VRCA’s Build Lower Mainland municipal election campaign hit its stride in August, taking construction’s voice from the campaign trail to candidate roundtables and conversations across the region. Election day is on October 17.
Building the conversation
Throughout August, VRCA met with municipal parties and candidates to ensure construction is part of the conversation before election platforms and policies are finalized.
We hosted Vancouver Liberals mayoral candidate Kareem Allam and council candidate Devin Clemens for a roundtable at the VRCA office with VRCA members Hugo Huynh (board representative) and Josh Dwamena. The discussion focused on rising construction costs, slow and complicated approvals, workforce pressures, infrastructure investment, fair procurement, prompt payment and the importance of bringing construction expertise directly into City Hall.
We also welcomed OneCity Vancouver mayoral candidate William Azaroff and members of his team for a Build Lower Mainland roundtable with VRCA members and board representatives Scott Adkins and Craig Enns. Our message was clear: bring the full construction industry into the conversation earlier, make municipal fees and requirements more predictable, establish measurable standards for permitting and ensure procurement delivers better value for public dollars.
We also called for stronger coordination across government and greater support for building the skilled workforce Vancouver needs. These conversations are not endorsements. Build Lower Mainland is a non-partisan campaign focused on ensuring candidates across the region understand the realities facing construction and the practical steps municipalities can take to help get more built.
Three blogs. One important conversation.
This month, we launched a new Build Lower Mainland blog series to keep members informed and help bring construction priorities into the municipal election conversation.
The Conversation Has Started looks at the campaign’s early activity, our engagement with municipal candidates and why construction must be part of the decisions shaping the region.
When Candidates Come Knocking, Put Construction on the Doorstep offers practical questions members and voters can ask candidates about the Cost to Build, Time to Build and People to Build.
Our latest blog brings the Cost to Build to the centre of the conversation. It examines what candidates can do to create greater predictability around municipal fees, improve procurement and involve construction earlier in the decisions that shape our communities.
Explore the Build Lower Mainland campaign resources
Whether you work in construction, are running for office or simply want to better understand what is at stake, Build Lower Mainland offers practical information to help you join the conversation.
Explore the campaign’s resources, including:
– Municipal election and voter information
– The Build Lower Mainland Stat Pack
– An overview of government roles
– Construction’s municipal priorities
Questions to ask candidates
Tariffs add new pressure to the Cost to Build
The Government of Canada has announced a new round of counter-tariffs on U.S. goods, taking effect September 8, 2026. The measures are expected to add further pressure to material costs, supply chains, procurement and project delivery. The construction industry is a net importer of critical materials and is especially vulnerable to tariff-related pressures affecting steel, aluminum, lumber, plywood and related products.
VRCA is working with the Canadian Construction Association, BC Construction Association and our regional construction association partners to understand the implications, share information and advocate for a competitive, predictable and resilient construction industry.
CCA President, Rod Gilbert, will be on VRCA’s podcast The Builders’ Bench this Friday to talk tariffs, counter tariffs, and the impacts on construction. Stay Tuned!
Members can access the BCCA U.S. Tariffs Resource Hub for the latest industry information and resources. Developed for members of B.C.’s Regional Construction Associations, including VRCA, the hub features advisories, checklists and construction files to help contractors navigate new tariffs, countermeasures and ongoing market uncertainty.
CCA has also prepared a new member bulletin outlining what contractors need to know about the latest measures. Download the CCA tariff bulletin.
What comes next
Nomination papers open September 1, and municipal election season is about to get even busier. VRCA will continue meeting with candidates and parties across the Lower Mainland, sharing industry priorities and creating opportunities for members to participate in the conversation.
We will also release more campaign content focused on the Time to Build and People to Build. Election Day is October 17. Get informed, ask questions and be part of what comes next.