While some homebuilders oppose council's recent move, the shift was welcomed by a coalition of labour and business groups

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Dozens of Vancouver construction industry leaders have sent a letter calling on city council to reverse its plan to start allowing natural gas heating in new buildings.

The builders are responding to Vancouver council’s surprise decision in July to direct staff to amend city bylaws to enable natural gas for heating and hot water in new construction, reversing a policy approved in 2020 by the previous council with the aim of reducing carbon pollution. During the recent meeting, the ABC council members who supported the policy reversal said it was intended to speed up housing construction and improve affordability.

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But a group of builders is now asking council to reconsider their position before the amended bylaws come back for final adoption later this fall.

“While Vancouver is clearly suffering from a housing affordability crisis, this is not the result of the current emissions limits for new buildings,” says the letter, which was sent Oct. 4 and signed by 40 names, including presidents, principals, and partners of Vancouver-area construction, design, architecture and development firms.

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