KeyNotes article submitted by:
Rick Cook, MLAI, Vancouver Chapter, Global Initiatives Committee Co-chair
Rick Cook is co-chair of LAI’s Global Initiatives Committee. He consults as a land use planner and development consultant to private and public sector clients in the Metro Vancouver region of British Columbia, Canada.
The LAI Global Initiatives sponsored webinar series on Home Ownership in Transition - A Canada-California Comparison was held on Thursday, October 26, 2023.
The webinar explored the differences between acceptance of condo housing (5 or more units, apartment or townhome) in Canada compared to California. 38 percent of the new housing added in Canada between 2011 and 2021 was in the form of multi-family condos (5 or more units), compared to an estimated 3 percent in California.
A moderated panel of experts educated LAI members on legal, insurance and regulatory perspectives. Speakers were Wendy Moir, CEO and Registrar, Ontario Home Construction Regulatory Authority; Tamara L. Boeck, Partner Stoel Rives LLP and Kerry Nagy, Vice-President – Underwriting, Travelers Canada and Ken Cameron, former CEO of British Columbia Homeowner Protection Office. Tim Youmans, Sacramento LAI member and former LAI President, moderated.
The webinar focused on two key areas that can be addressed through public policy and legislation.
- Construction defect risks and legislation
- Project financial risk
The primary recommendation is that California consider the systems in place in Canada that could assist with development of ownership multi-family housing (apartment and townhome condominiums) in the California context.
LAI members Ken Cameron (Vancouver), Tim Youmans (Sacramento) and Rick Cook (Global Initiatives Committee co-chair) prepared the attached short discussion paper to introduce the topic. Home Ownership in Transition
A summary of the webinar, in particular the question and answer session is provided here; Summary of Webinar
Links to the Event Recording and Additional Resources, including the Presentation Slides:
View the recording of the presentation
BC Real Estate Development Marketing Act FAQ
HOA duty to inspect
California’s sliding homeownership ladder (Terner Center, 2023)
BC Homeowner Protection Act and Regulations
BC Residential Construction Performance Guide
Presentation Slides: Tamara Boeck Wendy Moir Kerry Nagy Ken Cameron
 Tamara Boeck
Partner, Stoel Rives LLP
Tamara L. Boeck is a real estate and construction partner at Stoel Rives LLP and the former Chair of the firm’s real estate, development and construction group, a position she held for five years. Tami has over 30 years of experience representing clients in all areas of construction law and project development, routinely advising owners, developers and general contractors on a wide range of construction projects including commercial, mixed-use, residential and food processing facilities.
 Wendy Moir
CEO, Home Construction and Regulatory Authority
Wendy Moir joined the Home Construction Regulatory Authority (HCRA) as CEO & Registrar in April 2021. Prior to joining the HCRA, Wendy served as the Vice-President and Registrar, Licensing and Consumer Services at BC Housing. Wendy has over 20 years of experience in the licensing and regulation of professionals, legislative and policy development, construction, housing, and consumer protection. She has led important initiatives to increase the quality of residential construction and strengthen consumer protection. Wendy has degrees in both law and political science from the University of Calgary.
 Kerry Nagy
Vice President - Underwriting, Travelers Canada
Kerry Nagy has over 20 years experience with Travelers Insurance Company of Canada and is responsible for Residential Real Estate products in Western Canada - New Home Warranty, Deposit Protection Insurance and Development Bonds being the primary products. With a background in construction that stemmed from his father being a general contractor in Saskatchewan, Kerry has a Bachelors Degree in Economics with a specialization in Finance. This has been supplemented with a Diploma in Urban Land Economics from UBC along with numerous construction and insurance related courses over his 24-year career. As a longtime leader in the home warranty industry in BC, Kerry has been fortunate to be participant in the development of the warranty legislation in Alberta in 2013/14 and the development of the legislative framework that allowed for the use of deposit protection insurance in BC in 2004/05.
 Ken Cameron
Retired CEO, Homeowner Protection Office
Ken Cameron has served in a variety of planning and intergovernmental relations positions in Ontario and British Columbia. In his native Vancouver, Ken led the development and adoption of the ground-breaking Metro Vancouver Livable Region Strategic Plan and was a driving force behind the establishment of TransLink. Between 2004 and 2009, he was Chief Executive Officer of the Homeowner Protection Office, a provincial Crown corporation dedicated to establishing and maintaining consumer confidence in the residential construction industry. Ken served two terms as President of the LAI Vancouver Chapter.
 Tim Youmans (Moderator)
President, Tim Youmans Consulting
Tim R. Youmans is President of Tim Youmans Consulting. Tim was one of the founders Economic and Planning Systems in 1983 (EPS). Tim has more than 35 years of experience in assessing the economic impacts and financial feasibility of development projects and designing appropriate financing mechanisms for the construction of needed infrastructure. Tim has been LAI International President and Sacramento Chapter President.
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