On July 21, we will officially launch VRCA’s Build Lower Mainland campaign. Build Lower Mainland is a movement to increase the visibility of construction and its driving impact on the economy, the workforce, and the future of the Lower Mainland and its communities.
Construction contributes $29B to B.C.’s GDP and is key to a strong and vibrant future for our province. With municipal elections just months away, there has never been a more important time for the voice of construction to be heard. Build Lower Mainland is designed as a municipal engagement campaign that will ensure candidates are well aware of our industry’s impact and that construction has a seat at the table, before decisions are made.
The month of June brought billions in new federal and provincial funding announcements for housing and infrastructure, renewed discussions around Development Cost Charges, and an increasing focus on the role municipalities will play in delivering the projects our communities need. It is vital that the construction industry be a huge contributor to these discussions and the driver of solutions that keep our communities building and our residents working.
Build Lower Mainland is built around three priorities – Cost to Build, Time to Build, and People to Build. The campaign will bring industry, municipal leaders, candidates, and decision-makers together to help shape the future of housing, infrastructure, and economic growth across the Lower Mainland.
VRCA Members, join the movement by attending the Build Lower Mainland launch on July 21 to learn more about the impact municipal politics will have on the next four years. You’ll hear directly from the mayors of Vancouver and Burnaby as they speak about how construction fits into their campaign and their priorities.
ABC Vancouver Visits VRCA Members
While Build Lower Mainland officially launches this July, the conversations have already started.
On June 9, VRCA welcomed councillors from ABC Vancouver for a productive roundtable discussion with members to help inform the party’s municipal election platform.
The discussion focused on the three pillars of Build Lower Mainland: Time to Build, Cost to Build, and People to Build, and explored practical solutions to improve permitting, procurement, workforce development, housing delivery, and infrastructure investment.
One message came through loud and clear: the construction industry wants a seat at the table before policies are finalized, not after. That is exactly the type of collaboration VRCA will continue to foster with municipalities across the Lower Mainland in the months ahead.
Prompt Payment Update
The B.C. Construction Association (BCCA) continues to lead the industry’s response to the province’s Construction Prompt Payment Act (CPPA) Discussion Paper, bringing together contractors, suppliers, and industry experts from across British Columbia.
The submission, which will be delivered ahead of the July 7 deadline, calls for legislation that is practical, consistent, and works for the entire industry. The key recommendations include:
No carve-outs or phased implementation
Clear and consistent payment rules
Meaningful interest provisions to discourage late payment
Accessible, affordable adjudication
National consistency with other prompt payment legislation across Canada
Practical regulations supported by education and industry guidance
If you’re a senior executive of an organization within the construction industry and would like to show your support, please sign on, and the logos and signatures of supporters will be included within the BCCA’s submission.
Federal–Provincial Housing Agreement
Housing and infrastructure continue to dominate the national conversation. This month, the federal and provincial governments announced a landmark partnership that will invest billions of dollars into housing and community infrastructure across British Columbia over the next decade.
For our industry, this investment is encouraging, but funding alone won’t build projects. Without faster approvals, modern procurement, predictable permitting, and enough skilled workers, projects will continue to face delays regardless of how much funding is announced.
The VRCA will continue advocating for practical, industry-led solutions that help governments turn funding announcements into completed projects. The investment is there. Now we need the policies, processes, and partnerships to deliver.