In our last issue, we told you how Provincial Bills 13 and 15 — highly controversial legislation that could pass as early as May 29 — would usurp the decision-making authority of BC municipalities over vital housing and planning issues.

The Bills, officially known as the Infrastructure Projects Act and Misc. Statutes Amendment Act, have been widely criticized by municipal leaders for their “intrusive” and “overreaching” powers. Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie told CityHallWatch (CHW) that the bills are “a dangerous piece of legislation and steps need to be taken to stop them.”

Local First Nations have called on Premier David Eby to “Kill the Bill.”

One of the best summaries we’ve read of how Bills 13 and 15 constitute a Provincial power grab that will have far-reaching consequences for democracy in BC is this insightful analysis by Erick Villagomez, adjunct professor at Kwantlen Polytechnic University and independent researcher on housing and development.

Since time is running out to stop the Bills, UKRA urges you to write your MLA before May 29. It’s best to send your thoughts to Premier David Eby at [email protected], and to [email protected] as well.

Here are a selection of suggested emails to send to your MLA. Please choose one or write your own original message.

1. I oppose Bills 13 and 15 because of their overreaching powers to remove municipal planning, zoning, and civic bylaws from the City and place them into the hands of the Provincial government.
2. I worry about the steady decline in democracy I’m seeing at the Provincial level. These Bills are nothing more than a power grab and they will have serious consequences. The Province has done this before (Housing Supply Act) and it needs to stop. Let the City and its residents decide what’s good for Vancouver.
3. Both the Federal and Provincial governments want to double the housing supply during an economic downturn. It doesn’t make sense to me that we would build more expensive towers and condos with rents to match. Even developers are pulling away from construction due to the associated costs. We have to build more social housing.  

 See a contact list of all Vancouver MLAs, compiled by the West Point Grey Residents Association. In addition, the contacts for the Green MLAs are: [email protected] and [email protected]