Current Issues
The Canadian Home Builders’ Association of British Columbia is actively engaged in many issues related to the residential construction industry. Should you have any questions about the issues below, please call our office at 604-432-7112 ext. 302 or by email.
British Columbia
CHBA BC Submissions
2022
Demand-Side Measures (DSM) Regulation Amendment
Letter to Premier Eby: Housing Supply Act and New Housing Ministry
Speculation and Vacancy Tax and Homebuyer Protection Period
Submission on BC Building Code Accessibility
2021
British Columbia Government’s New Skilled Trades Certification System
Key Housing Supply Challenges and Recommended Immediate Actions
Submission to Technical Safety BC Proposed Fee Changes 2021 – 2023
B.C. Sectoral Targets Discussion Paper
2020
Submission to the B.C.’s COVID-19 Recovery Consultation
Submission to the Expert Panel on Housing Supply & Affordability
B.C. Consultation on a Public Beneficial Ownership Registry
Residential Flexibility in the ALR Intentions Paper
Emergency Program Act Modernization Submission
Joint Submission with HAVAN on Consultation Paper on the Builders Lien Act
Climate Preparedness and Adaptation Strategy Submission
2019
Submission to the CleanBC Job Readiness Plan
Submission to National Research Council Canada – Grab Bars
Submission to the BC Framework for Accessibility Legislation
Energy Efficiency Standards Regulation Residential Windows Submission
Workers’ Compensation Review Process Ministerial Letter
CleanBC Plastics Action Plan Submission
Joint Business Community Statement on the Workers’ Compensation Review
Joint Business Community Submission to the Workers’ Compensation System Review
Municipal Housing Supply and Benchmarking Study
CHBA BC retained Altus Group Economic Consulting to research evidence of housing supply shortfalls in B.C. and the economic consequences of those shortfalls, both past and future. The study also examines municipal development applications timelines in 13 B.C. municipalities to understand the current capacities associated with housing approvals. The study was released in October 2022 and is available here.
Election 2020 Policy Recommendations
In preparation for the snap election of October 2020, CHBA BC created a list of housing policies that could be implemented by any of the provincial parties to be used within their campaign platform. You can find these policies here.
Development Approvals Review
The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing convened a multi-stakeholder working group to review the process between December 2018 and June 2019. Potential solutions are under evaluation between now and 2021.
A report from this review has now been tabled and can be seen here.
B.C. Budget
Each year, CHBA BC submits recommendations to the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services for the annual provincial budget the following year. CHBA BC has also provided in-person presentations to the Committee on these recommendations.
Budget 2021 presented a stable path for the residential construction industry. With no new tax measures combined with continued investments to meet demands for housing, jobs, community-building infrastructure and transportation projects, and climate change initiatives, Budget 2021 allows CHBA BC to remain focused on working with this government to advance work on the Development Approval Process Review (DAPR) report. Read CHBA BC’s 2021/22 budget news release here.
CHBA BC is seeking this approach continue with Budget 2022, but with further investments that will help the province achieve its housing and climate change goals. Focus should remain on implementing measures that bring forward more housing supply, rather than measures that impact demand.
Pre-Budget Submissions
Prompt Payment
Prompt payment legislation was adopted in Ontario in December 2017. The Ontario Home Builders’ Association and other organizations opposed its implementation. There have been ample discussions in bringing this legislation to B.C., which CHBA BC opposes. Private sector payment timelines should not be regulated by the government and requiring legal mechanisms to solve disputes only adds further costs for small businesses in B.C.
CHBA BC’s overall position on prompt payment legislation
Money Laundering in Real Estate
The B.C. government conducted two separate reviews of money laundering and market manipulation in the real estate sector in 2019, through the Attorney General and Minister of Finance. CHBA BC and CHBA National jointly presented for the two stakeholder interviews as this issue impacts both levels of government.
In both meetings, CHBA highlighted its existing work on the underground economy through the Get It In Writing! program, and participation on working groups with Canada Revenue Agency and FINTRAC. CHBA also reiterated the need to target future efforts towards industry members that are not in compliance, as opposed to further regulations on the industry at-large, and to include industry stakeholders as policy solutions are developed.
CHBA BC submission to the Money Laundering in Real Estate Consultation
Cannabis
Cannabis is now legal in Canada as of October 2018. There are outstanding issues to resolve with legalizations, including impacts of personal cultivation on home warranty, finance, and insurance. There is no change to the continued focus on safe workplaces for all employees. CHBA BC encourages all members to have an updated alcohol and drug policy in place.
Have a great resource on cannabis that other members may benefit from? Feel free to share it with us! Email info@chbabc.org.
Related Articles
Guide to Managing Workplace Impairment and Developing an Impairment Policy – WorkSafe BC
Toolbox meeting guide: Substance use and workplace impairment – WorkSafe BC
Navigating Cannabis Use in the Workplace – HAVAN member Kuhn LLP
CHBA BC Submission to the B.C. Cannabis Regulation Engagement
Speculation and Vacancy Tax
The Speculation and Vacancy Tax Act was introduced in October 2018 and passed in the following weeks. A notable change was the introduction of exemptions for development land – a key ask of CHBA BC. However, CHBA BC remained opposed to the introduction of the tax and produced an education campaign for consumers to provide information on the speculation tax legislation and our concerns. Some of the highlights of the September and October 2018 campaign include media articles and op-eds, Facebook Ads that reached over 1,000,000 people with 950+ comments, 14,500 unique link clicks, and 500 postcards distributed at local events.
With the tax now in effect, CHBA BC is monitoring its rollout and impacts to the industry both inside and outside the tax boundaries.
CHBA BC Speculation Tax Exemption FAQs – 2019
Renovations and the Underground Economy
We currently participate in a number of awareness campaigns related to the underground economy. We also support initiatives by our National office with the Get It In Writing program and the work of provincial and federal governments on this issue.
With the rise of renovations and energy retrofits, CHBA BC has supported in a number of additional policy areas, including asbestos remediation.
Reports
Keeping Workers, the Public and the Environment Safe from Asbestos
CHBA BC Response to Asbestos Phase 2 Consultation
National
The federal government continues to hold public consultations on a number of topics related to housing.
As per CHBA advocacy, the federal government acknowledged that every level of government affects housing, and has committed to a coordinated, Federal‐Provincial‐Municipal approach to developing housing policy. This reflects how CHBA has always approached housing issues.