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As 2023 comes to a close, CHBA BC would like to wish its members, partners and other industry professionals a safe and happy holiday season. As we reflect on the past year for the industry, we would like to provide the readers of CHBA BC's Provincial Update a look at some of the most accessed articles from the year. Our regular publication will resume Thursday, Jan. 4.
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Civic Development Fees Collide with B.C. Housing Targets
Business in Vancouver
From June 15: The B.C. government has placed Vancouver and nine other municipalities in the province on a "housing target" list in what is a legislative-driven push to get cities to build more homes — and build them faster.
But while Housing Minister Ravi Khalon said he expected most of the communities "will be cooperating fully with this" a cursory examination shows that all have recently increased development cost charges (DCCs) and other fees that will make all new homes more expensive. Read More
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Homes for People Plan Reaction from the Okanagan
Castanet
From April 6: Reaction to the announcement of the Homes for People plan is coming in from around the province with local associations assessing what impact the actions included in the plan will have on their regions.
As CHBA BC President, Cassidy deVeer explained to CASTANET news in Kelowna, developing a range of housing options, speeding up the permitting process and cutting development cost charges are vital for the growing Okanagan region.
"We can't just have condos. We can't just have large single-family homes. We definitely need the missing middle." said deVeer. "Being able to build a fourplex without having to spend an entire year going through a development process is going to be massive for getting more housing built."
The full story and video are available on the CASTANET website. Read More
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2023 BC Budget Includes a Focus on Building More Homes
CHBA BC
 From March 2: On Tuesday, February 28, the BC government presented the 2023 BC Budget that spends big on housing and focuses on creating more supply through $4.2 billion in funding over the next three years.
This includes $2 billion in capital funding and other investments that will go towards affordable housing programs and projects. Items in the 2023 BC Budget that are in keeping with residential industry priorities include:
- $1 billion for a new Growing Communities Fund;
- $91 million towards a new pilot project that financially incents homeowners to develop new secondary suites for long-term rental opportunities;
- $77 million to speed up natural resource permitting and modernize the permitting service delivery model, like the Permitting Strategy for Housing and Housing Action Task Force;
- $57 million to create more homes through new residential zoning measures and by reducing the time and cost associated with local government approval processes;
- $11 million that will help implement the Housing Supply Act: and
- New property transfer tax incentive to encourage the construction of new purpose-built rentals.
Unfortunately, funding for CleanBC enhancements has been drastically reduced from $24 million to $11 million for the 2023/24 period. While this investment potentially allows the CleanBC Better Homes Program to continue, it is inadequate to enable low-carbon market transformation in new residential construction.
CMHC data shows over 500,000 new homes need to be built to restore affordability in BC. Increasing housing supply and streamlining its delivery remains a priority for CHBA BC and the association will work with the government on creating more housing choices across the province.
With demand for housing of all types at an all-time high, interest rates seeming to have plateaued and the expectation of stability with inflation, CHBA BC is pleased to see that no new tax increases on housing are included in the 2023 BC Budget.
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Province Introduces Legislation to Streamline Delivery of Homes, Services, Infrastructure
BC Government
From Nov. 9: This week, the BC government announced legislation that would make changes to development costs charges and levies as well as a new development finance tool called the Amenity Cost Charge (ACC).
The provincial government says the new legislation will reduce construction delays and streamline processes to fund key services, infrastructure and amenities for growing communities.
CHBA BC has continually advocated for growth-related costs to be predictable, transparent, and fair while maintaining affordability and accountability to future housing supply needs. We will continue to monitor the effect of the legislation and associated regulations on housing.
You can read the full announcement here.
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Workforce Development Program Provides the Tools to Inspire Next Generation of Carpenters & Homebuilders
CHBA BC
From Oct. 5: Yesterday, CHBA BC CEO, Neil Moody and CHBA Vancouver Island Executive Officer, Kerriann Coady headed to Kwalikum Secondary School in Qualicum Beach to make a special presentation aimed at inspiring the next generation of skilled trades.
The school had an existing joinery program but wanted to expand it to include carpentry and needed some additional tools. Due to budget restrictions, the expansion looked like it couldn't happen.
That's when CHBA BC's Workforce Development Program stepped in. CHBA BC, with support from CHBA VI member, Slegg Building Materials, provided almost $3,000 in carpentry tools to set the program in the right direction.
Slegg is a strong member of CHBA VI and is always willing to help encourage students to pursue a career in the skilled trades. It was a natural fit for them to come on board and help provide much-needed tools to this expanding program.
The students were all very excited to receive the tools and are looking forward to being able to use them!
While CHBA BC's Workforce Development Program is still in its early stages of development, we're always on the lookout for unique partnerships like this which are intended to encourage young people to pursue the rewarding careers that exist in the skilled trades.
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Artificial Intelligence and Mandated Targets: Strategies Behind B.C.'s housing push
CTV News
 From June 1: Since the Province announced its Homes for People plan earlier this year, B.C.'s Housing Minister, Ravi Kahlon has been vocal in explaining the government's intention to use its legislative authority over municipalities to streamline the approval process, modify zoning requirements, set housing targets and speed up the development of much-need housing.
As Minister Kahlon explained in an interview with CTV News, the provincial government is also working to digitize the BC Building Code over the next year, with the goal that every housing application going to any city hall in British Columbia will go through the same electronic approval process, with initial approvals green-lit by artificial intelligence software. Read More
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B.C. Building Code Changes to Impact Seismic Design, Increase Costs
Journal of Commerce
From Nov. 9: Structural engineers are warning anticipated changes to the B.C. Building Code (BCBC) are expected to affect the seismic design of new and retrofitted structures and likely escalate costs for developers, particularly for projects on Vancouver Island.
Engineering firm, RJC Engineers in Victoria says the seismic component of the anticipated code changes will add five to 10 per cent to total project hard costs on an average residential project. Read More
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Builders And Developers Not a 'Piggy Bank': Central Okanagan Industry Group
Lake Country Calendar
From June 29: A construction industry organization is calling on Central Okanagan municipalities for more cooperation to build housing in the region.
The Central Okanagan has the fourth largest residential construction economy in B.C., according to data published by the Canadian Home Builders Association (CHBA). Read More
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CHBA BC Receives Funding to Promote the Skilled Trades Careers
CHBA BC
From July 6: The BC government announced a $5 million investment today to help more people access new and enhanced resources to support entering the trades and completing their apprenticeships.
CHBA BC is a proud partner in advancing the skilled trades as a career of choice and has received $1 million of this funding which will enable us to create and execute a range of programs and initiatives throughout British Columbia, with the primary aim of providing supportive training, highlighting and advancing well-paid career opportunities in the skilled trades.
CHBA CEO Neil Moody took part in the announcement and said, "The skilled trades provide a fantastic opportunity to embark on a rewarding and lucrative career in residential construction. The industry is becoming more diverse every year, and the doors are open to everyone of all ages and backgrounds. Many of our 2,300 members started in the trades and have gone on to start their own businesses building homes and communities in all regions of the province."
The provincial investment will also help remove barriers to entering the trades or completing apprenticeships for women, Indigenous people, and other underrepresented groups. Learn More
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National Benchmarking Study Shows the Challenge of Housing Affordability
CHBA National
 From Jan. 12: Yesterday, CHBA National released its National Benchmarking Study which is intended to help establish standards that municipalities can and should aim to meet, and that industry and the public can and should call for, with supporting data and best practices.
It compared approaches 21 Canadian municipalities have in three key areas that affect the development of new home construction: 1) municipal planning approval processes; 2) municipal charges imposed on new development; and 3) municipal approval timelines.
Within Metro Vancouver, the study included the municipalities of Vancouver, Burnaby and Surrey. The three cities all ranked in the bottom 10 of the overall analysis (Vancouver – 12th, Surrey – 13th and Burnaby – 17th). Here are links to a summary of the key findings for each municipality: Vancouver, Surrey & Burnaby.
The findings echo the results of CHBA BC's Municipal Benchmarking Study released in October 2022 which looked at 13 B.C. cities in detail. This study revealed an average 13 to 14-month wait time for municipal permits across BC and illustrated the enormous economic cost of past and future housing shortfalls. Read More
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Weekly Update
Canadian Home Builders' Association of British Columbia
400-6400 Roberts Street | Burnaby, B.C., V5G 4C9
604-432-7112 | Contact Us | Privacy Policy
chbabc.org
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