Reimagining Design: Sustainable Solutions Frontlines

Okanagan Municipalities to Tackle Issues Together

Beginning Monday, July 21, Municipal Councils of Kelowna, Vernon, Penticton and Westside began considering bylaws that will allow the development of inter-municipal service agreements for these matters and two others, transit and harmonization of regulations. Once bylaws are in place in each of the participating municipalities, agreements can be struck between any partner.

"It is a ground-breaking undertaking," says Kelowna Mayor Sharon Shepherd. "We all understand that some issues, like the ones we've identified, have no borders and that the fair sharing of skills, energy and knowledge will lead to stronger services for all the participants."

"With these bylaws and agreements, we've built the framework we need to move forward on these regional concerns with the most common sense, working
together and not separately, towards these common goals," says Acting Westside Mayor Duane Ophus.

"Duplication of effort makes no sense; we are often looking for solutions to the same problems," says Penticton Mayor Jake Kimberley. "This undertaking is intended to help all the partners make the most efficient effort."

"We've agreed to ensure that partners can withdraw, that other municipalities can join and that more subjects of concern can be added. The goal is to make these agreements as mutually beneficial as possible," says Vernon Mayor Wayne Lippert.

These agreements, named Intermunicipal Services Schemes, are authorized under the Community Charter, and the Okanagan Councils are endeavouring to use them to work on regional concerns, tearing down jurisdictional constraints.

For several months, the chief administrative officers of each municipality have been meeting to develop the legal documents and background information that will form the foundation of service agreements. These top administrators will also play a key role in the administration of service agreements.

The proposed bylaws will establish an Intermunicipal Advi
sory Board comprised of the four Okanagan mayors and chief administrative officers. This board will provide direction to Kelowna, Westside, Penticton and Vernon councils and advise on the issues of the partnership for decision making at the council level.

The bylaws provide for administrative services that may be required to carry out the agreements. The four local governments have agreed to provide services using existing staff as needed and determined within agreements.

With each municipality dedicated to providing the most efficient delivery of services and meeting the needs of as many residents as possible, this move to work together on common issues is expected to save time, effort and expense.

City of kelowna

Feds Move to Strengthen Canadian Housing Market

n Fixing the maximum amortization period for new government-backed mortgages to 35 years

n Requiring a minimum down payment of five per cent for new government-backed mortgages

n Establishing a consistent minimum credit score requirement

n Introducing new loan documentation standards.

The announcement marks a responsible and measured approach by the government to ensure Canada's housing market remains strong and to reduce the risk of a U.S.-style housing bubble developing in Canada.

The new limits are planned to take effect October 15, 2008. This would allow existing mortgage pre-approvals with the common 90-day duration to be used or expire. Certain exceptions would also be permitted after October 15. The Government will work closely with all stake holders to ensure timely and effective implementation of these measures.

As these measures relate only to new, government-backed insured mortgages, Canadians who already hold mortgages will not be affected by this announcement.

The measures announced today will build on the strength of Canada's housing market. According to the International Monetary Fund, the increase in house prices in Canada is based on sound economic factors such as low interest rates, rising incomes and a growing population. A recent Statistics Canada report concluded that home ownership is at record levels, with over two-thirds of Canadians owning their own home.

Mortgage arrears ­ overdue mortgage payments ­ have also remained low. In recent years, the percentage of mortgages in arrears for three months or more continues to be at low levels not seen since 1990.

Government of canada

department of finance

Housing Starts Remain High Despite Decrease

The seasonally adjusted annual rate¹ of housing starts was 217,800 units in June, down from 227,700 units in May, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).

"Despite the decrease in June, total housing starts remain at high levels." said Bob Dugan, Chief Economist at CMHC's Market Analysis Centre. "This is mostly due to the multiple segment which has been continuously above the 100,000 unit threshold since the beginning of the year."

The seasonally adjusted annual rate of urban starts moved down by 5.0percent in June compared to May. Both urban
multiples and singles decreased, with a decline of 3.0percent for multiples to 114,700 units, and a 7.8percent drop for singles to 74,600 units.

The seasonally adjusted annual rate of urban starts went down in all regions of Canada, except Ontario, where housing starts increased by 10.8percent to 77,900 in June. Urban starts declined to 8,500 units in Atlantic Canada, 40,300 units in Quebec, 31,200 units in the Prairies, and 31,400 units in British Columbia. Both single and multiple urban starts decreased in all regions in June, with the exception of multiple starts in Ontario which increased by 30percent.

Rural starts were estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 28,500 units in June.

For the first half of 2008, actual starts in rural and urban areas combined were up an estimated 1.5percent compared to the same period last year. Year-to-date actual starts in urban areas have increased by an estimated 6.1per cent over the same period in 2007. Actual urban single starts for the first six months of this year were 13.1percent lower than they were a year earlier, while multiple starts were up by 23.1percent over the same period.

Canada mortgage & housing

corporation

SolarBC Offers $Millions in Solar Incentives

The BC Sustainable Energy Association (BCSEA) joined the BC government in proudly announcing the launch of the SolarBC solar hot water program. Over the next two years, SolarBC will facilitate the installation of over 2,000 solar systems in homes around BC with significant financial support from the provincial and federal governments.

SolarBC's residential project kicks off a comprehensive program that will include incentives for municipalities, social housing, First Nations and schools. The goal is to influence policy and building regulations, reduce barriers to the widespread adoption of solar hot water, and achieve a market transformation for solar hot water technologies in British Columbia.

"We will be establishing five solar communities that will take on a leadership role and act as flagship communities in the province," said SolarBC executive director Nitya Harris. "Together with these communities we will launch training and outreach programs that will build capacity and raise awareness of solar hot water."

SolarBC offers a $1,000 point-of-sale discount to individual households on solar hot water installations. SolarBC incentives are now available and can be
combined with an additional $500 from the ecoENERGY Retrofit Program and $125 from the LiveSmart BC Program.

"We want to sincerely thank our government partners, and in particular the Ministry of Energy Mines and Petroleum Resources, who have made this program possible," said BCSEA president Guy Dauncey. "SolarBC will help BC residents save money and energy while reducing their carbon emissions."

Full information is available at www.SolarBC.ca

BC sustainable energy association

BC Increases

Clean Technology Venture Capital

"Innovative clean technology reducing GHG emissions will play a key role in helping to grow B.C.'s green economy," said Technology, Trade and Economic Development Minister Ida Chong. "The tax credits will lever up to as much as $25 million annually in venture capital to support clean tech companies that can offer exciting employment and investment opportunities to British Columbians."

British Columbia is home to the third-largest clean technology cluster worldwide, according to Price Waterhouse Coopers LLP (BC Advanced Energy Sector Profile 2007). Growing at an annual rate of 11 per cent, B.C.'s clean technology sector includes over 250 companies employing about 3,700 people.

"The global focus on reducing the carbon footprint will only intensify in future," said Pascal Spothelfer, British Columbia Technology Industry Association president and CEO. "Attracting new investment for more clean energy technology will help build British Columbia as a world leader in sustainability and
environmental stewardship. Even now, we are exporting clean technologies around the world to help manage the impact of climate change. With so many opportunities, B.C.'s clean energy tech sector is well positioned for substantial growth."

B.C.'s clean tech sector conducts research and development in many areas, including energy generation, fuel cell development, reducing industrial fuel costs and increasing energy efficiency, transportation, water and wastewater, clean air and environmental technology.

For every dollar of venture capital invested into a B.C. clean tech company qualified under the program, an individual investor earns a 30 per cent tax credit
that is fully refundable. The maximum credit per investor per year is $60,000, which would be realized by a $200,000 investment. Companies must keep capital raised under the program invested for five years.

By helping to stimulate the development of clean technologies by British Columbia companies, the new tax credits, announced during Budget 2008, will support the provincial government's commitment to reduce greenhouse gases by at least 33 per cent by 2020.

Government of british

columbia

New Assessment Class Benefits Supportive Housing

"This government is committed to building the best system of supports for British Columbians," said Krueger. "The creation of a new supportive housing assessment class is one more way we are demonstrating that commitment."

The relief applies to 67 supportive housing properties located throughout the province and is based on recent amendments to provincial legislation and regulations.

The legislative amendment under the Assessment Act created a new supportive housing assessment class to provide property tax relief by reducing property assessment values to a nominal value. The Ministry of Small Business and Revenue worked in consultation with the Ministry of Housing and Social Development, BC Housing and BC Assessment to identify properties eligible for the initial designations for the 2009 Assessment Roll. In subsequent years, the Ministry of Housing and Social Development will be responsible for identifying eligible supportive housing properties for designation.

In order to be considered for designation under the proposed new assessment class, properties must be provincially funded to provide supportive housing, including on-site support services for persons who were previously homeless, at risk of homelessness, have mental or physical disabilities, or have or are recovering from drug or alcohol addictions. The amendments will take effect for the 2009 assessment year.

For more information regarding the requirements to be designated as a supportive housing: www.housing.gov.bc.ca or contact the Office of Housing and Construction Standards at 250.356.6633.

For more information regarding the implementation of the classification and assessment of Class 3 ­ Supportive Housing properties, please contact the Property Assessment branch of the Ministry of Small Business and Revenue at 250.356.7535, toll-free, 800.663.7867.

Ggovernment of british

columbia

Copyright © 2008 Wheat King Publishing and the authors. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied or reprinted without the written consent of the publisher. The opinions expressed in Okanagan Home are those of the writers and editors, and do not represent the official position of the Canadian Home Builders' Association, Central Okanagan, or of its members.