Ravi Kahlon’s Kitchen Table

Ravi Kahlon’s Kitchen Table

The BC NDP’s doubletalk about ‘kitchen table issues’ as Eby issued massive salary raises to NDP MLAs, is perhaps contrasted best to what a table with Ravi Kahlon at the development lobby costs the taxpayer.

By Sasha Izard
Dec 26, 2025

Recently, I’ve written several articles on the same theme, as a result of recent FOI responses from BC Housing, which although costly were very revealing:

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

$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

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

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

In the first article listed, I showed how included in the over $80,000 that BC Housing spent in only 3 and a half years on the UDI lobby, was a significant amount of money for a VIP table with Ravi Kahlon, who while Housing Minister was a featured speaker at UDI events at luxury hotels, which were referred to as “fireside chats”.

Kitchen table issues:

After the balance of power almost shifted from the BC NDP last election. The BC NDP changed their narrative to one of focussing on “Kitchen table issues,” while handing themselves hefty raises on the taxpayer that is.

All NDP MLAs receive a new title, and all but one get a raise

New B.C. NDP cabinet to focus on ‘kitchen table’ issues, premier says | CBC News

And that’s the type of fluff reporting we get from the CBC. If you believe the BC NDP have a half thought about kitchen table issues, then there’s a prime track of luxury real estate in downtown Vancouver that some wheeler dealer would love to sell you.

Yet, doublespeak is no stranger to the BC NDP, I would suggest it is their sole modus operandi. Confuse the public, satisfy their corporate overlords and grab what they can for themselves in the process.

Although Kahlon is not housing minister anymore, it’s worth looking at what “kitchen table issues” mean to him.

“Prior to his election as an MLA, Ravi spent seven years in banking, and another six years working with the New Democrat Caucus as Director of Stakeholder Relations.”

MLA: Ravi Kahlon | Legislative Assembly of BC

Just as under Christy Clark previously, a person directing stakeholders relations can be considered the ultimate insider, and when it comes to housing and urban planning, there is no stakeholder like the omnipresent stakeholder the Urban Development Institute.

I was taught that leadership is by example. With that in mind, what does Ravi Kahlon’s table look like in the context of kitchen table issues?

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This article shows the invoices as revealed by FOI for how much taxpayer money was spent on BC Housing employees wining and dining at luxury lobby events featuring Ravi Kahlon.

A corporate table for 10 at a UDI Luncheon with Ravi Kahlon Minister of Housing, cost BC Housing (the taxpayer), according to an entry $1,522.50 The end price in the Excel document entry for January shows even higher at $1,709.40, and then there’s an additional $810.80 for the same event entered a week later. Given that the UDI charges $300 for elected officials to be in attendance. Kahlon’s presence may have brought the total price to the taxpayer for just that one table to over $2000.

Entries in the Excel document from FOI response:

Here is what a UDI table for 10 looks like, from the FOI response covered in a previous article:

Such events are typically held at the austere Hyatt, or Fairmont hotels in Vancouver.

The following gifts were provided by the UDI to Kahlon when he was the Housing Minister, according to the BC Lobbyists Registry:

From Pcard (Personal corporate credit card) analyses by month, in a BC Housing FOI response:

2024:

2023:

Here are taxpayer costs spent by employees from the Land Titles and Survey Authority (LTSA) spent on attending a UDI event featuring Kahlon:

See:

The Land Title and Survey Authority of British Columbia (LTSA) is a paying member of a registered lobbying organization for real estate and development. – CRD Watch Homepage

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Documentation of payments (covered by the taxpayer) for BC Housing Employees to attend UDI events with Ravi Kahlon from: FOI 292-30-9925

2023:

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2024:

As in 2023, BC Housing paid in 2024 for another 10 person VIP table for BC Housing to attend a UDI event featuring Kahlon: