Social issues on agenda

By Darren Handschuh - CASTANET Sep 22, 2016 / 9:54 am
Social issues will dominate the agenda for Vernon officials when they attend the Union of B.C. Municipalities conference next week. Mayor Akbal Mund said he and councillors Scott Anderson, Juliette Cunningham, Dalvir Nahal and Catherine Lord, along with CAO Will Pearce and his assistant, will attend the five-day conference that begins Monday. Mund said the delegation will bring up seeking funds for restorative justice, accessible and affordable childcare and the ongoing affordable housing challenges. Mund said the issues are presented to the UBCM, then voted on. “If it passes, the UBCM will approach the provincial government with it." “I think affordable housing is a big one,” said Mund. “And childcare too. These are things that are happening everywhere. Municipalities can't carry the burden of the costs.” The regional district has also requested the city bring up the issue of quagga and zebra mussels and efforts to combat their spread into local waterways.