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The Government of British Columbia had top figures in the most powerful lobbying organization for development and real estate interests in the province, sign Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) as they advised the Province on adopting mandatory/enforceable housing targets for municipalities and for other upcoming housing legislation to be able to override local government autonomy.

Some of the documents appear to indicate that 2 First Nations may also have signed Non-Disclosure Agreements with the Province, as it seems to have been a prerequisite for involvement in these consultations regarding proposed housing legislation which also dealt with proposed strata legislation.

While the documents indicate that there were numerous figures of the UDI elite offering advice on proposed housing target legislation specifically, only one First Nation appears to have been doing so, and was likely under NDA as well.


By Sasha Izard
June 6, 2025

Documents obtained through Freedom of Information (see below) have revealed that key figures in the most powerful lobbying organization in BC, for corporate interests in real estate and development (the Urban Development Institute or UDI), signed NDAs provided to them by the provincial government in the summer of 2022, as they advised the province on housing targets for municipalities, and other housing legislation soon to be passed that would undermine local government autonomy, in the interests of the development agenda.

The UDI had for many years lobbied the Province to not only adopt mandatory housing targets for municipalities, but for those to be enforceable through a carrot and stick approach to local governments, something they termed “Performance-Based Housing Targets”. The ‘sticks’ proposed, included various punishments that the Province could mete out for municipalities, their elected officials and taxpayers, if the municipalities don’t build fast enough according to the development/real estate lobby’s agenda, whose primary focus is a profit/market-based approach of making as much money for the industry and its investors as possible, regardless if prices for housing remain sky-high for the broad public in the process.

Previous housing targets across much of BC had been created in so-called Housing Needs Reports or Housing Needs Assessments by paying UDI member company Urban Systems through its subsidiary Urban Matters, netting the company hundreds of thousands of dollars in the process.

The UDI had also lobbied the Province to adopt so-called Housing Needs Assessments/Reports previously.

See: Freedom of Information reveals that the Province of B.C. was working to implement what the registered lobbying organization, the Urban Development Institute, had been pushing for. This culminated in the recent Housing Bills that override local government authority on zoning.  – CRD Watch Homepage

The Urban Development Institute lobbied the Province of BC to implement what they called “Global Housing Targets”. The Province would deliver new Housing Bills in response. – CRD Watch Homepage

Public release of UDI March 10, 2022 presentation slides, agenda, and lobbying letters to David Eby. – CRD Watch Homepage

The “Hong Kong Model, transit density – Setting expectations and having clear guidance. MDE [Minister David Eby] First step target approach”. UDI Executive Committee Meeting in April 13, 2022 with David Eby when he was the Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Housing. – CRD Watch Homepage

Ministry of Housing Notes from UDI Executive Committee: “one [of the] potential flaws is that LG [Local Government] has to answer to the electorate and likely continue [to] show NIMBYISM. How do we ensure population is educated that there are consequences over time if LG [Local Governments] don’t do, otherwise public will throw councils out over elections.” “Some council members who approved [the Arbutus development] will pay the price from public, and may see more political churn as the politicians need to be able to answer. Need a financial consequence.” – CRD Watch Homepage

The development lobby’s idea of reconciliation: “First Nations will soon become the largest developers in the Province”. – CRD Watch Homepage

“Statement from View Royal Mayor Sid Tobias on Bill 15 and Bill 7” “Secrecy, NDAs, and the Collapse of Trust” – CRD Watch Homepage

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The UDI’s registrations on the BC Lobbyists Registry can be seen here.

Urban Development Institute / Anne McMullin, President & CEO – 12-Month Lobbying Summary – Lobbyists Registry – Office of the Registrar or Lobbying of BC

The following are documents obtained through Freedom of Information from the BC Ministry of Housing that reveal that not only had a number of the top brass of the UDI signed the Provincial Non-Disclosure Agreements, but the documents also reveal information surrounding this process (albeit much of it censored).

Note: If some First Nations were made by the Government of BC to sign Non-Disclosure Agreements (which appears to have been a prerequisite for inclusion in this consultation program, it raises major ethical questions. How can truth and reconciliation take place, if the truth is being hidden by law?

How can democracy function when the truth is buried in darkness and mandated silence?

See also: The development lobby’s idea of reconciliation: “First Nations will soon become the largest developers in the Province”. – CRD Watch Homepage

Note, the above document was particularly blurry in the Freedom of Information response provided by the government. I have transcribed the text below:

“Dear UDI members

Thank you for your signed Confidentiality Agreements. We are attaching a summary document of the proposed housing legislation and the summary legislation document under the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement you have signed. This information mu [the completed sentence was cut off, presumably the words: must not] be shared with anyone but you may only discuss the contents with those on this email who have also signed Confidentiality Agreements.

As per previous communications by ADM [Assistant Deputy Minister] Teri Collins, we are looking for your conslidated feedback. Teri is available for a briefing next week and will work with the UDI corporate office to arrange a briefing/discussion – following that, if you would like to prov[ide] written feedback, it would be appreciated by August 10, 2022. We will also be providing another opportunity for feedback as a consultation draft of the Legislation will be sent to you by August 17 2022 with feedback required by August 24, 2022.

We recognize this request is under the compressed guidelines and appreciate your engagement.”

Note: “This proposed new legislation would not apply to Treaty or reserve lands but will apply to fee simple lands owned by First Nations which are subject to municipal bylaws and zoning.””

Note:
RGS stands for Regional Growth Strategy.
HNR stands for Housing Needs Report

See also:

Index of articles about government use, of Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) – CRD Watch Homepage

Index of articles regarding lobby events and other meetings between government and lobbyists. – CRD Watch Homepage