Building & Industry News
“Missing Middle” Housing Missing in Many Municipalities
New housing is almost keeping pace with last year. According to CMHC, there were 1,480 new homes from January to May vs 1,525 units in 2021. We are experiencing a 3% decline so far, but last year was also a record. May 2022 has posted 330 starts vs 193 in May 2021, a...
Ontario’s Responsible Approach to Energy Efficiency
Ontario is taking a more responsible approach to energy efficiency and consumer protection in their Building Code, than the approach taken by the BC government. For example, BC’s Step Code enables municipalities to fast-track energy efficiency undermining health and...
Housing Minister Says Migration Chains Key to Affordability
Last week, Housing Minister Eby expressed his dismay over Victoria council’s lack of approval for a new rezoning plan to address “missing middle” housing. Missing middle is a term used to describe small multi-family housing such as townhomes, duplexes, triplexes often...
Incentivize Deconstruction, Not More Housing Costs
A Demolition and Deconstruction bylaw is going before Victoria council adding more time and costs to new housing during a housing affordability crisis. The bylaw was created to reduce lumber in landfills yet applies only in cases where the new construction will be...
Reno Rebate/Tax Credit Needed for Seismic Safety, Asbestos
There are hundreds of tremors and small earthquakes annually in our region that usually go unnoticed. They are constant reminders we live in a subduction zone where large earthquakes can happen any time. Experts say in the next 50 years, there is a 30% chance of a...
Change BC Building Code Governance
The BC Building Code requires a new governance and enforcement structure that is more focused on efficiency and clarity than bureaucratic process. Presently, 162 BC municipalities have too much latitude and freedom without consequences to interpret the code, causing...
Greater Victoria Housing Starts Decline 16% Year-to-Date
CMHC reports housing starts in Greater Victoria declined 16% (January to March) to 1,150 in 2022 from 1,332 in 2021. There were 330 starts in April this year vs 358 in April 2021, a decline of 8%. Most housing is constructed in Langford and Victoria. Municipalities...
Protect Health and Safety in BC Building Code
Health and safety are the foundation of building codes. Consumer protection must always be the first consideration when contemplating changes to the code. Therefore, VRBA does extensive research before supporting proposed building code changes such as BC’s Step Code....
Sooke Draft OCP Boosts Housing Costs, Undermines Health & Safety
UPDATE: Re: OCP statement - "All buildings built in 2023 onward will use only low-carbon electrical energy systems." This statement misinforms the public. The BC govt reports municipalities do not have the authority to mandate energy sources in the OCP or in the...
Balanced Approach Needed for Energy, Housing Affordability
In 2020, the Capital Regional District (CRD) announced an agreement where FortisBC would purchase Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) generated from Hartland Landfill for its natural gas distribution system. A joint CRD/FortisBC news release says, “The project is expected to...