ABC plunges forward on major changes to city building policies, despite widespread opposition

Mayor Ken Sim says Vancouverites can have it all. “Affordability alongside climate action,” Sim said of his three-pronged motion to overhaul the city’s building code, roll back energy regulations, and halt an emissions reduction program for large buildings.

But opponents think Sim’s plan doesn’t deliver either affordability or climate action. A wide range of groups, including environmentalists, landlords and homeowner associations, builders, the federal and provincial governments, opposition councillors, and members of the public, have spoken out against the move. 

The debate bears similarities to a consequential, but unsuccessful, 2024 attempt to reverse the city’s requirement that new residential buildings use electric equipment, rather than gas or oil, for space heating and hot water. The attempt was ultimately defeated by ABC councillors Lisa Dominato, Peter Meiszner, and Rebecca Bligh, who split from their party colleagues to vote against it. For Bligh, it was one of several dissents that eventually led to her being kicked out of the party three months later. 

Unlike 2024, this time all the councillors in ABC’s majority ultimately united behind Sim to approve the motion, despite the pushback from all sides.