FCM, UBCM, LMLGA Membership Fees
Motion 18 · Council Meeting, March 10, 2026
Summary
- Council approved payment of annual membership fees totalling approximately $246,613 to three municipal associations: the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) at $168,670.40, the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) at an estimated $69,943.18, and the Lower Mainland Local Government Association (LMLGA) at an estimated $8,000.
- FCM has represented Canadian municipal governments nationally since 1901 and advocates on federal policy and programs on behalf of nearly 2,000 member municipalities; Vancouver's fee is calculated on a per-capita basis using the 2021 census population of 662,248.
- UBCM has represented BC local governments since 1905, and LMLGA is the province's largest area association, serving approximately 33 local governments in partnership with UBCM.
- Year-over-year fee increases are modest: FCM up 3.4%, UBCM up 0.3%, and LMLGA up 4%; the UBCM and LMLGA invoices are estimates pending final billing.
- LMLGA is exploring a new membership fee model to be voted on at its April 2026 AGM; if the new model results in a significantly higher fee for Vancouver, staff will return to Council for additional approval before payment.
- All funding comes from the approved 2026 Corporate Relations Operating Budget; under the Vancouver Charter, this type of grant to municipal associations requires a two-thirds majority vote of all Council members.
Transcript
3 segments
Are there any coming on the queue to...
Councillor Frye, want to put yourself in the queue? I can do that now. I'll advance you. Go ahead, Councillor Frye.
Okay, so 6 and 5 and 7 are already being held or held back for speakers. So we'll just add report 6 to that one. Thanks very much. Okay. Okay, thanks very much. I have a seconder. Seconded. Councillor Kirby-Young. All those in favour? Opposed? That carries. Thanks very much. Okay.
I should have asked if anyone has a conflict of interest. My apologies. But I'm assuming no one does. That's fine. Okay. So we have reports.
One. I'm just going to write them down here a sec. Okay. So we have report one, approval of 2026 business improvement area BIA budgets. Report two, 2026 graffiti abatement grants for business improvement areas. Report three, proposed Vancouver charter amendment business improvement area renewal. Report 4, Annual Federation of Canadian Municipalities, FCM, Union of British Columbia Municipalities, UBCM, and Lower Mainland Local Government Association, LMLGA, membership fees for 2026. Report 8, Community Housing Incentive Program Grant. ALT, Commercial Housing Society Co-op Housing Project. Report 9, Amendments to Street Vending By-law to Support 2026 Granville Street Summer Patios. Report 10, Nomination Subjects. recommendations transmittal report and report 11 auditor general committee recommendations transmittal report all right we will now move on to unfinished business this is item 1 is c1 rezoning tent 1030 to 1070 East Hastings Street 1115 to 1125 East Hastings Street and 360 Glen Drive and 1168 and 1182 East Hastings Street Thank you.
At the public hearing on February 24, 2026, Council heard the staff presentation, applicant comments, and asked questions to staff, and the applicant heard from public speakers and then closed the speakers list and received public comments. Subsequently, Council referred closing comments, further questions to staff, debate and decision to this meeting as unfinished business. Councillor Bligh and Kirby Young missed a portion of the public hearing and will need to confirm they have