A record attendance of more than 2,000 delegates is expected at the convention, which starts Monday and concludes Friday with a speech by Premier David Eby.
"Metro Vancouver is anticipating one million new residents by 2050 and we know that climate change is completely changing the rules for infrastructure needed by communities," said Ford, a member of Whistler council and the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District chair. Henry's participation in a forum on decriminalization and public drug use comes less than a week after the federal government approved changes to B.C.'s drug decriminalization policy to prohibit people possessing illegal substances near playgrounds and parks.
Ford, who said the UBCM executive is considering introducing a special decriminalization resolution at the convention, said the new prohibitions are a step forward, but municipalities are looking for further bans to include parks and sports fields. The BC Coroners Service reported last month at least 1,455 deaths in the province attributed to toxic drugs so far this year, with 12,739 overdose drug deaths since April 2016 when the province first declared a public health emergency.
"There's a lot of interest from our members on what went right and what could be improved upon for the future," she said.