HAS: Housing Affordability Symposium - November 1 & 2, 2010 

For the first time, the issue of market housing affordability will be addressed in person, not just in headlines. Bringing together the residential construction industry and members of government, this symposium will provide the forum to openly discuss barriers and solutions to improve market housing affordability in BC (not social or subsidized housing).

More than an educational conference, this symposium provides interactive roundtable discussions amongst all delegates to address various issues related to community planning, maximizing housing stock, economic issues, and regulatory constraints. 

The results from the symposium and breakout sessions will be compiled to produce the follow-up report The Action Plan to Address Housing Affordability in BC. This document, which will outline actionable items to address affordability, will be presented to the provincial government later this year and will form the foundation of future discussions between all stakeholders. In addition to roundtable sessions, the event will feature various keynote speakers including:

                -  David Baxter, Executive Director, Urban Futures Institute

                -  Premier Gordon Campbell*

                -  Honourable Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing and Social Development*

                -  Honourable Ben Stewart, Minister of Community and Rural Development*

                -  Cameron Muir, Chief Economist, BC Real Estate Association

                -  Michael Geller, President, The Geller Group

                -  Tsur Somerville, Director, UBC Centre for Urban Economics and Real Estate

                -  and numerous government and industry development leaders