Better Process, Better Policy
Read on to find out about the proposed Permanent Provincial Housing Police Roundtable initiative and the coalition that has formed behind it.
Introduction
The BC Real Estate Association (BCREA) is proud to announce our request for the establishment of the Permanent Provincial Housing Policy Roundtable. This initiative aims to create a structured, ongoing forum for collaboration between various stakeholders to address the housing challenges in British Columbia. The roundtable will focus on developing evidence-based policies that reflect the needs of communities across the province.
Purpose
The Permanent Provincial Housing Policy Roundtable will bring together representatives from:
- local governments;
- Indigenous housing organizations;
- market and non-market housing sectors;
- academic experts; and
- provincial and federal housing ministries.
The goal is to ensure that housing policy is developed with input from those directly impacted and those working on the front lines of housing delivery. This collaborative approach will lead to better outcomes and stronger alignment between all levels of government and housing stakeholders.
The provincial government has introduced a plethora of new legislation and associated regulations (e.g., Bills 14, 44 and 47) intended to accelerate the construction of new housing units. Local government mayors and councillors have criticized and questioned the bills’ practicable implementation. Housing development experts also suggest some new provincial housing policies are unlikely to produce the intended housing supply desperately needed due to their lack of pragmatic viability.
Supporters
The initiative has garnered significant support from a diverse coalition of housing stakeholders across British Columbia. Key supporters include:
- Aboriginal Housing Management Association
- Appraisal Institute of Canada – BC
- BC Non-Profit Housing Association
- Canadian Mortgage Brokers Association of BC
- City of Coquitlam
- City of Port Alberni
- City of Port Coquitlam
- City of Richmond
- Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce
- Director-Electoral Area G, Regional District Fraser Fort George
- Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce
- Kamloops & District Chamber of Commerce
- Kekinow Native Housing Society
- LandlordBC
- Manufactured Home Park Owners Alliance of British Columbia
- New Westminster Chamber of Commerce
- North Central Local Government Association
- Pemberton & District Chamber of Commerce
- Quadra Homes
- South Cariboo Chamber of Commerce
- Surrey & White Rock Board of Trade
- The Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce
- Vancouver Island Strata Owners Association
- WestShore Chamber of Commerce
These supporters emphasize the importance of meaningful collaboration and the need for a permanent roundtable to address the housing crisis effectively.
The coalition is actively working to expand its membership and engage with more stakeholders to ensure a comprehensive and inclusive approach to housing policy development.
Call to Action
The BC Government should immediately convene a permanent provincial housing roundtable, bringing together ten to 12 carefully chosen policy experts from mortgage, real estate, and civil society organizations, as well as market and non-market developers and builders. These experts would work together with federal, provincial, municipal / regional, and Indigenous governments to implement and monitor the efficacy of new housing policies introduced by the provincial government.
The roundtable should consist of individuals representing the various housing sub-sector groups. Subgroups could work in partnership with the provincial government on different issues, such as non-market housing and strata issues. The purpose would be to review potential housing legislation early, ensuring that the draft policy is holistic, pressure-tested for unanticipated consequences, and likely to achieve stated goals.
Where expertise on particular topics is required, roundtable members could be temporarily swapped out to ensure due diligence is conducted on consequential issues while maintaining a manageable roundtable size. Roundtable members could also represent specialized subcommittees, so that relevant expertise is available to support policy development in specific areas.
The full roundtable could meet quarterly to evaluate the overall impact of new policies and advise the government on the viability of incoming policies and regulations.
For more information or to join the coalition, please contact Jasroop Gosal, BC Real Estate Association Government Relations Manager, at jgosal@bcrea.bc.ca.
