Derrick Penner
Sun
The provincial government took a step toward modernizing and greening provincial building practices this week with an update of some overarching legislation.
The government’s Bill-10, which was introduced Monday and passed second reading on Tuesday, makes changes to its Local Government Act, Community Charter, Vancouver Charter, Architects Act and Engineers and Geoscientists Act.
Among new initiatives in the bill is a provision allowing the provincial minister responsible for housing to designate an official to make binding interpretations of the provincial building code.
“Construction is booming in B.C. and the way we build is changing,” Rich Coleman, forest minister and minister responsible for housing, said in a news release.
“Bill-10 ensures we can construct greener buildings and respond to rapidly changing building technology. It is an important first step in improving the way we regulate buildings and construction.”
OTHER MEASURES IN BILL-10:
– Allow local governments to write energy, water and greenhouse gas conservation bylaws.
– Introduce new building specialists trained in more complex building technologies to the building process.
– Give engineering and architecture professional associations the authority to create and set standards for building specialist designations.
The province said Bill-10 follows three years of consultations with professional, building industry and local-government groups. It will also allow for upcoming changes intended to “green” the B.C. Building Code.
Helen Goodland, executive director of the Light House Sustainable Building Centre in Vancouver, called it “a very strong first step” toward green building practices.
One of the highlights, she added, was that it gives municipalities the power to act on greenhouse gas reduction strategies that will help reach the reduction goals that the province has set.
M.J. Whitemarsh, CEO of the Canadian Homebuilders Association in B.C., said Bill-10 will give the industry some certainty around what it is required to meet new standards.
© The Vancouver Sun 2008
