BCNPHA has contracted with Poissy Design to develop an online discussion board for Development Consultants who are BCNPHA members.

As you may have heard, the Federal Government has made a decision to eliminate the mandatory Census long form questionnaire. It has been replaced by the voluntary National Household Survey.

The harmonized sales tax (HST) is now in effect in British Columbia. The HST is applied on most purchases of taxable supplies of goods and services in British Columbia at a rate of 12%, consisting of the 5% federal portion and a 7% provincial portion.

Some concerns have recently been brought to the attention of BCNPHA within the federal infrastructure funding for redevelopment. For non-profit housing societies that own the land upon which the building being renovated is situated, these issues are important to monitor.

The BC Non-Profit Housing Association established a meeting with BC Housing to create dialogue around issues and questions that are commonly raised by non-profit housing providers given the economic crisis within which we find ourselves.

The CRA recognizes that understanding how the HST applies to transactions that straddle the July 1, 2010, implementation date can be complex. To provide you with answers, the CRA is developing an ever-growing list of information products to help businesses understand the transitional rules that will apply to transactions that are in progress on July 1.

The following are 2 articles announcing that a coalition of social welfare groups in Ontario have launched a Charter of Rights challenge to the federal government and the Ontario government to force creation of affordable housing.

Bill C-304 (“An Act to ensure secure, adequate, accessible and affordable housing for Canadians”) would require the federal government to work with all levels of government and stakeholders to develop a pan-Canadian strategy to end homelessness and pave the way to ensuring adequate housing as a fundamental human right for everyone in Canada. 

Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) and the BC Non-Profit Housing Association (BCNPHA) are partnering to support Basin communities and organizations in taking action on local affordable housing concerns through CBT’s new Affordable Housing Resources Program.

BCNPHA members are aware that a group of Non-Profits have been working on a joint submission to the Ministry of Finance regarding the Society Act review.