Government Relations Update #349
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Mark Sakai, Director of Government Relations &
Jay Chadha, Government Relations Research Associate
Twitter: @Mark_HAVAN
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I have received several phone calls and emails from members asking for updates on municipalities’ policies on building permit applications, processing and inspections. Given that situations change on a daily (or hourly) basis, it would be almost impossible to keep up with the status of all of Metro Vancouver’s building departments on a real-time basis. Many municipalities have closed their offices, or have restricted access to appointments only. The best advice to our members would be to regularly check the websites of the municipalities where you are working. In some cases, staff will be sending out email bulletins to contractors on their contact lists.
We’ve also compiled the COVID-19 Service Notice pages from as many municipalities as possible, and linked them at the beginning of each of the four Metro Vancouver Zones below.
Please stay safe, maintain a 2m social distance, wash your hands regularly, avoid touching your face, and IF YOU FEEL SICK, STAY HOME. The single best piece of advice I’ve heard is this: “Don’t behave as if you’re trying to avoid contracting COVID-19 – behave as if you’ve already got it, and you need to avoid transmitting it to others.”
As the COVID-19 event continues to unfold, we have set up a
dedicated web page, , to ensure you have quick access to the information necessary, to help you and your businesses navigate this tumultuous time.
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METRO WEST
For Your Information
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NORTHEAST SECTOR
For Your Information
- Here are the COVID-19 information web pages for Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody.
- Maple Ridge has also issued this Bulletin describing their Work Continuity during the COVID-19 crisis.
- Port Moody has partnered with StepWin to offer Part 9 builders access to energy modelling software that can help you meet local BC Energy Step Code requirements. The city is currently offering builders free access to the software for a limited time. For questions about StepWin you can contact the software’s creator Arman at [email protected].
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SOUTH OF FRASER
For Your Information
- Here are the COVID-19 information web pages for Langley Township, Surrey, Delta, Langley City and White Rock.
- Langley Township also sent out this email regarding Developer Held Public Information Meetings.
- On the agenda for Langley Township’s Regular Afternoon Council meeting of 23 March are reports on their Affordable Housing Reserve Fund (Item F.1) and Biodiversity Strategy (Item F.2).
- A report on the ‘Willowbrook Land Value Capture System’ is on the agenda for Langley Township’s Public Hearing on 23 March (Item D.2).
- Here is the presentation video and the presentation slides from Langley Township’s ‘Building Envelope Energy Efficiency: How to Avoid Surprises’ Builder Forum Series event.
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NORTH SHORE
For Your Information
- Here are the COVID-19 information web pages for North Vancouver District, North Vancouver City and West Vancouver.
- North Vancouver District’s ‘Targeted Official Community Plan Review Workshop Series’ was set to continue at their Council Workshop on 24 March. The workshop has since been cancelled but you can see the corresponding presentations, reports etc. here (pg. 7 onwards).
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REGIONAL, PROVINCIAL, NATIONAL
For Your Information
- The following reports are on the agenda for MVRD’s Regular Board Meeting of 27 March: Metro 2040 Urban Centre and FTDA Policy Review – Final Recommendations (pg. 14); Addressing the Greenhouse Gas Intensity of Buildings in the BC Building Code (pg. 71); MVRD Residential Indoor Wood Burning Emission Regulation Bylaw (pg. 79).
- We received an email from CHBA BC CEO Neil Moody today (March 20th) stating that despite potential rumors floating around, WorkSafe BC is currently NOT looking at shutting down construction sites in BC.
- BCREA’s latest Market Intelligence report looks at the potential impact of COVID-19 on BC’s housing market.
- The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions announced the indefinite suspension of the mortgage stress test changes which were supposed to come into force on April 6.
- Canada’s ’big six’ banks have announced that they will “provide financial relief to Canadians impacted by the economic consequences of COVID-19”. Currently, this would work on a case to case basis for both personal and small business banking.
- Here’s a piece from The Globe and Mail on Toronto’s shift towards a more holistic approach to development.
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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
- As seen on Price Tags, perhaps the ultimate expression of the selfishness of NIMBYism.
- We’ve seen it on TransLink, and here’s a story from CityLab on the impact of COVID-19 on urban transit.
- I’m guessing that we’ll all be doing a lot of videoconferencing in the next few weeks, so here’s a good article to help avoid the typical pitfalls of this mode of communication.
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HAVAN, through its Director of Government Relations, 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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