Government Relations Update #385 |
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Diana Dilworth, Director of Government Relations
Jay Chadha, Government Relations Research Associate
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COVID-19
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As a mandatory mask mandate for public places was recently implemented, the Condominium Home Owners Association of BC (CHOA) is urging stratas to stay on top of the situation by enforcing strict rules. If required, stratas can create bylaws and set up a system for issuing fines for those disregarding the rules as per CHOA Executive Director Tony Gioventu.
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METRO WEST
For Your Information
- At their Standing Committee on City Finance meeting this week, Vancouver Council approved a motion put forward by Mayor Stewart to increase the empty homes tax to 3%. The new rate is double the initially expected 1.5%.
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Vancouver's 2021 Capital and Operating Budget is up for discussion at their Special Council meeting of 1 December.
- SFU Public Square in partnership with the City of Vancouver is hosting a free webinar on 10 December on 'Planning for the Post-Pandemic City'. Gil Kelley, GM of Planning will be one of the speakers as the webinar takes a look at the pandemic's impact on the Vancouver Plan.
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Vancouver's Amendment to the Rental Housing Stock Official Development Plan is on the agenda for the city's Public Hearing of 2 December.
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NORTHEAST SECTOR
For Your Information
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Maple Ridge's Bylaw amendment regarding Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets is up for first reading at their Committee of the Whole meeting of 1 December (pg. 90).
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SOUTH OF FRASER
For Your Information
- The City of Surrey is preparing a Housing Needs Report and as such is inviting residents to participate in this survey to better understand their housing experiences. See the city's dedicated web page for additional information.
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NORTH SHORE
For Your Information
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REGIONAL, PROVINCIAL, NATIONAL
For Your Information
- The Provincial Government has opened the first phase of public consultation on the station designs and layouts of the Millennium Line Broadway Extension. You can provide your feedback through this survey, open till December 9. For more information, see the Broadway Subway Project web page.
- The Land Owner Transparency Act is set to come into effect on November 30, 2020, and as such the Land Title and Survey Authority of BC has developed this tool to help you determine if a transparency declaration and/or report is required.
- The CleanBC Building Innovation Fund (CBBIF) provides funding for projects that accelerate the availability and affordability of low-carbon building solutions, including advanced building components and designs, new construction methods, low-carbon HVAC systems, and digital technology solutions. Through this fund, the Province has allocated $8 Million for the 2020/21 fiscal year. Applications are open till January 10, 2021, but if you apply before December 15, 2020 you will have the opportunity to receive feedback and revise the application prior to the final deadline.
- This recently released Bank of Canada report takes a look at the what the payment deferral data tells us about the financial health of households and the related risks to financial stability.
- Strong homebuilding activity in North America will mean tight wood supply and demand at least for the near future as per Ray Ferris, CEO of West Fraser Timber Co., one of the world's largest lumber producers. On that note, the U.S did recently lower the softwood duties for most Canadian softwood producers.
- Here's an interesting report from the Canadian Centre for Economic Analysis (CANCEA) titled 'Impacts of Streamlining Construction Approval Processes in Ontario'. The report forecasts that if the process were sped up by just six months, the GTA alone could see an additional 60,100 jobs, 43,700 more housing units, and $6.7 billion in added annual GDP over the next five years. While the volume in Metro Vancouver may be lower, it's a fair estimate to say that the results would be similar here.
- From Livabl - 2020 a “banner year” for Canadian housing market despite pandemic: BMO.
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RENOVATIONS
For Your Information
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HOUSING AFFORDABILITY
For Your Information
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EVERYTHING ELSE
For Your Information
- Here's Avison Young's recently released 10 Trends for 2021 report. The report provides thoughts on ten issues that have the potential to influence the world and the role of real estate within it.
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HAVAN, through its Government Relations department, works with Metro Vancouver local governments on important public policy issues, including pending and existing regulations which impact the home building industry. Non-partisan policy analysis and strategic consultation is provided in a collaborative approach in order to efficiently deliver to market the required supply of homes to support Metro Vancouver's 21 municipalities. Working with HAVAN members and industry stakeholders, to build and maintain positive relations with municipal, regional and provincial governments, HAVAN is the respected voice of Metro Vancouver's residential construction industry. |
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