THAT the memo dated February 13, 2024, from the offices of Councillors Agtarap and Lubik regarding advocacy for an expanded role of provincial Youth Climate Corps be received for information;
AND THAT Council advance the following resolution to LMLGA and UBCM for the 2024 conventions:
WHEREAS municipalities recognize the urgent need to address climate change and the impact that climate change is having on communities through extreme weather such as wildfires, floods, extreme heat, which is causing major infrastructure damage and loss of life to residents;
AND WHEREAS there is a need to engage young people by local governments, and train the next generation of low carbon sector workers and leaders;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT LMLGA and UBCM advocate to the Province of British Columbia for an expanded Youth Climate Corps that will provide green living wage jobs and training to young adults to support important work on climate adaptation and mitigation projects in their own communities, such as wildfire mitigation, building retrofits, ecosystem restoration and community engagement.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Province work with local governments, Indigenous communities and nations, youth groups, industry, union associations and environmental organizations to scale up, design programming and provide resources for a BC-wide Youth Climate Corps.