Alberta’s Bill 20 includes bold steps to address housing crisis

The province says all forms of housing, including market and affordable options, are desperately needed Right now in Alberta. As we see a population boom, housing is a provincial priority that affects all Albertans and our our community. So it’s important that we work together to address this common and urgent challenge. The actions outlined today will do just that by helping keep housing costs down even as we get shovels into the ground more quickly. Now. If passed, the legislation would fully exempt nonprofit subsidized housing from municipal and education property taxes. Would enable municipalities to offer multi year residential tax exemptions. There would be changes to public hearings, Municipalities would be required to offer a digital option to participate and more hearings than required by law would not be allowed. Now the proposed legislation also includes changes to Calgary and Edmonton city charters that would remove inclusionary housing provisions the minister says have not been used by either city and would also remove by law making authority for the cities to require higher energy efficiency standards than are required in the Alberta building code. If passed, these amendments will give housing a jump start. Here in Alberta. There are so many barriers to building more homes that we have the power to remove and with this legislation we will address these barriers encouraging more efficiency which ultimately gets more shovels in the ground. As stakeholders the building and land development industry, we stand ready to collaborate with all levels of government to turn policies into actionable solutions that will benefit all Albertans in the legislation. The province is also proposing expanding the criteria of the community Revitalization Levy program that allows me to apologies to borrow against future property tax revenues to fund development. Now we’ve passed That program would include capital costs of privately owned, affordable or attainable housing. Now, it is important to note that some municipalities in the province already incorporate the proposed changes into their development processes, but of course the legislation would make it mandatory for all. Now, Minister McIver says he hopes these changes would spur development by the fall or even as early as this summer.