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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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CHBA's 2023 Federal Budget Analysis
CHBA
From March 30: The Federal Budget was released this week and CHBA staff were among the first to review the documents and engage with Department of Finance officials on the budget and other recently announced developments that relate to residential construction.
While the federal government reiterated its commitment to increasing housing supply, improving housing affordability, and increasing the industry's labour force, Budget 2023 included little in the way of new actions.
CHBA has been advocating for more support for first-time buyers and Budget 2023 included the launch of the New Tax-Free First Home Savings Account (FHSA), which the government first committed to in last year's budget.
You can read more of CHBA's analysis of the 2023 Budget here.
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Provincial Government Announces New Standardized Designs
BC Government
From Nov. 23: Last week, the BC government released the details of a new standardized design program for small-scale, multi-unit homes, such as townhomes, triplexes and laneway homes.
The designs are meant to be adopted by local governments and offered to builders and homeowners at a significantly below-market cost to expedite permitting and development. The Province says standardized designs are intended to streamline the permitting process to make it easier for local governments to give building permit approvals quickly and save builders and homeowners the costs of design services.
The government is now seeking a consultant team to provide advice on the development of the designs. You can read the full announcement here.
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2022 Georgie Awards Gala Recognized with Major Event Award
CHBA BC
From Feb. 9: Wow! Look at some of the company we keep...HBO, Netflix, Cisco!
CHBA BC is excited to announce that our Georgie Awards have been recognized, along with these big names, as a Biz Bash Event Experience Awards Winner. The 2022 Georgie Awards gala, which featured a Monopoly theme took home the win in the Best Non-Profit Event Concept — Budget Under $250,000 category.
Our team works very hard each year to ensure the Georgie Awards are a unique and memorable experience for attendees and it is gratifying to be recognized!
Check out all the winners here.
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Red Tape Delays: How an Invisible Woodpecker is Delaying a Much-Needed School in Coquitlam
Business in Vancouver
From Aug. 17: Just when you think you've heard of every possible red tape delay to building housing and critical infrastructure in British Columbia, a new, ever-more-absurd government regulation comes along.
Construction on a badly-needed, long-promised, $135 million middle and high school on Coquitlam's Burke Mountain has been held up by an empty hole in a single tree.
The delay is caused by an overreaching policy brought in by the federal government — the result of regulations that stakeholders said would be a problem from the moment it was first proposed.
Click here to read the story of how an empty hole could delay construction for up to three years.
CHBA BC has previously raised this regulation as a barrier to supply that is unnecessarily slowing the development of new projects in the province. While well-meaning, it is misdirected policy like this that needs to change to ensure much-needed new homes can get built.
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Georgies Georgie Awards® are Nominated Major Event Experience Award
CHBA BC
 From Jan. 26: There was some other great news for the Georgie Awards® this week as the event has been named a finalist in the 10th Annual BizBash Event Experience Awards in the Best Non-Profit event concept — Budget under $250,000 category!
The awards highlight the best in live, destination, hybrid, and virtual events. All the finalists are listed here.
The attendees of last year's Monopoly-themed event, the first in-person Georgie Awards® since 2019, can attest to what an amazing night it was! This nomination is a well-deserved recognition of all the planning and hard work that go into the Georgie Awards every year.
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Housing Targets Coming to 10 Municipalities This Summer
BC Government
 From June 1: Yesterday, the BC government announced the first round of municipalities that have been selected to fulfill provincially-set housing targets, according to the parameters set out in the Housing Supply Act (Bill 43).
The selected municipalities are:
- City of Abbotsford
- City of Delta
- City of Kamloops
- City of Port Moody
- City of Vancouver
- City of Victoria
- District Municipality of West Vancouver
- District of North Vancouver
- District of Oak Bay
- District of Saanich
This first group of communities was identified as having the greatest need for new housing and the highest anticipated growth. To do this, the Province used a data-based process and empirical index that assessed the urgency of local housing needs, availability of the right housing supply, and housing affordability through ten different measures.
The final housing targets have not yet been set. Consultation on this has started between the provincial government and the selected municipalities. The housing targets for each will be announced over the summer, and CHBA BC will provide further details when information is released.
As set out in the Housing Supply Act, to achieve their set housing targets, municipalities must tackle local obstacles that hinder construction, facilitating faster housing development. This may involve updating zoning bylaws and simplifying local development approval procedures. Regular reporting is also required, and the Act enables the BC government to impose its own compliance options should municipalities struggle to create the conditions that are necessary to ensure housing gets built.
A second round of eight to ten municipalities will be selected and notified in late 2023. Read More
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Federal Government to Remove GST on New Rental Housing Builds
Globe & Mail
From Sept. 14: The federal government will announce the removal of the GST on the construction of new rental apartment buildings today.
This has been a key CHBA ask, as it would help to lower the cost of labour and materials for homebuilders, improving affordability in communities across the country.
The government originally promised to remove the federal tax on rental construction during the 2015 election campaign.
Read more about today's announcement here.
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2023 Georgie Awards® will "Follow The Yellow Brick Road" as Finalists are announced
CHBA BC
 From Jan. 26: The list of finalists for the 2023 Georgie Awards® was announced today as the association looks forward to celebrating the best in BC residential construction on May 20th at the Hyatt Regency in Vancouver.
Now in its 31st year, the highlight of the Georgie Awards® is the unique theme that provides the setting of the event and is eagerly anticipated by gala attendees. This year's edition is sure to enchant as guests are transported down the yellow brick road to a magical world ruled by a wizard.
The 2023 Georgie Awards will feature nearly 50 award categories grouped into six focus areas: Residential Construction — New; Residential Construction — Renovation; Interior Design, Merchandising and Landscaping; Sales and Marketing; Special Achievement Awards; Grand Georgie Awards®.
The Georgie Awards® are one of the year's "must attend" events for the residential building industry and the gala is a sellout year after year. A limited number of tickets for the Georgie Awards® Gala have just been released and are expected to go fast. Purchase your gala tickets now to avoid disappointment. Tickets for the 2023 gala at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Vancouver on Saturday, May 20, 2023, are available for purchase here.
The Georgie Awards® would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors, including Platinum sponsors, Telus and BC Housing. A full list of sponsors is available here. Read More
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2023 Georgie Awards® Winners Find Gold at the End of the "Yellow Brick Road"
CHBA BC
 From May 25: On Saturday, May 20th, B.C.'s top home builders and renovators gathered at the Hyatt Hotel in Vancouver to celebrate the year's best residential construction projects at the Canadian Home Builders' Association of BC's (CHBA BC) Georgie Awards®. Now in its 31st year, the awards are B.C.'s most prestigious homebuilding, renovation, and housing awards.
The highlight of the Georgie Awards every year is the unique theme that provides the setting of the event and is eagerly anticipated by gala attendees. This year guests were treated to a trip to the "Emerald City" as the gala captivated with its magical theme inspired by the timeless classic, "The Wizard of Oz" with emcees Todd Talbot of HGTV's Love it or List it and Erin Cebula of Entertainment Tonight Canada.
"The Georgie Awards are a testament to the excellence, professionalism and innovation that defines the residential construction industry in British Columbia. They are an opportunity to celebrate the incredible work being done by builders, renovators, designers, and marketers, and to recognize their contributions to the communities they serve," said Neil Moody, CEO of the Canadian Home Builders' Association of British Columbia. "With the Wizard of Oz theme adding an extra layer of excitement, this year's awards were filled with energy and excitement in anticipation of the announcement of winners."
The Georgie Awards® would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors, including Platinum sponsors, BC Housing and Telus. A full list of sponsors is available here.
Photos from the Georgie Awards Gala are available for download here. Please credit Martin Knowles Photo/Video for using any of the images.
For a gallery of all the winners and finalists, please click here.
Did you visit our Selfie Ring at the Georgie Awards? Check out the pictures here.
Click below to read the news release with the full list of all the 2023 Georgie Awards® winners. Read More
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Weekly Update
Canadian Home Builders' Association of British Columbia
400-6400 Roberts Street | Burnaby, B.C., V5G 4C9
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