BC REALTORS® Advocate for More Thoughtful Housing Policymaking Process

On May 7-9, 2023, delegates from all eight real estate boards gathered in Victoria to meet with their constituent Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) during BCREA’s annual Government Liaison (GL) Days. During this event, BC’s organized real estate sector collectively advocated for a more thoughtful housing policymaking process and increased missing middle housing options for British Columbians.

To kick off this year’s GL Days, BCREA hosted a Delegate Reception at the Royal BC Museum, where we presented three inaugural BCREA Advocacy Awards. We were pleased to award Government Relations (GR) Committee Chair Ray Harris of the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver with the “GR REALTOR^® Volunteer” award for his tireless provincial advocacy efforts. Executive Officer Alex Goseltine of the BC Northern Real Estate Board was presented with the well-deserved “Real Estate Board GR Staff” award, and the illustrious Vancouver Island Real Estate Board received the “Real Estate Board GR Committee” award.

In addition to meetings with their MLAs, GL Days delegates had the opportunity to listen to several notable political speakers hosted by BCREA. Featured speakers were the federal Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion Ahmed Hussen, the federal Shadow Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion Scott Aitchison, the provincial Minister of Housing Ravi Kahlon, and MLA Peter Milobar representing the provincial opposition party.

The esteemed speaker lineup also included prominent political correspondent Rob Shaw of CHEK News, BCREA Chief Economist Brendon Ogmundson, and the Canadian Real Estate Association’s Government Relations Manager Elvanee Veeramalay.

During the evening MLA Reception, GL Days delegates mingled with MLAs from across the province. Here, delegates strengthened previous relationships with their elected officials and were introduced to new provincial politicians as well, bringing an invaluable networking experience to GL Days.

The two recommendations REALTORS^® brought to their MLAs were the creation of a permanent provincial housing roundtable to inform housing policy and the creation of more missing middle housing options for British Columbians. While these recommendations were well received, we will continue our advocacy for these policy initiatives to help improve housing attainability and create a more effective housing policymaking process in BC.

Going into GL Days, nine additional stakeholders had officially endorsed the housing roundtable recommendation. BCREA actively continues to increase the number of stakeholder endorsements of this recommendation, and we are committed to building upon the productive advocacy conducted during this year’s GL Days.

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