BC Innovation Coalition - Housing Affordability: Government Alignment
Opportunities for enhancement in the development and delivery of housing in BC
The Context
In October, we convened industry practitioners who identified specific cost drivers in housing delivery. Four themes emerged:
Regulatory fragmentation: Every municipality interprets code differently; designers duplicate work across jurisdictions
Permitting opacity: Timelines stretch 12-18+ months; feedback is subjective and inconsistent
Data silos: No shared property information; tools can't scale without standardization
Design iteration waste: Building models updated repeatedly; no single source of truth
Industry estimates these barriers add 15-25% to project costs and 6-12+ months to timelines.
Now we need perspectives from leaders within government.
What This Is
A working session where public-sector leaders share observations on opportunities in housing delivery. Chatham House rules apply - we'll report themes, not attributions.
This is Event 2 of a three-part series:
October 2025 (Complete): Industry lens on cost drivers
January 30, 2026 (This Event): Government lens on barriers and opportunities
March 2026: Solutions lab connecting validated barriers to solution providers
Structure
11:15 | Doors open
11:30 | Official welcome, overview of agenda and BC Innovation Coalition
11:40 | Begin lunch
11:45 | Presentations by sponsors and partners
12:15 | Panel 1 Discussion & Q&A
1:05 | Refreshment break
1:10 | Panel 2 Discussion & Q&A
2:00 | Refreshment Break
2:15 | Breakout discussions
3:15 | Reconvene and share table insights with further Q&A
3:45 | Closing remarks and next steps
4:00 | Opportunity for further networking and discussion
The Panels
We've organized panelists into two focused discussions, each with federal, provincial, and municipal representation. This structure gives each voice more time and allows conversations to go deeper on related themes.
Amy Vilis | DIGITAL Director of Housing Growth Innovation - Moderator
Canada's Global Innovation Cluster for digital technologies. Leads cross-sector partnerships and technology adoption for scalable housing solutions across BC.
Panel 1: Data, Codes & Process
Focused on the enabling infrastructure: data, digital tools, codes, standards, and funding that let innovation scale.
Amy Vilis | DIGITAL - Moderator
Director of Housing Growth Innovation
Moderator Canada's Global Innovation Cluster for digital technologies. Host of the Blueprint for Growth podcast. Leads cross-sector partnerships and technology adoption for scalable housing solutions across BC.
Elizabeth Tang | CMHC
Outreach and Project Development Specialist
Connects housing professionals, academics, and government partners with CMHC's research and funding programs. Federal perspective on housing innovation.
Zachary May | BC Ministry of Housing
Executive Director Construction Standards and Digital Solutions Branch
Leads BC Building Code development, Energy Step Code implementation, and digital permitting initiatives including the DASH platform. Provincial perspective on codes, standards, and construction sector transformation.
Karin Hung | City of Burnaby
Director, Strategic Initiatives, Planning & Development
20 years in municipal planning, leading complex development projects from enquiry through rezoning including multi-family, mixed-use, and institutional projects. Municipal perspective on Metro Vancouver development processes and strategic housing initiatives.
Panel 2: Building Systems & Innovation
Focused on construction methods, advanced materials, and what it takes to get projects through at the municipal level.
Trevor Harmon | Szolyd Concrete - Moderator
President
Victoria-based leader in ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) with North America's first Ductal sublicense from Lafarge. Director of the Natural Buildings Collaborative, a BC industry cluster focused on scaling mass timber and bio-based materials.
Mike Jain | Government of Canada
Construction Innovation
Expert in circular economy, energy storage, and advanced materials. Industrial technology advisor working to lower barriers to construction from coast to coast. Federal perspective on innovation strategy and industrial transformation.
Jarrett Hutchinson | Office of Mass Timber Implementation Executive Director
Authored the Building Code changes enabling UBC's 18-storey Brock Commons and developed BC's Mass Timber Action Plan. Provincial perspective on code innovation and advanced building materials.
Jeremy Caradonna | City of Victoria / CRD
Victoria City Councillor and CRD Director
Vice-Chair of the Capital Region Housing Corporation, overseeing 1,000+ new affordable homes. Municipal perspective on approval pathways and regional coordination.
What We're Producing
Priority barriers: Validated list of 5-7 structural barriers to reducing housing costs and accelerating delivery
Pilot readiness: 2-3 municipalities in CRD/Metro Vancouver willing to pilot solutions, with clarity on conditions for participation
Solutions framework: Shared criteria for evaluating which barriers are "pilot-ready" for March
Partnership network: Working relationships across federal, provincial, municipal, industry, and academic stakeholders
What We Need From You
Candid intelligence. Share where the challenges are, where there's possibility for solutions, and where the highest-leverage intervention points are. Chatham House rules apply, we'll report themes, not attributions.
What Happens After
Week of Feb 3: Synthesis report to all participants
February: Individual follow-ups with potential pilot partners
March 2026: Solutions lab collaborative workshop connecting qualified solution providers to validated barriers
Late 2026: Pilot launches in 2-3 CRD/Metro Vancouver contexts
This event is private and registration is mandatory
If you're involved in the development and delivery of housing housing from either the public or private sector, come join us.
Lunch and snacks will be provided.
If you're coming in from out of town and want to come a night early or stay in Victoria on Friday, our attendees will get a discount at Swans Hotel, just let us know that you'll be staying and we'll share.
Questions? Message us.