British Columbia housing and governance reforms

In late July 2026, the British Columbia Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs announced a review of Metro Vancouver’s proposal to shrink its board of directors from 41 to 34 members and limit each municipality to three directors. The board approved the plan by a 107‑36 vote, aiming to streamline governance and improve taxpayer value. Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke criticized the cap, arguing it failed to address the disparity between small municipalities like Belcarra and larger ones such as Surrey.

A week later, in early August 2026, the province’s housing minister, Christine Boyle, disclosed that British Columbia was negotiating with the federal government to cut development charges in high‑growth areas. The partnership, announced in June, would match provincial funds for up to ten years, providing as much as $3.2 billion to lower fees for multi‑housing projects by up to 50 percent in priority communities and compensate municipalities for lost infrastructure revenue. The plan also includes converting over 2,200 unsold condo units into affordable homes.

Further developments in August 2026 clarified the scope of the governance reforms. The Metro Vancouver board’s vote to cap directors at three per jurisdiction aims to improve decision-making speed and strategic focus. If approved by the provincial government, this structural change could reduce the board's total size by nearly 25 percent, decreasing from 45 directors to 34. The cap would also extend to Metro Vancouver’s housing, water, sewerage, and drainage boards. Board chair Mike Hurley noted the organization underwent a “thoughtful process” to improve governance, while vice-chair Dylan Kruger described the move as a step toward “regaining public trust.”