CITY OF BURNABY OFFICE OF THE MAYOR MIKE HURLEY MAYOR
November 28, 2025 The Honourable David Eby, K.C., M.L.A. Premier of British Columbia and President of Executive Council PO Box 9041 Stn Prov Govt Victoria, BC V8W 9E1 VIA EMAIL: david.eby.MLA@leg.bc.ca; premier@gov.bc.ca Dear Premier Eby: Repeal of Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing, Housing Target Orders, and Transit-Oriented Areas Legislation This letter, co-signed by 15 Metro Vancouver mayors, expresses our collective concerns with the limited coordination and consultation by the province with local governments in developing Bills 44 and 47 (2023), the misalignment of provincewide requirements with the Metro Vancouver region’s land use and infrastructure context and regional planning frameworks. We respectfully request that the Province of British Columbia: • Repeal legislation concerning housing targets, transit-oriented areas (TOAs), and small-scale multi-unit housing (SSMUH); and • Initiate consultation on legislative amendments that address the context and needs of Metro Vancouver municipalities. Key concerns include: Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (SSMUH) • Province-wide mandates do not reflect the local planning frameworks, geographic characteristics or market realities. In many areas, SSMUH is not financially viable and has triggered land speculation and has been disruptive to neighborhood cohesiveness. • SSMUH may not optimize use of land or support efficient planning and servicing outcomes and may divert scarce resources to deliver on housing construction projects in the region. • Compressed implementation timelines have diverted staff capacity away from locally tailored housing initiatives. • Infrastructure cost implications are significant and current tools to recover these costs are inadequate. Member jurisdictions are analyzing the cost implications of infrastructure upgrades (e.g. water, sewer, transportation, parks) and will share findings.
4949 Canada Way, Burnaby, British Columbia, V5G 1M2
Phone: 604.294.7340
mayor@burnaby.ca