Building Regulatory System

WHEREAS in February 2012 the Building and Safety Standards Branch of the Ministry of Energy and Mines issued two White Papers entitled A Modern Building Regulatory System and Certification of Local Government Building Officials that present proposals for potential regulatory changes to the building regulatory system; AND WHEREAS the proposals contained within the White Papers will impact local governments ability to implement building-related by-law requirements to address important local issues and specific community needs, which may result in unnecessary delays in building permit issuance and construction; AND WHEREAS the proposals include the introduction of a new levy to fund the role of the Province in the modernizing of the building regulatory system to be collected by local government when a building permit is issued, which will add costs to the building industry and to local government; AND WHEREAS the proposed system of mandatory certification for building officials as it is currently structured does not recognize other certification processes that are already in place, will affect the ability of local governments to continue to provide plan checking and building inspection services efficiently and will be costly to local governments: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM request that the provincial government, through the Building and Safety Standards Branch, implement a further fulsome engagement process with local governments and other participants in the building regulatory system to further develop the proposed Building Regulatory System with a view to addressing local government concerns prior to proceeding with any legislative changes to implement the new System.