Sooke Reports Back on Community Advocacy at 2026 UBCM Convention

Following the 2026 Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) Convention, the District of Sooke is reporting back to the community on Council’s advocacy meetings, follow-up actions and the outcome of a Sooke-sponsored resolution considered by local government representatives from across British Columbia.

The convention provided Council with opportunities to bring local priorities directly to provincial decision-makers, build relationships with other communities and identify practical next steps on issues affecting Sooke residents.

Council participated in six ministerial meetings focused on health care, transportation, emergency communications, driver licensing, contaminated soils management, and food affordability and waste reduction. The District has since written to each ministry to document the discussions and help maintain continuity as the provincial election proceeds. The correspondence is included on the September 28 Council agenda.

Health services and housing

Council met with the Ministry of Health regarding the Sooke health services and housing project and the community’s long-standing priority of improving access to primary care closer to home.

That advocacy was followed by an important local milestone on September 21, when the Province joined the District and project partners in Sooke to recognize approval of the building permits. The project, including a new urgent and primary care centre at 2101 Sitka Court and housing, is now moving from planning toward construction.

The District will continue working with the Ministry of Health, Island Health, BC Housing’s BC Builds program and Catalyst Community Developments Society as site work and implementation advance.

E-Comm and the future cost of 9-1-1 services

Council raised significant concerns about the affordability, predictability and transparency of potential new E-Comm emergency-communications costs for Sooke, acknowledging the seven figure cost and impact to local taxpayers and municipal operations. 

Council discussed alternatives including a provincial cellular levy or another broad-based funding model. The Ministry asked the District to continue providing updates as discussions with E-Comm proceed. The District is also seeking greater clarity around service data, cost allocation, governance, accountability and the potential duplication of non-emergency call-taking costs.

Transportation and Highway 14

Council met with the Ministry of Transportation and Transit to discuss renewing the Memorandum of Understanding between the Province and the District following the 2026 local election.

The intent is to establish shared near-, medium- and long-term transportation priorities and better coordinate provincial and municipal investment. 

Bringing driver testing closer to home

Council met with the Attorney General to discuss road-test capacity on the South Island and opportunities to expand driver testing services in Sooke.

The District highlighted the success of the Enhanced Road Assessment pilot, which has brought assessments into the community, and asked the Province and ICBC to explore offering road testing for new drivers, including youth, in Sooke.

Local access could reduce travel, cost and scheduling barriers for residents while potentially adding capacity to the broader South Island driver-testing network.

Practical approaches to contaminated soils

Council met with the Ministry of Environment and Parks to discuss the costs and operational challenges local governments can face when soil must be classified, transported and disposed of under provincial contaminated-sites requirements.

The District emphasized its support for strong environmental protections while encouraging practical, risk-based approaches to treatment, reuse and management where provincial standards can be met. 

The District will continue discussions with the Ministry regarding clearer regulatory pathways, opportunities for beneficial reuse and potential regional options for managing suitable soils — approaches that could reduce unnecessary transportation, emissions and costs for public infrastructure projects. 

Food affordability and reducing avoidable food waste

Council also brought forward opportunities to address food affordability while reducing suitable food being discarded as it approaches its best-before date.

Following discussion with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the District will connect directly with local grocery retailers to better understand existing practices, barriers and opportunities related to progressive discounting and other voluntary approaches. 

What the District learns locally will be shared with Ministry staff to help inform continued discussion. Any future approach would need to maintain food safety while supporting affordability, reducing avoidable waste and complementing existing food-recovery programs. 

Sooke resolution on manufactured-home protections supported at UBCM

In addition to Council’s ministerial meetings, a resolution submitted by the District of Sooke calling for stronger provincial protections for manufactured-home owners affected by redevelopment received support from UBCM delegates.

The resolution grew from concerns brought forward locally and recognizes manufactured-home communities as an important source of housing diversity and comparatively affordable home ownership. It calls on the Province to strengthen protections related to compensation, relocation assistance and communication when residents are displaced by redevelopment.

UBCM endorsement means the issue can now form part of the organization’s advocacy with the Province on behalf of local governments across B.C. The outcome also demonstrates how an issue raised in Sooke can move through the local government process and become part of a broader provincial conversation. 

Advocacy continues beyond the convention

UBCM meetings are one step in longer-term advocacy. Follow-up correspondence has now been sent to the six ministries involved in Sooke’s meetings, documenting the issues raised and identifying areas for continued discussion.

With both provincial and local elections occurring this fall, the District’s follow-up also helps preserve continuity so that these priorities can be carried forward with incoming provincial ministers and the next Council.

The District will continue to pursue opportunities to work with the Province, partner organizations and the community on practical solutions that respond to Sooke’s service needs.