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Spending taxpayer money on development lobby social events, and other ethical conundrums faced by BC Housing employees.

By Sasha Izard
Dec 12, 2024


It’s Christmas Eve, which is a time for ethics, as many parents inform their children that Santa Clause is watching. This article is about some of the ethics faced by BC Housing employees, as they spend taxpayer money on the development lobby.

Recently, I wrote the following article:

BC Housing’s out of control spending spree: $82,249 spent in only 3 and a half years, on costs related to a single lobby for real estate and development. – CRD Watch Homepage

and this article: $10,000 a pop, and VIP Tables included: how BC Housing has been funnelling taxpayer money ($62,500 in less than 5 years) into the UDI, a registered lobbying organization for development and real estate, through $10K sponsorship agreements. – CRD Watch Homepage

BC Housing has been spending a lot of taxpayer money on the development lobby, with a considerable amount of that racked up on BC Housing employee “Pcards” or personal corporate credit cards, the charges for which are billed to the Public Crown Corporation which pays for them with taxpayer dollars.

Let’s zoom in on some of the ethical issues faced, it seems on an almost daily basis at BC Housing by its employees, by focussing on two examples as revealed by the massive FOI 292-30-9925, which I have only just started to review.

That FOI has already revealed the material which this recent article is based on:

Over $10,000 given away to students: The Business of the Founder of the UVic Real Estate Club – CRD Watch Homepage

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BC Housing Ethical Dilemma #1:

BC Housing employees discuss using taxpayer money for purchase of development lobby social event “Summer Social Kick Off”:

The following is a dialogue between two BC Housing employees:

Subject: Send the detailed receipt for this May p/card purchase: Udi.Org $99.75

“Always bear this in mind when using p/card:

Since BC Housing uses Taxpayer Funds, it is subject to different types of Audits which inspect p/card receipts to confirm BCH’s compliance with
the current policy.

As we must clearly show the Taxpayer what/how we use the Tax Monies given to BCH.
(Audit can be done even 7 years later so these purchases can be subject to an audit in 2031).

When you link the P/Card the receipt, this is all that any Auditor will see as back-up for your purchase, so the documents must be clear and totally self explanatory.

Snippet of current P/Card Policy in regard to receipts:”

Above are p.258 and 259 out of 266 pages in one of the FOI documents.

Note as seen above, instructions on how meal expenses can be charged to the taxpayer and filed for accounting purposes.

A Senior Manager at BC Housing was ready to go to the UDI’s Summer Social Kickoff event on taxpayer dollars.

Another BC Housing employee, a development manager at BC Housing attended the summer kickoff as well:

Summer Social Kickoff | Urban Development Institute

Event details:

“Get ready to kick off the summer season in style at UDI’s Summer Social, co-hosted by the U40 and Women of UDI Committees! Join us at the vibrant Mahony’s Tavern Convention Centre​ at Burrard Landing for an unforgettable evening of networking and summer fun.

Dive into the summer spirit as you mingle with industry peers, make new connections, and enjoy refreshing drinks and delectable canapés in the company of good friends and colleagues.

Let’s celebrate the sunny days ahead with laughter, conversation, and a laid-back atmosphere that embodies the essence of summer. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to connect, unwind, and soak up the positive vibes of the season!”

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“Dive into the summer spirit as you mingle with industry peers, make new connections, and enjoy refreshing drinks and delectable canapés”

Canapé – Wikipedia

Photo of canapés by:
By Chris Schaer from Zofingen, Schweiz – Ringier 175 Jahre Jubiläum, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=36962786

Yes, BC Housing has no qualm having its employees charging these basically $100 a pop development lobby social events to the taxpayer.

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Even more popular than the summer social it seems for BC Housing, BC Housing employees were flocking to the UDI’s holiday reception:

2025 Holiday Reception | Urban Development Institute

Event details:

“Hosted by UDI’s Board of Directors, this exclusive reception will be an evening to connect, celebrate, and enjoy the season together

Join fellow UDI members, industry peers, public officials, and many special guests, for an evening of connection and holiday cheer. With no formal program, the focus is on enjoying great company, seasonal refreshments, and a festive atmosphere.

As one of UDI’s most popular annual gatherings, tickets are limited and always sell out quickly—be sure to reserve yours early.”

Note the special one-night rates for attendees at the Fairmont.

Charging a lump of coal to the taxpayer would be much less expensive, and appropriate.

BC Housing Ethical Dilemma #2:

Why does a UDI Director need to charge their attendance at UDI events to BC Housing?

You’ll probably recall a few articles that I’ve written about BC Housing employee Lauren Antifeau, who was simultaneously a UDI Director, while Provincial Director of Redevelopment at BC Housing, and simultaneously the Admin of BC Housing’s paid membership with the UDI, who was looking into ways of informing as many BC Housing employees as possible about how to attend UDI events:

How is it that BC Housing’s Provincial Director of Redevelopment has simultaneously been the Director of a branch of BC’s most powerful lobbying organization for real estate and development interests? And why were they made administrator of BC Housing’s paid membership in that same branch of that same lobbying organization? – CRD Watch Homepage

Now the question is, why as a UDI Director was Antifeau charging her attendance at UDI events to BC Housing?

You can read more about this event here:

FOI Request to BC Transit yields information about the UDI event: “Pathways to Progress: Uniting Land Use and Transit Strategies for Sustainable Growth” which took place the same day that Saanich adopted its new Official Community Plan and rendered its Local Area Plans legally non-binding. – CRD Watch Homepage

More Freedom of Information data surfaces, this time from Saanich, regarding the May 7, 2024 UDI event at the Union Club: “Pathways to Progress: Uniting Land Use and Transit Strategies for Sustainable Growth” – CRD Watch Homepage

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This article was #18 in the following series:

Index of Crown Corporations and Statutory Entities that have acted evasively about their UDI memberships. – CRD Watch Homepage

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See also:

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

Plane Flights and Helijets, where taxpayer dollars go from the City of Victoria, for Development Lobby Events – CRD Watch Homepage

An Expensive Party: Victoria Employee flew to Nashville and back, to hang out with developers at their “Social Event”. Cost to the taxpayer: almost $2000 – CRD Watch Homepage

Index of Articles regarding Jet Flights for City of Victoria Staff to development lobby events, that were charged to the City. – CRD Watch Homepage