and requires participation from the B.C. government, municipal governments and local citizens to be successful.

“Therefore, be it resolved that UBCM ask the Provincial Government of British Columbia to reactivate the Bear Smart Program, including the reinstitution of staff and funding to expand and administer the program.”

• Revenue sharing of PST and GST with local governments

This resolution is courtesy of Barriere, which notes local governments across B.C. face significant infrastructure deficits, with many municipalities and electoral areas unable to meet these needs through property taxation alone.

The resolution says infrastructure funding programs require local governments to compete through application-based grant processes that are “unpredictable, resource-intensive, and often resemble a lottery system that creates winners and losers while diverting valuable staff capacity at both local and provincial levels.”

“Therefore, be it resolved that UBCM advocate for the province of British Columbia and the government of Canada to establish a revenue-sharing model that allocates a portion of provincial sales tax and goods and services tax revenues collected within municipal boundaries and electoral areas directly back to local governments.”

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