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The Ministry of Finance finally answers, after a year and a half, why BC Assessment is a paying member of the Urban Development Institute (UDI), a lobby for corporate interests involved in development and real estate.


By Sasha Izard
April 20, 2026

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Ref: 518621

Dear Sasha Izard:

Thank you for your email regarding the BC Assessment Authority (BCA) and, more specifically, its membership with the Urban Development Institute (UDI).

As we previously mentioned, BCA is an independent, provincial Crown corporation which operates at arms length from government. Therefore, BCA has the discretion to determine which stakeholders and professional groups they want to engage within the context of their statutory mandate.

BCA maintains relationships with a variety of stakeholders, including those within the real estate industry, community groups and development industry. Through these relationships, our staff are able to access information, knowledge, and develop relationships that assist in maintaining a high quality assessment roll. Specific information regarding local developments, costs, absorption rates, and pending transactions are provided through these relationships.

Please note, this will be the last response sent on this matter.

Thank you again for taking the time to write.

Sincerely,

Office of the Minister

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Conclusion:

The Ministry of Finance which is responsible for the BC Assessment Authority, refers to the provincial crown corporation as “independent” and at arm’s length from government, even though it is government by definition, as a crown corporation.

It is OK with the Ministry of Finance, that BC Assessment, despite being government (like the Ministry) – is not however, at an arm’s length from the real estate and the development industry and their lobby.

If the Ministry of Finance will not take responsibility for what is under its responsibility, it is time for the public to demand that government entities under its responsibility like BC Assessment, be at an arm’s length from the industry and its lobby.

Given that BC Assessment utilizes policies like ‘highest and best use‘, which can be seen to advance the development industries agenda, it should not be relying on that industry’s data, especially in creating assessments that affect property owners. The very real possibility of undue influence in this scenario should have ruled out such a joined relationshp between government and industry and its information from the beginning.

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See also: The question that the BC Finance Minister doesn’t want to answer. – CRD Watch Homepage

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

BC Assessment denied that it is a paying member of a registered organization on the BC Lobbyists Registry. However, the evidence shows otherwise. – CRD Watch Homepage

How Crown Corporation BC Assessment’s Paid Membership with the Urban Development Institute is Being Obscured – CRD Watch Homepage