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Last week was a busy one for the Ministry of Housing with a cabinet shuffle and the announced in-stream protection period extension for Metro Vancouver DCCs. In a memo sent to members on Thursday, Premier David Eby announced a cabinet shuffle noting that this move was a “strategic shift in order to focus on jobs and the economy.” The shuffle included Minister Kahlon moving into the role of Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth, and Christine Boyle as the incoming Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs. We thank Minister Kahlon for the work he had done on the housing file, and look forward to continuing our positive relationship with the Ministry under Boyle’s leadership. Last week, before Minister Kahlon’s departure from the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs, he announced the extension of the in-stream protection period for Metro Vancouver’s Development Cost Charges (DCCs) from 12 to 24 months. At a time when the industry continues to navigate a crippling state of the housing market as more projects are being shelved, put into receivership, or companies downsizing, this announcement is welcome news. This change gives builders and developers more time to access current DCC rates before future increases take effect — a critical step in improving cost certainty and helping projects move forward. Combined with the July 2 announcement allowing eligible projects to defer 75% of their DCC and Amenity Cost Charges (ACC) payments for up to four years or until occupancy, these policy shifts represent important tools in the Province’s effort to get more shovels in the ground. Greater financial predictability at the front end of a project can unlock much-needed capital and reduce risk — a significant support in today’s complex building environment. That said, while these measures are a positive signal the government is listening, the reality remains: these changes only apply to eligible projects, for a limited period, and do not address the full spectrum of financial pressures facing our sector. Metro Vancouver, in receiving $250 million in federal infrastructure funding, supported the extension of the in-stream projection period. But it is important to note that Metro Vancouver’s more recent DCC increase — up to 222% currently and 282% by 2027 in some categories — remains a major concern outside of this window of opportunity. Flashback to October 2024, when a large coalition of builders and developers – many HAVAN members – stood before the Metro Vancouver Board of Directors to raise the alarm. I sat amongst the builders as speaker after speaker shared their current experiences of projects being in jeopardy of being shelved due to skyrocketing fees, regulatory burdens, and diminishing financial margins. The cost-of-delivery crisis we flagged then continues to unfold today. And even with the extended in-stream protection to 24 months, these continued increases could still push many otherwise viable projects beyond the point of financial feasibility later down the road. Unless we start seeing the reduction of high fees and more equitable infrastructure costing models, labour and material costs, a return to better economic stability, and homebuyers who will absorb the increasing market prices, there are still challenges to tackle.
We support the recent changes announced by the Province as they demonstrate a commitment to removing barriers, encouraging investment, and collaborating with industry to unlock more housing supply — and something we have long advocated for. The work is far from over, and HAVAN will continue to sit at the table with policy makers to advocate for changes that will support this industry. |
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HAVAN BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2025-2026 CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
The 2025-2026 Board of Directors Slate of Officers will be presented and voted on by members at the HAVAN Leadership Awards and Annual Election Meeting to be held on Thursday, October 9 at the Riverway Clubhouse in Burnaby.
In preparation for the upcoming year’s slate, HAVAN is conducting a general call for nominations, inviting members in good standing to submit their candidacy for consideration by the Nominations Committee.
All candidates are required to read, complete and submit this New Board Members Nominations Form (PDF) by Friday, July 25, 2025 to wendy@havan.ca. |
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QUICK BITES … |
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