CRD Watch Homepage

The UDI doesn’t register Federal Lobbying Activity, but it’s own public statements show that it is lobbying the Feds.

By Sasha Izard
March 4, 2026

The Urban Development Institute (UDI), is an actively registered lobbying organization on the BC Lobbyists Registry.

The UDI does not register lobbying activity on the Federal level, although it did many years ago. Yet, the UDI’s own statements about its activities in 2025, clearly show that it is lobbying the Federal Government of Canada.

Why is this allowed to happen? It is because the Federal Government intentionally created a situation, where numerous lobbies including what is considered by many to be the most powerful lobby for development and real estate interests in British Columbia, does not have to register lobbying activity at the Federal level, because the bar has been set almost impossibly high to register lobbying activity at the Federal Level.

At what point is not clear that the Federal Government is not serving the public interest by allowing a vast sea of untransparency at the Federal level in regard to lobbying?

See the ongoing index of articles on this subject:

Index of articles and other documentation of lobbying of the Federal Government. – CRD Watch Homepage

—————————————————————————————————

The following is written by the UDI on its “2025 At a Glance Page” under Federal Advocacy:

2025 At A Glance | UDI – Urban Development Institute

“UDI began the year with in-person advocacy in Ottawa, meeting with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation officials and key political staff to outline the unique financing and delivery challenges facing British Columbia’s builders. As the federal landscape shifted with the election of Prime Minster Mark Carney UDI engaged with the ministries of Finance and Housing over the summer in the lead up to Budget 2025. Staff have re-engaged with the new staff from leader of the Official Opposition and will be conducting quarterly meetings. 

2025 Federal Wins: A Closer Look 

Removal of the Underutilized Housing Tax. “

————————————————————————————————

As for the Province of BC, as the UDI put it:

“UDI remains the sector’s primary conduit into provincial decision-making. Our work focused on ensuring provincial policy reflects the financial and regulatory pressures facing builders. “

—————————————————————————————————

See also:

Index of articles revealing major lobbying influence on B.C. Provincial Housing Bills and Housing Targets. – CRD Watch Homepage

“Innovative and Disruptive Thinking”: Impact Canada, a Federal Government Nudge Unit tied to the Prime Minister’s Office, was engaged in a several hundred million dollar program seeking ways to remove barriers to housing supply. – CRD Watch Homepage