Advocacy Update Archive
Stay informed with Advocacy Update, BCREA’s biweekly newsletter delivering the latest political real estate developments in BC.
Keep Up-To-Date
Advocacy Update is BCREA’s regular update on political real estate news in BC. This biweekly newsletter gives updates on government actions affecting the sector, significant actions taken by BCREA, and provides ways REALTORS® can get involved.
Find the latest edition of Advocacy Update below, or scroll to the bottom of the page to find past issues.
To stay informed and involved, please contact: [email protected].
Advocacy Update – May 1, 2025
The 2025 federal election is now over, with the Liberal Party of Canada
unofficially having won enough seats to form a minority government.
News
2025 Federal Election Results
While the federal election is now over, the vote counts are still being validated, with multiple ridings experiencing very close races. The expected date for the return of the election writs is Monday, May 19, 2025. The return of the writs refers to the certified list of all elected Members of Parliament (MPs) that the Chief Electoral Officer provides the Clerk of the House of Commons; however, MPs may be sworn in prior to this date. Currently, the Liberal Party of Canada has won enough seats to form a minority government.
BC Short-Term Rental Update
A provincial update on short-term rental (STR) registration numbers and deadlines allows an extended timeline for when platforms are legally required to validate provincial registration numbers and automatically remove illegal listings as follows:
- As of June 2, 2025 (previously May 1, 2025), if a STR listing does not have a valid registration number, platforms must stop advertising the listing and prevent new bookings from that host or face a possible investigation and potential monetary penalty.
- As of June 23, 2025 (previously June 1, 2025), platforms must cancel all future bookings from hosts without a valid provincial registration number or face a possible investigation and potential monetary penalty.
Lobbying Rule Changes
Amendments to the Lobbyists Transparency Act, passed in April 2024, will officially come into force on May 27, 2025. The amendments remove the requirement to report funding requested from a government body, reduce the reporting frequency for funding received from monthly to every three months, and clarify reporting requirements for organizations that lobby as part of an informal group.
BCFSA REDMA Pilot Update
Effective April 15, 2025, the BC Financial Services Authority (BCFSA) has informed the real estate development community that developers must apply for the Real Estate Development Marketing Act (REDMA) Early Marketing Period – Pilot Program for Large Developments prior to, or concurrently with, filing their disclosure statement. Developers that have already filed a disclosure statement for a project will have until June 30, 2025, to apply to participate in the pilot.
Consultations
ORL / OIPC Public Consultations
Michael Harvey, Registrar of Lobbyists and Information and Privacy Commissioner for BC, is inviting the public to share what they think the Office of the Registrar of Lobbyists (ORL) and Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (OIPC) for BC’s priorities should be over the next three years. Registrar Harvey will be delivering presentations in cities across BC in May 2025. In-person and written submissions are welcome. Find more information here.
Readings
Opinion: 10 Immediate Housing Policy Actions for the New Federal Government
Read Trevor Hargreaves’ take on housing policy actions the newly elected Liberal government should take now to deliver new homes and affordability across Canada.
Rob Shaw: Summer Squeeze Forces Eby to Reconsider Short-Term Rental Restrictions
Read more about Premier David Eby raising the prospect of rescinding his government’s controversial short-term rental restrictions.
The Housing Tax Crisis Video
Uytae Lee of About Here partnered with Small Housing BC to produce an informative video about one of the biggest cost drivers in our housing system: taxes and fees on new homes.
Small Housing Resources
Explore Small Housing’s suite of resources, designed to inform and support gentle density ambitions.
Events
2025 BC Modular Housing Summit
Modular Housing Association of BC
May 5 – 7, 2025, Penticton Lakeside Resort and Conference Centre
Penticton, BC
Feel Free To Share the Advocacy Update With Others.
If you’d like to be added to the Advocacy Update distribution list click here, or for more information, please contact:
BRENNA FRIESEN
Policy Analyst
778.373.6481
[email protected]