Thursday, May 18, 2023

At a glance (2 minute read)

  • The Lower Mainland Local Government Association (LMLGA) conference brought together local government elected officials to address concerns in Lower Mainland communities.
  • Our government relations representatives discussed housing and real estate issues with elected officials.
  • Several resolutions related to housing and real estate were endorsed, including expanding property transfer tax exemptions, creating incentives for climate-resilient retrofits, and advocating for pet-friendly housing.

Each year, the Lower Mainland Local Government Association (LMLGA) conference brings together approximately 200 local government elected officials from Pemberton to White Rock and from Bowen Island to Hope, to advocate for solutions to important concerns facing Lower Mainland communities.

This year, two members of your Board’s government relations committee attended the conference held May 3-5, to listen to keynote speakers and panels, and watch local government elected officials debate policy resolutions.

Our government relations representatives took the opportunity to talk to elected representatives about issues of concern to home buyers, home owners, and REALTORS®.

Local elected officials debated resolutions at the conference. Endorsed resolutions, with detailed backgrounders, will be considered at the Union of BC Municipalities provincial conference in September 2023.

If successful at that conference, these resolutions are forwarded to the appropriate provincial ministry.

Resolutions related to real estate

Here’s a summary of motions related to housing and real estate for 2023. Not all resolutions passed, and some resolutions were altered and amended. 

  • R1 Expanding Property Transfer Tax Exemptions. Endorsed
  • R2 Municipal Authority for Empty Homes Tax. Endorsed
  • R3 Incentives for heat Pumps and Other Climate Resilient Retrofits in Multi-Residential Buildings. Endorsed
  • R8 Creation of Independent Municipal Ethics Commissioner. Endorsed
  • R9 Equitable Communities. Endorsed
  • R14 Rights of Tenants Facing Displacement Through Redevelopment. Endorsed
  • R15 Supporting Non-Profit Ownership of Non-Market Housing in Air Space Parcels. Endorsed
  • R16 Vacant Property Tax on Commercial and Industrial Properties. Endorsed
  • R17 Advocacy for Pet Friendly Housing. Endorsed
  • R18 Updating the Strata Property Act to include Allowances for Heat Pumps and Other Mechanical Cooling Systems. Endorsed
  • R19 Requirement for Cooling in Rental Units. Failed
  • R20 Large Infrastructure Project Impacts on Housing Crisis. Endorsed
  • R24 Understanding BC Hydro’s Electrification Capacity. Endorsed
  • R30 Varied Taxation Rate for Residential (Class 1) Properties. Endorsed

Read the resolutions and motions, which begin on page 28. (Opens an 85-page pdf)