Key Issue: Local & Regional Government

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 […]

Canada as a whole, and BC in specific, continues to lag the rest of the developed world in terms of gender diversity in our corporate boardrooms.[1] In BC, while women now make up 49% of public boards, only 1 in 5 members of corporate boards are women.[2]  The most recent review by the Canadian Securities […]

BC’s low-carbon economy is founded on the generation of clean, renewable electricity to power our transportation, homes, and industry. Policy to achieve the province’s climate goals and grow our low-carbon business advantage, however, currently stops at the point of appreciating our 97% clean electricity advantage, without recognizing how the private sector’s considerable investment in BC’s […]

Rural and remote communities in British Columbia are impacted by a lack of connectivity both from a broadband and a cellular perspective.  The COVID-19 pandemic exposed this significant crack in our economic foundation. At the height of the crisis, many businesses scrambled to move their operations online to stay open. Enabling online business – whether […]

In the Okanagan and Vancouver Island, there is an urban/rural conflict centered around ALR lands. There is less of a problem in the lower mainland, where larger farming operations continue to consolidate, primarily outside urban limits. In Kelowna, for example, 40% of the land footprint within city limits is designated ALR. While this makes for […]

Farming is an expensive career path. Youth are finding it more and more difficult in accessing funds to pursue farming even though their families have been farming for generations. Fewer farmers lead to food insecurity and raises the price of food with broader economic implications. Many regions across BC are facing land shortages. This issue […]

It is commonplace that where the Province undertakes land use planning reviews, initiatives or exercises (including, but not limited to wildlife restoration plans, park management plans, and the sale or granted tenure of Crown land) local governments are not advised of work underway or provided opportunity for input until well into the process. Background There […]

Resolution for Permanent Rural Eligibility Leading to Full Rural Designation for The Regional Electoral Districts of Salt Spring Island, Southern Gulf Islands, and Juan de Fuca and Any Entity in the Islands Trust Area: There are two levels of government involved in the delivery of rural programs where Salt Spring Island, the Southern Gulf Islands […]

Vancouver, March 4, 2020 – A growing chorus of business, Indigenous and community leaders are calling for a commitment to certainty and future prosperity following weeks of economic disruption. Rail blockades and challenges with respect to numerous significant infrastructure projects representing billions of dollars of investment are symptoms of very serious problems requiring urgent action. Blockades […]

The lack of diverse and affordable housing options in parts of British Columbia is having a significant impact on employers and employees. To ensure future economic sustainability, municipalities must “increase the supply and diversity of the housing stock through infill developments, more compact housing forms and increased density” without delay. Background The cost of housing […]