Index of articles revealing major lobbying influence on B.C. Provincial Housing Bills and Housing Targets.
In-depth research on CRD Watch has revealed that the development and real estate lobby in B.C. had an overwhelming influence on the Provincial Housing Bills and Housing targets, particularly in the years 2023-2024, whereby the Province passed radical changes that upzoned much of the Province, while simultaneously eliminating vast amounts of public hearings, as well as forcing upzonings along transportation corridors, all elements that were lobbied to it by the Urban Development Institute and other lobbies for real estate and development interests.
This index is a compilation of such research.
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
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
How the Development and Real Estate Lobby Pressed Mandatory Housing Targets, Mass Upzoning, Captured Official Community Plans, and Made the Shutting Down of Public Hearings the Norm in British Columbia Under the NDP Government – CRD Watch Homepage
The David Eby Confession: Premier Eby talking to the ‘Condo King’ Bob Rennie, finally spilled the beans in front of the camera, on how UDI lobbying played key role in the creation of the Provincial Housing Bills. – CRD Watch Homepage
Public release of UDI March 10, 2022 presentation slides, agenda, and lobbying letters to David Eby. – CRD Watch Homepage
How the proposed “RapidBus” lanes in the Capital Region, including on McKenzie, were used as part of the UDI development lobby’s push for enforced densification/upzoning along rapid transit corridors, during their lobbying to David Eby in 2022 – CRD Watch Homepage
Archive.org snapshot of UDI policy page from March 30, 2023: By the end of the year, the Province would be implementing all 4 of the UDI’s key policy goals through the introduction of the UDI-lobbied-for Housing Bills (43-47) and through the creation of BC Builds. – CRD Watch Homepage
Ministry of Municipal Affairs Presentation from April 13, 2022 provides a glimpse on the processes that led up to the Housing Bills (Bills 44-47) that were put forward in the Fall of 2023. – CRD Watch Homepage
A 2017 letter from the UDI to the Federal government offered a series of recommendations, including density targets around transit stations/corridors and for the adoption of TODs (Transit Oriented Developments). – CRD Watch Homepage
Homes For Living (HFL) and other ‘YIMBY’-oriented groups’ Lobbying Letter to Premier Eby and Housing Minister Kahlon, Mirrors the UDI’s lobbying efforts, raising important questions about the relationship between the UDI and HFL, as they both press the Province for a practically identical agenda, simultaneously being treated as stakeholders by it. – CRD Watch Homepage
Documents obtained by Freedom of Information reveal that the Urban Development Institute (UDI) and the Province of BC collaborated on the Housing Supply Act. The Act would lead to Provincially mandated housing targets and advisors being appointed for some municipalities. – CRD Watch Homepage
In March 2023, prior to the release of the BC Provincial Housing Targets for select municipalities, the Urban Development Institute (UDI), not only lobbied the Province on Enforceable Housing Targets, but also on an Advisor for municipalities “should they be appointed”. – 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
Question to the BC Office of the Registrar of Lobbyists regarding registration not found, in regard to what appears to have been lobbying (by standard use in the English language), of the Province in regard to appointing housing advisors for municipalities. – CRD Watch Homepage
The Government of British Columbia has repeatedly failed to post Freedom of Information response on its so-called “Open Information” catalogue regarding Housing Target Consultations that the Province made with Municipalities, after almost a year and a half since the FOI request was made. – CRD Watch Homepage
The Government of British Columbia finally posts Freedom of Information response on its “Open Information” catalogue regarding Housing Target Consultations that the Province made with Municipalities; after almost a year and a half since the FOI request was made. – CRD Watch Homepage
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 targets for municipalities and for other upcoming housing legislation to be able to override local government autonomy. – CRD Watch Homepage
BC Ministry of Housing-UDI Freedom of Information response of over 3000 pages, is finally posted publicly on the Province’s website. – CRD Watch Homepage
Ministry of Municipal Affairs Presentation from April 13, 2022 provides a glimpse on the processes that led up to the Housing Bills (Bills 44-47) that were put forward in the Fall of 2023. – CRD Watch Homepage
Stop Bill M216 Before Local Democracy is Dismantled on Nov 17, 2025 – CRD Watch Homepage
The Usual Suspects: Big Business including aligned groups such as The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, the UDI lobby, and YIMBY pressure group Homes For Living, are pushing Bill M216 in British Columbia, which would override municipal sovereignty and the public voice, if passed. – CRD Watch Homepage
Director Hurley (Burnaby Mayor) lambasted the UDI’s stranglehold over Provincial housing policy at the Oct 17, 2025 Metro Vancouver Mayors Committee Special Meeting: “You got everything you wanted”. – CRD Watch Homepage
Presentation by Sasha Izard to the Special Committee to Review the Lobbyists Transparency Act – CRD Watch Homepage
The Housing Crisis Playbook: How BC’s Development Lobby Wrote the Province’s Override Laws, by Arthur McInnis – CRD Watch Homepage
HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING AND LOVE THE HOUSING BLITZ, by M. Rose Munro – CRD Watch Homepage
The NIMBY Smokescreen: How Bill 44 Protects Speculation, Not Communities, by M. Rose Munro – CRD Watch Homepage
From Leaky Condos to Leaky Policy: BC’s New Housing Bills 44 and M216 Ignore History, by M. Rose Munro – CRD Watch Homepage
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See also:
Index of articles about David Eby meeting with Bob Rennie. – CRD Watch Homepage
Index of articles regarding lobby events and other meetings between government and lobbyists. – CRD Watch Homepage
Numerous Mayors pushing back against the Undemocratic Housing Bills, including Bill 44. – CRD Watch Homepage
British Columbia Alliance of Neighbourhoods (BCAN) Calls for Urgent Action on Housing Legislation – CRD Watch Homepage
Excerpt:
“In a letter addressed to Premier David Eby and Minister Christine Boyle, representatives from BCAN, which includes thousands of residents from various neighbourhood groups, expressed deep concern over recent provincial housing bills, including Bills 44, 46, and 47 and others. The alliance argues these measures were largely shaped by special interests, undermining democratic processes and diminishing local governance.”
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