KEEPIN’ UP WITH THE CHANGES …

As mentioned in HAVAN’s GRU newsletter that went out this past Saturday, there have been a flurry of new actions, initiatives, and guidance documents that have been released by the Province and at the federal level:

• With Prime Minister Mark Carney signing an order-in-council to scrap the federal consumer carbon tax, Eby has followed suit, announcing the preparation of legislation to repeal B.C.’s carbon tax in response to growing economic pressures facing British Columbians.
• The federal government released its package of standardized housing designs, featuring about 50 standardized designs for rowhouses, fourplexes, sixplexes and accessory dwelling units, with the hopes that they will allow municipalities to employ expedited permitting and cut costs and timelines for builders who choose to use them.
• In B.C., the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs released an Amenity Cost Charge Best Practices Guide to assist local governments in implementing the newly permitted Amenity Cost Charges.
  • The two-part guide includes an overview of the ACCs and key steps for development and implementing the ACC bylaw, and the second part is the technical manual detailing the process for calculating SCCs in compliance with the provision of the Local Government Act.
  • The Ministry includes in the guide that ‘Local governments should identify stakeholders by ensuring consultation is inclusive and representative of those directly or indirectly affected by ACC policies,” of which HAVAN is noted as an identified stakeholder.
  • HAVAN will be in communication with municipalities as they work on ACC policies to ensure our concerns are heard about the impact ACCs will have on housing development and delivery.
• Provincial Policy Manual on Tenant Protection Bylaws was also released.
• Publication of a Comprehensive Guidance on Inclusionary Zoning and Density Bonusing.

As a result of the economic strains caused by the Canada-U.S. tariffs, Eby has been more introspective on how B.C. can build up its economic resilience, and at the BC Real Estate Association in Victoria on Tuesday, BIV reports that Eby seemed to be shifting its views on real estate investment – instead of being the cause of homeownership woes, it could be a key to unlocking housing affordability and building provincial investment.

In the article, Eby is quoted, “And so one of the things that we’re looking at is, well, how do we harness that energy around investment — especially at a time when we’re looking for investment in the province, and the interest in investment going into housing and real estate, and do it in a way that facilitates access to more housing for people?” And the article notes that the premier said he’s actively working on such a program behind-the-scenes, to channel people’s desire to make money buying and selling properties into a more constructive mechanism for government. It will be interesting to hear how this program is developed, especially with the BC NDP’s anti-flipping and empty home taxations policies.

If you have not yet read Saturday’s edition of the GRU, make sure take a ready through, as it summarizes the latest in what is happening across the region, including the recent motion passed by City of Vancouver council to direct staff to report on the viability of delaying collection development cost levies (DCLs), which HAVAN has been pushing with municipalities across Metro Vancouver.

SAVE THE DATE: HAVAN ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING APRIL 2  

The online HAVAN Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2025 will be conducted from 12:00 – 1:00 pm on Wednesday, April 2, 2025.  HAVAN members in good standing are invited to attend this meeting. Make sure to register to attend.

QUICK BITES … 

• Tariff Fears Drive “Sharp” Decline In Canadian Home Sales | Storeys

• Bank of Canada reduces policy rate by 25 basis points to 2¾% |Bank of Canada
• Remember the ‘I am Canadian’ ad that was released by Molson Canadian back in 2000, where ‘Joe’ talked about what makes him Canadian? Well, earlier this month, ‘Joe’ has returned to deliver an even more rousing ‘We Are Canadian’ version, just as the U.S. tariffs were announced. | YouTube video