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NDP Names New Cabinet in Slim Majority B.C. Government
CHBA BC
On Monday, Premier Eby appointed the B.C. government's new Cabinet Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries. Mandate letters outlining ministry priorities will follow in January, giving ministers time over the holidays to familiarize themselves with their portfolios. This delay is intended to allow the NDP more time to negotiate a power-sharing deal with the Greens, which will give them more stability given their narrow one-seat majority. This deal could have significant implications for the housing and construction industry, particularly in areas such as cost of living, housing affordability, healthcare, and economic growth. In the interim, the Premier will issue "appointment letters" highlighting these key priorities.
CHBA BC will actively engage with newly appointed ministers and their teams to advance our key policy priorities: focusing on streamlining approvals, reducing the cost of building homes, growing skilled trades, and enabling low carbon solutions for new homes.
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Home Labelling: Informing Canadians on Home Energy Performance
NRCAN
In Budget 2024, the Federal Government allocated "...$30 million over 5 years to develop a National Approach to Home Labelling (NAHL)." This is intended "...to create a consistent approach that will support labelling for all homes across Canada with energy performance ratings, energy efficiency recommendations and climate resilience information that will inform Canadians."
Natural Resources Canada (NRCAN) has released a Home Labelling: Informing Canadians on Home Energy Performance Discussion Paper. In the discussion paper, NRCAN found that it would be challenging to utilize the EnerGuide Rating System (ERS) for homes for widespread home labelling because "...it is seen as too expensive, time-consuming and difficult to scale." The Federal Government wants to develop a Simplified Energy Assessment that would "...bridge the gap between virtual assessments and the existing ERS."
Feedback on the Home Labelling Discussion Paper can be sent to [email protected] by December 31st. CHBA BC members and energy advisors are encouraged to participate in the Canadian Association of Consulting Energy Advisors (CACEA) survey here.
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Clarifying Note on Switchover Temperatures for New Home Program
FortisBC
FortisBC has issued a clarifying note on their New Home Program requirements. There is a maximum switchover temperature for dual fuel space heating systems, which means installed heat pumps can have a lower switchover temperature to optimize heat pump performance (and remain eligible for FortisBC rebates).
In areas where dual-fuel space heating systems are required, the program specifies the switchover temperature must be 5°C or below for Climate Zone 4, and 2°C or below for Climate Zones 5 to 7B. The maximum switchover set points required for the rebate ensure both components of the dual fuel system provide space heating and energy savings. The switchover temperature can be lowered but shouldn't be increased as it will affect the efficiency of the system.
Click here for details of FortisBC's New Home Program.
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Help Us Shape the CHBA BC Newsletter!
CHBA BC
Please complete our quick newsletter survey to help us better understand your preferences, from how often you'd like to receive updates to the topics you find most valuable.
To thank you for your feedback, we'll enter you in a draw for one of three $50 Starbucks cards. The winners will be notified in early December.
Click here to take the survey.
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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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