Housing affordability continues to be a major obstacle for our region's business community.

Last spring, we hosted our inaugural Housing Forum, which coincided with the release of a report, Unlocking Supply: Housing Affordability and the Missing Middle.

One year later, the cost of housing in B.C.'s major centres has continued to steadily rise, while available housing stock and rental vacancy have continued to dwindle. The lack of affordable housing is putting pressure on our economy — compromising our region's competitiveness and livability.

Since then, nearly every level of government has introduced policies to address the housing crisis. It remains to be seen how these initiatives will impact affordability in our region and impact our businesses and economy.

Join us for our 2018 Housing Forum, which will analyze the current state of housing in our region, examine the factors and forces at play, and foster a dialogue on the way forward.

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Keynote Speaker

Honourable Selina Robinson
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Government of British Columbia

Session 1

Getting to Yes:
Policies and barriers to increasing housing supply

The objective of this panel is to map out how our region can achieve the housing goals set out by the various levels of government.

Dan Garrison, Assistant Director of Housing Policy, City of Vancouver
Anne McMullin, President and CEO, Urban Development Institute
Andrew Ramlo, Vice President of Market Intelligence, Rennie Group
Lisa Spitale, Chief Administrative Officer, City of New Westminster
Moderator: Natalie Obiko Pearson, Vancouver Bureau Chief, Bloomberg News

Session 2

Truths and Myths:
The real impact of foreign capital, speculation, and tax policy

This panel will explore the role of foreign capital and speculation in our housing market, as well as tax policies. Topics may also include Airbnb, empty-homes taxes, and how these emerging issues will impact our region's housing market.

Eric Bond, Market Analysis Principal, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Kevin Falcon, Executive Vice President, Anthem Capital Corp
Phil Moore, President, Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver
Paul Sullivan, Senior Partner, Burgess Cawley Sullivan & Associates
Moderator: Hayley Woodin, Multimedia Journalist, Business in Vancouver

Session 3

Strategic Partnerships and Cooperation:
The key to unlocking housing affordability in B.C.

There is no silver bullet in addressing housing affordability in our region. This session will explore how overlapping initiatives from different levels of government and the private sector can work together to achieve a common goal.

Mike Clay, Mayor, City of Port Moody; Chair, Housing Committee, Metro Vancouver
Kira Gerwing, Manager, Community Investment, Vancity
Brian McCauley, President and CEO, Concert Properties
Lisa Rupert, Vice President, Housing Services and Violence Prevention, YWCA Metro Vancouver
Moderator: Andy Broderick, Managing Director, New Commons Development

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