CHBA BC Day at the Legislature- Victoria

CHBA BC hosted its 2026 annual Day at the Legislature in Victoria, bringing together 26 CHBA delegates from across British Columbia to meet with MLAs and Ministers to discuss housing supply and the challenges facing the residential construction industry.

Representing the Central Interior were Tom Calne (Past President), Rose Choy (Executive Officer), and Brian Charlton (Cranbrook builder and member of the CHBA National Technical Research Committee).

Throughout the day, the delegation held 23 meetings with 51 MLAs and Ministers from across government and opposition to discuss the current housing market and the policies needed to support housing delivery across the province. 

Key issues raised included:

• The need to reduce barriers and costs that impact housing affordability.
• Streamlining development approvals and permitting timelines.
• Creating greater stability in building requirements, including Step Code and Zero Carbon regulations.
• Expanding in-stream protections for projects already in the approval process.
  

These discussions highlighted the importance of predictable policies and coordinated action between government and industry to support the delivery of much-needed housing across British Columbia.

Tom Calne, CHBA BC Government Relations Chair and Past President of CHBA Central Interior, along with members of the CHBA BC team, met with David Eby to discuss housing challenges facing communities across the province.

The residential construction industry plays a critical role in delivering the homes British Columbians need. Ongoing dialogue between industry and government is essential to ensure policies support housing supply, investment, and a strong construction workforce. 

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Our Executive Officer, Rose Choy, met with Christine Boyle, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs and shared perspectives from the residential construction industry and discuss the realities builders are facing in delivering housing across communities in BC. 

She also had the opportunity to meet with Peter Milobar, Ward Stamer, Tony Luck, and Scott McInnis to share industry perspectives from builders and trades in our region.

Their discussions focused on:
• Reducing the cost to build homes
• A more stable approach to Step Code and Zero Carbon requirements
• Improving development approval timelines

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Rose  met with Emily Cronin, Executive Director, and Kaitlyn Gorman, Senior Advisor, from the Office of the Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills. 

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Tom Calne, CHBA BC Government Relations Chair and Past President of CHBA Central Interior, led a thoughtful conversation with Linda Hepner, Housing Critic, on the realities facing the residential construction industry across British Columbia.

The discussion covered the challenges builders are facing on the ground — from rising costs and regulatory complexity to the need for practical solutions that support housing delivery.

Opportunities like this allow industry and policymakers to have open, constructive conversations about how we can work together to address BC’s housing challenges.

For more info:

Advocacy Booklet