The Municipal Election is only four months away, taking place October 17, 2026.
Housing affordability remains one of the most important issues facing Metro Vancouver, and municipal governments play a significant role in shaping housing outcomes. With municipal elections taking place on October 17, HAVAN will be launching its Municipal Election Campaign in the fall to ensure candidates understand both the challenges facing the homebuilding industry and the solutions needed to support housing supply across the region.
In preparation for the campaign, we are starting things off with a member survey designed to identify the policies, processes, and local challenges affecting housing delivery across Metro Vancouver. The findings will be used to develop municipality-specific housing fact sheets and a Municipal Toolkit containing practical policy recommendations that support housing supply and improve development certainty. These resources will be shared with candidates, published on the HAVAN website, and used throughout the campaign to ensure local housing issues and industry solutions remain part of the public conversation leading up to Election Day.
The member survey is now open and available HERE. It takes approximately five minutes to complete, and your input is essential to this year’s campaign efforts.
The survey asks members to identify the municipal policies, processes, fees, regulations, and approval challenges that most affect housing delivery. Responses will help shape HAVAN’s recommendations to candidates and elected officials across Metro Vancouver. Topics include permitting timelines, regulatory duplication, development cost charges, housing approvals, code alignment, and opportunities to improve industry-municipal collaboration.
Candidate announcements and political organizing are occurring much earlier than in previous election cycles. At this time, there are already 73 registered municipal parties and more than 200 declared candidates across Metro Vancouver. Those elected will make decisions that influence housing policy, development conditions, and housing supply for years to come. Through this campaign, HAVAN will continue to highlight the realities of housing delivery, the challenges facing the industry, and the role local governments play in supporting housing — from renovations to new builds.
While municipal elections have traditionally seen lower voter turnout than provincial and federal campaigns, this may be the year that changes. We will keep members informed as new resources become available throughout the campaign.
Questions about the survey or HAVAN’s Municipal Election Campaign can be directed to Diana Dilworth, HAVAN Director of Government Relations at diana@havan.ca.
Remember, every vote counts.
HAVAN continues to work with CHBA BC and CHBA to advocate for all levels of government to work together tress the challenges of the housing industry including zoning restrictions, density limits, and NIMBYism.
Looking to stay up-to-date on Metro Vancouver’s residential housing industry? Sign up for Wendy’s weekly Monday Briefing and other HAVAN emails here.
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