Correspondence from Mayor Helps re: Recovering Municipal Costs Arising from Climate Change

March 7, 2019,

To All British Columbia Municipalities and Regional Districts;

I am writing on behalf of Victoria City Council, requesting favourable consideration and resolutions of support for recovering municipal costs arising from climate change.

At the January 17, 2019 Council Meeting, Council approved the following resolution:

WHEREAS local governments are incurring substantial costs in relation to the impacts of climate change, including volatile weather patterns, drought, wildfires, erosion and other impacts;

AND WHEREAS it is fiscally prudent to recover these costs from corporations that have profited from the burning of fossil fuels, with knowledge that these economic activities contribute to climate change;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT UBCM explore the initiation of a class action lawsuit on behalf of member local governments to recover costs arising from climate change from major fossil fuels corporations;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Province of British Columbia consider legislation to support local governments in recovering costs arising from climate change from major fossil fuel corporations.

We eagerly look forward to your support on this matter.

Sincerely,

Lisa Helps Victoria Mayor

cc. The Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities (AVICC) Annual Convention The Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) Annual Convention