VRCA questions mayors ahead of municipal election

Key Takeaways:

• The Vancouver Regional Construction Association launched the Build Lower Mainland campaign to foster better collaboration between the construction industry and local governments ahead of the upcoming election
• The campaign focuses on three main priorities aimed at addressing key bottlenecks, which are the cost to build, the time to build, and the people available to build
• Industry and municipal leaders emphasized that involving construction expertise earlier in local decision-making is critical to speeding up project timelines and delivering vital housing and infrastructure

The Whole Story:

With just over 80 days until election day, the Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA) has launched Build Lower Mainland before a room of industry leaders, stakeholders, and elected officials. The launch included a panel discussion with Ken Sim, Mayor of Vancouver; Mike Hurley, Mayor of Burnaby; Huw Williams, President of Impact Public Affairs; and was hosted by Craig Larkins, VRCA’s Director of Advocacy and Engagement. The commentary focused on the municipal decisions affecting construction, housing, infrastructure, and growth across the region. 

The VRCA noted that the Lower Mainland is growing, and the need is clear. But rising costs, long timelines, and workforce pressures continue to hold the industry back. Association officials explained that campaign is built around three priorities – Cost to Build, Time to Build, and People to Build. The goal is to create stronger connections between industry and local government and advance practical solutions to these challenges. 

The timing of the campaign is significant. Construction contributes $29 billion annually to British Columbia’s GDP and supports hundreds of thousands of jobs across the province. Many of the policies and processes that influence whether projects move forward efficiently are determined at the municipal level. With the 2026 election approaching and significant new investments in housing and infrastructure on the horizon, VRCA’s Build Lower Mainland aims to strengthen the industry’s voice on the decisions that affect what gets built, how quickly it gets built, and who is available to build it. 

The municipal leaders participating in the launch emphasized the importance of close collaboration between government and the construction industry: 

“Construction plays a vital role in shaping our region,” said Mike Hurley, Mayor of Burnaby. “None of the housing, infrastructure or community facilities we’re delivering happens without true collaboration between local government and industry.” 

Mayor Ken Sim highlighted the importance of creating greater certainty and improving processes that affect project delivery: 

“We’re focused on what we can control: providing certainty to industry, speeding up permitting, and making it clear that Vancouver is committed to building,” said Ken Sim, Mayor of Vancouver. “When government and industry work together, projects get built faster and communities benefit.” 

For the VRCA, the campaign is also about ensuring construction expertise is included earlier in the decisions that affect the industry and the communities it serves. 

“Every community relies on construction, yet too often our industry is brought into the conversation after the biggest decisions have already been made,” said Jeannine Martin, President of the VRCA. “Build Lower Mainland is about changing that. When construction has a voice from the start, our communities benefit from better decisions, stronger partnerships, and projects that get built.” 

Construction professionals, industry partners, and VRCA members are invited to be part of the conversation shaping the Lower Mainland’s future. Learn more about the campaign at www.BuildLowerMainland.ca.