The BC Municipal Climate Leadership Council (BCMCLC)
BCMCLC brings together any and all locally elected officials interested in accelerating the implementation of low-carbon solutions in their community. CEA facilitates the Council with guidance from a steering committee composed of elected officials from every region of BC. Network meeting topics and content will focus on networking, information sharing, and how high-impact projects in a community or region can be adapted successfully in other communities. The goal is to share and replicate outcomes, not effort.
BCMCLC is supported by BC Hydro, the Real Estate Foundation of BC, Vancity, and the Government of BC’s Climate Action Secretariat.
Steering Committee
The steering committee is composed of elected officials from every region of BC. Current elected officials include:
Ben Geselbracht, Councillor, City of Nanaimo
Christine Boyle, Councillor, City of Vancouver
Cyra Yunkws, Area B Director, Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine
Jack Crompton, Mayor, Resort Municipality of Whistler
Jessica McIlroy, Councillor, City of North Vancouver
Rik Logtenberg, Councillor, City of Nelson
Sue Carins, Councillor, City of Kimberly
Sue Ellen Fast, Councillor, Bowen Island Municipality
Contact Information
Maya Chorobik, Director of Climate Leadership
mchorobik@communityenergy.ca
Carly Johansson, Network Admin
bcmclc@communityenergy.bc.ca
CaroleAnn Leishman, Climate Leaders Program Manager
cleishman@communityenergy.ca
Meeting Summaries
Watch the full meeting recording
Introduction: A dialogue with Hon. Josie Osborne, Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation
Meeting Objective: Facilitate connection between the Province and communities, to share thoughts and opportunities for collaboration —particularly opportunities related to the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation mandate and Powering our Future: BC’s Clean Energy Strategy
Highlights:
- Call for power to diversify clean energy sources was designed alongside First Nations and has a required minimum 25% share of equity ownership for First Nations, successful bids to be announced in December 2024
- BC Hydro’s Rate Design Application currently under review by BC Utilities Commission – proposing a Community Generation Service Rate to compensate customers for excess generation of a shared community energy project
- Breakout room discussions: affordability; lack of capacity in small local governments to drive transformation; microgrids/small-scale distributive generation to increase resiliency of small towns and rural areas; planning for a resilient future in the North and for large industry; importance of energy conservation; solar energy to manage rural-urban divide in heating; investing in rural transit; recognition of the need for a diversified suite of options for the energy transition
| Time | Notes | Speaker(s) |
| 0:00 | Welcome and Opening Remarks | BCMCLC and the Community Energy Association |
| 10:28 | Breakout Rooms #1
Participants will move into smaller groups to answer the following discussion question:
The breakout room facilitator will summarize the discussion from each room in the dialogue with Minister Osborne |
Everyone |
| 11:40 | A dialogue with Hon. Josie Osborne, Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation
A collaborative two-way dialogue between Minister Osborne and elected officials. The Minister will provide some remarks, followed by a Q&A and discussion. |
Hon. Josie Osborne |
| 59:23 | Group Discussion
|
Everyone |
| 1:11:08 | Meeting Wrap Up and Next Steps | Community Energy Association |
Introduction:
A dialogue with Hon. Nathan Cullen, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship. This meeting was held to facilitate connection between the Province of BC and communities, to share thoughts on climate action and resiliency and the opportunities they can bring—particularly opportunities related to the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship mandate.
Highlights:
- The Honourable Nathan Cullen, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship gave a few opening remarks and then participated in a fulsome dialogue with participants answering questions and addressing concerns on issues within his mandate
- Province put $100 million into BC Watershed Security Fund as an endowment
- Concerns raised: water in the sphere of forestry management, wild salmon conservation, ground licensing for agriculture, cross-party commitment to reconciliation
- Legislation for conservation using an ecosystem-based approach is under development with input from First Nations
- Presentation from Coree Tull, BC Watershed Security Coalition
| Time | Notes | Speaker(s) |
| 0:00 | Welcome and Opening Remarks | BCMCLC and the Community Energy Association |
| 9:52 | Breakout Rooms
Participants moved into smaller groups to answer the following discussion question: What aspects of the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship mandate overlaps your community’s goals and priorities? The breakout room facilitators summarized the discussion from each room in the dialogue with Minister Cullen. |
Everyone |
| 13:00 | A dialogue with Hon. Nathan Cullen, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship
A collaborative two-way dialogue between Minister Cullen and communities sharing thoughts on climate action and resiliency and the opportunities they can bring. The Minister provides some remarks, followed by a Q&A and discussion. |
Hon. Nathan Cullen |
| 1:00:32 | B.C. Watershed Security Coalition Opportunities for Communities
Corree from the B.C. Watershed Security Coalition shares ways to get more involved in protecting watersheds in your community and region. The B.C. Watershed Security Coalition is a non-partisan, diverse coalition of 50 organizations, including farmers, hunters and anglers, indigenous peoples, local governments, businesses and conservationists, representing 255,000 British Columbians from all walks of life. The Coalition focuses on advancing modern-day solutions that increase community resilience and security and recognizes that, in every region of British Columbia, healthy watersheds are fundamental to human health, security, prosperity and reconciliation. |
Coree Tull, B.C. Watershed Security Coalition |
| 1:30:08 | Meeting Wrap Up and Next Steps | BCMCLC and the Community Energy Association |
Introduction
This meeting was held to connect BC elected officials (and municipal staff) and establish shared concerns, motives, goals, and mandates on climate action. The session included the following presenters:
- The Province’s Climate Action Secretariat on the Local Government Climate Action Program (LGCAP) Funding announcement for accelerating action in your community;
- BC Hydro on their new capital plan investments and the new Call for Power;
- CEA demonstrated the new BC Community Climate Action Dashboard tool that will help local governments better track and plan for climate action. The goal of the Dashboard is to help local governments develop best practices, foster peer learning and leverage climate action by sharing what communities are doing. The Dashboard contains real-world data on the actions local governments in BC are taking and is geared toward local government staff and elected officials.
| Time | Notes | Speaker(s) |
| 0:00 | Welcome | Co-chairs |
| 6:11 | The Province’s Climate Action Secretariat on the Local Government Climate Action Program (LGCAP) Funding announcement for accelerating action in your community
|
Ken Porter, Manager of Communities, CAS, Province of BC |
| 25:17 | BC Hydro on their new capital plan investments and the new Call for Power
|
Robyn Webb, Manager, Local Government Conservation and Climate Action, BC Hydro |
| 52:17 | CEA demonstrated the new BC Community Climate Action Dashboard tool that will help local governments better track and plan for climate action. The goal of the Dashboard is to help local governments develop best practices, foster peer learning and leverage climate action by sharing what communities are doing. The Dashboard contains real-world data on the actions local governments in BC are taking and is geared toward local government staff and elected officials.
|
Rebecca Cuttler, Project Manager of the BC Community Climate Action Dashboard, CEA |
| 1:19:08 | Wrap Up | Co-chairs |
Meeting Purpose: Provide a channel for elected officials to get the most up-to-date information on the future of low carbon energy in BC.
Introduction
Local governments play a huge role in the direction their communities go in becoming more resilient in the face of climate change. As elected leaders you want to do the right thing by your community, but sometimes it can be hard to decipher what is the best route to take to get to the ultimate end goal of a safe, resilient, affordable, and healthy community where everyone thrives, and no one is left behind.
Concerns about decarbonization of the energy sector and BC Hydro’s ability to meet the growing demand for low carbon electrification of energy in BC is on all elected officials’ mind these days as we work towards decarbonization targets. If you have questions or find yourself in debate with others about the future of low carbon energy in BC, then this webinar is for you!
The BC Municipal Climate Leadership Council (BCMCLC) invited elected officials to learn the most up-to-date information from BC Hydro on the future of BC’s electrification plans. The Pembina Institute also joined to share their recent report on the role of renewable natural gas (RNG) in achieving a net-zero built environment.
| Time | Notes | Speaker(s) |
| 0:00 | Welcome & Opening Remarks | Councillor Rik Logtenberg, City of Nelson, BCMCLC Chair
CaroleAnn Leishman, Climate Leaders Program Manager, CEA |
| 6:25 | Our Electrified Future: BC Hydro’s Plan to Support Climate Action
|
Robyn Wark, Manager, Market Transformation, BC Hydro
Robyn Webb, Manager, Local Government Conservation and Climate Action, BC Hydro |
| 30:33 | CEA Supports and Information
|
Lisa Mak, Climate Solutions Specialist, Community Energy Association |
| 36:21 | Pembina Institute: The Role of Renewable Natural Gas in the Zero Carbon Step Code
|
Jessica McIlroy, Manger, Building Program, Pembina Institute |
| 48:22 | Q&A and Discussion | Councillor Rik Logtenberg, City of Nelson, BCMCLC Chair |
Community Energy Association facilitated a BC Municipal Climate Leadership Council Network meeting on May 17, 2023. This meeting for locally elected officials focused on the BC Energy Step Code and Zero Carbon Step Code and how communities can lead in stepping up energy efficiency and carbon performance in new construction.
| Time | Notes | Speaker(s) |
| 0:00 | Welcome & Intros | Maya Chorobik, CEA |
| 8:59 | Provincial policy context behind Energy Step Code and Zero Carbon Step Code | Scott Williams, Building and Safety Standards Branch, Province of BC |
| 15:10 | Deep Dive Presentation
|
Maya Chorobik, CEA
|
| 38:20 | Perspectives from high performance builder and Q&A | Bob Deeks, President, Certified Housing Professional, RDC Fine Homes |
| 53:43 | Experiences from a builder education session in Prince George | Gaëtane Carignan, CEA |
| 1:04:30 | Discussion and wrap-up | Maya Chorobik, CEA |
Shared Web Resources and Links:
- Support for Step Code Implementation, Building a Legacy North: www.communityenergy.ca/bal-north
- For more information about the BC Building Code Changes: https://www.communityenergy.ca/bc-building-code-changes/
Resources
- The best way to get the latest information on accelerating local climate action is to sign up for CEA’s monthly newsletter: https://www.communityenergy.ca/get-involved/
- The BC Climate Leaders Playbook. This resource helps elected officials envision a zero-emission community, and identifies the practical tools and levers that local-government leaders have available to them to make it real: https://bcclimateleaders.ca/playbook/
- Introductory webinar for elected officials interested in supports from BCMCLC and Climate Caucus on advancing climate-related initiatives in their communities: Resources and Supports Available to BC Locally Elected Officials on Accelerating Climate Action - YouTube
- The BC Climate Leaders Coaching Program. Stay tuned for upcoming cohorts: https://bcclimateleaders.ca/coaching/
- CEA’s Climate Action Planner Tool: https://www.communityenergy.ca/climate-action-planner/
- Join Climate Caucus, a national organization (with provincial chapters) “by elected officials and for elected officials.”
- Councillor’s Handbook and Climate Caucus Resources
- BC Building Code Changes as of May 1: https://www.communityenergy.ca/bc-building-code-changes/
- BC Energy Step Code Resources and Webinars: https://www.communityenergy.ca/bal-north/
- Cold Climate Heat Pumps: Mysteries Unraveled: https://building-a-legacy-resources.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/ColdClimateHeatPump.mp4
- BC First Nations Climate Strategy and Action Plan: https://www.bcafn.ca/priority-areas/environment/climate-emergency/bc-first-nations-climate-strategy-action-plan
- Native Land is an app to help map Indigenous territories, treaties, and languages: Native-Land.ca
- CEA Webinar on the Case for Regional Collaboration: https://www.communityenergy.ca/regional-collab-resources/
- CEA Webinar on Accelerating E-bike adoption for climate and equity: https://www.communityenergy.ca/2021-ebike-webinar-summary/
Updates from Other Networks
- Sign up for regional networks involving elected officials
- Join the Northern BC Climate Action Network https://www.communityenergy.ca/northcan/
- Join or learn more about the Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities Climate Leadership Steering Committee by emailing CaroleAnn at cleishman@communityenergy.ca
