Residential Tenancy Act Reform (2020)
The rules governing residential tenancies has started to strongly become one sided for the tenant and is greatly affecting a landlord’s ability to protect their property. Furthermore, housing is an issue for several cities across British Columbia and the rules, processes and procedures around residential tenancies do not encourage people to be landlords under the […]
Removing Uncertainty From Community Amenity Contributions (2020)
Community amenity contributions (CACs) are becoming a feature of development in many parts of British Columbia. Municipalities negotiate CACs from those seeking a change in zoning, in order to capture some of the boost in land values that results from a change in use or an increase in density. This practice has grown immensely in […]
Reinstatement of the Business Vote in BC (2020)
Until 1993, a corporate vote existed in British Columbia Municipal Elections. In BC, businesses pay a significant portion of municipal property taxes; however, businesses do not have the right to vote in the municipal election process. Businesses have become the silent taxpayers – essentially taxation without representation. The fact that businesses have become the silent […]
Guidelines for Enforcing Residential Rental Tenure Zoning (2020)
In the next 25 years, it is estimated one million new residents will move to Metro Vancouver. More housing choices are required in British Columbia in order to be economically competitive by attracting and keeping skilled workers. Housing choices that work best are those that meet the needs of various income levels and are located […]
Development Permit Timelines (2020)
Over the past several years, the BC Government has come a long way in ensuring that all government regulatory requirements are necessary, easy to understand, and do not impose an unnecessary administrative cost on citizens and businesses. The government’s stated goal is to develop partnerships with local governments, the federal government, and the private and […]
Closing the Gap Between Non-Residential and Residential Property Taxes (2020)
The Chamber has long expressed concern regarding local governments charging non-residential property owners some multiple over residential taxpayers, a practice that is not based on any concrete rationale, e.g. aligned with consumption of municipal tax-supported services. This practice affects businesses’ ability to compete with other jurisdictions and remain viable, impacts that will only worsen as […]
Accelerating Development by Allowing for Optimum Timing of Payment of Development Cost Charges (2020)
In the Local Government Act under section 559 (4), local governments may, by bylaw, impose development cost charges (“DCC”) upon approval of subdivision, or a building permit. Specially the act states: 559 (1) A local government may, by bylaw, for the purpose described in subsection (2) or (3), impose development cost charges on every person […]
Revitalizing the Fraser River – Unlocking Its True Potential (2020)
The Fraser River is one of the most important water systems in British Columbia. It is currently being underutilized due to the lack of development of port cities along the banks of the Fraser River. There are many cities across Canada that have successfully revitalized their waterfront areas along major waterway systems such as Toronto[1] […]
Strata Insurance Premium Crisis (2020)
With insurance rates for condos and townhouses climbing 50 to 300 percent —and in one case nearly 800 percent—condo and townhouse owners in BC are worried they will not be able to continue to own their dwellings. This rate increase could impact up to 10,000 associations in the province, according to the Condominium Homeowners Association […]
Increasing Accountability, Transparency and Local Control of the Spec Tax (2020)
In 2018, the BC Budget introduced the speculation tax as one of several measures aimed at addressing the housing affordability crisis in BC. Two years later the tax[1] has been fully introduced but is only applicable to a select number of communities, marking a departure from previous tax policies which traditionally treated all British Columbians […]