Last Monday November 26th, 2019, HAVAN, CHBA-BC and seven other local HBA's from across the province participated in the second annual Day at the Legislature, meeting with MLA's to discuss issues effecting the residential building industry.  

HBA representatives spent the full day on Sunday preparing on how best to present our messaging and frame our "asks". This included fact sheets highlighting the residential construction sector creating over 207,000 jobs, $12.6 billion in wages, and $28.3 billion in investment value for the provincial economy annually, supplemented by the comparative analysis from the HAVAN GR team on housing starts shortfalls across the lower mainland. 

 

Thirty plus HBA representatives met with over 50 MLAs, followed by an evening reception. Meetings included direct conversations with Premier John Horgan, Minister of Finance Carol James, Attorney General David Eby, Minister for Housing and Municipal Affairs Selina Robinson, along with Ministers Ralston, Donaldson, Bains, Fleming, Marks, and Opposition Leader Andrew Wilkinson.

 

The specific issues brought to the attention of the Premier, Cabinet Ministers, and MLAs focused on the need to follow up on the 85+ issues identified in the recently released Development Approvals Process Review ( DAPR) that contribute to the extended time frames associated with delivering housing in this province, and the need to defer moving ahead with proposed Prompt Payment Legislation pending more extensive review and observation of such legislation in other jurisdictions.

HAVAN is very much in support of the substance of DAPR, and commend Minister Selina Robinson and the broad cross section of industry stake holders from across the province including builders, municipal officials, planners, realtors, and provincial ministries who identified issues that are slowing down the residential builders from delivering housing in a timely manner and the directly adverse effect on supply and affordability. 

These delays affect all sectors of the housing continuum including rental, social, and market housing. Our direct "ask" was to seek support from all MLAs and Minister Robinson to: 

• maintain the momentum and dialogue generated by this report
• focus on acting on the issues identified to streamline
• add certainty to the Approval Process. 

There are many aspects of the report that could lead to watershed changes in the approvals mechanisms but may be controversial such as the timing and nature of public input, which is long overdue, but will require significant municipal involvement and cooperation. 

At the same time there are numerous areas that could be acted on immediately and are wholly in the purview of the Provincial Government. These are matters that are referred to the province by the municipalities as part of the approvals review including but not limited to the Water Act, Ministry of Transport, environment, and schools. Seeking the opportunity to expedite these reviews for aspects under provincial jurisdiction can be resourced and expedited by the province and represent an important first step in moving the DAPR forward.

We strongly urged legislators to defer any action on the Prompt Payment legislation, tabled in a private members Bill by Liberal MLA Mary Polack,  until the opportunity to hear from more sectors of the construction industry is realized, and to observe the effect of such legislation in Ontario where it was enacted at the end of October. 

While HAVAN, CHBA-BC, and the other locals are not opposed to the notion of timely payment for goods and services provided to construction projects by trades and or suppliers, it is the nature and structure of the proposed legislation we are opposed to. 

It is our position that if this Prompt Payment legislation, which was originally directed at large infrastructure and civil projects, is applied to all sectors, it will add unacceptable administrative efforts and costs for our members. It would be a significant burden for those smaller businesses that do not have the resources to deal with the very demanding timelines embodied in the proposed legislation. Additionally, the Builders Lien Act is currently under review and Prompt Payment should not by layered on top of the already complicated Lien Act prior to this review and or amendment being completed.

 

Overall, our delegations were warmly received, and all MLAs conveyed their concerns and desires to affect positive changes that could lead to mitigating the current housing crisis. We wish to thank the Premier, and all of the MLAs for taking the time to meet with us to hear our concerns, and for attending our reception allowing for more informal discussions and the opportunity for Minister Robinson and Opposition Leader Andrew Wilkinson to address all attendees, and convey their support in an effort to deal with affordability and housing opportunities for all BC residents.