Haley Chang

Premier Christy Clark announced her new cabinet on March 14, 2011, downsizing to 18 ministers from 24.

• Premier – Hon. Christy Clark (No seat, but expected to run in Vancouver – Point Grey)*

• Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance – Hon. Kevin Falcon (Surrey – Cloverdale)

• Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation – Hon. Mary Polak (Langley)

• Minister of Advanced Education – Hon. Naomi Yamamoto (North Vancouver – Lonsdale)*

• Minister of Agriculture – Hon. Don McRae (Comox Valley)

• Attorney General – Hon. Barry Penner (Chilliwack – Hope)

• Minister of Children and Family Development – Hon. Mary McNeil (Vancouver – False Creek)*

• Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development – Hon. Ida Chong (Oak Bay – Gordon Head)

• Minister of Education – Hon. George Abbott (Shuswap)

• Minister of Energy and Mines (Minister responsible for Housing) – Hon. Rich Coleman (Fort Langley – Aldergrove)

• Minister of Environment – Hon. Terry Lake (Kamloops – North Thompson)

• Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations – Hon. Steve Thomson (Kelowna – Mission)

• Minister of Health – Hon. Michael de Jong (Abbotsford West)

• Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation – Hon. Pat Bell (Prince George – Mackenzie)

• Minister of Labour, Citizens’ Services and Open Government – Hon. Stephanie Cadieux (Surrey – Panorama)

• Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General – Hon. Shirley Bond (Prince George – Valemont)

• Minister of Social Development (minister responsible for Multiculturalism) – Hon. Harry Bloy (Burnaby – Lougheed)*

• Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure – Hon. Blair Lekstrom (Peace River South)

*Indicates the minister is from a riding within the REBGV area.

Who will we be working with?

When it comes to buying, selling and owning real estate, our key cabinet ministers are:

• Hon. Kevin Falcon, Minister of Finance who is responsible for real estate industry regulation and taxation issues.

• Hon. Rich Coleman, the Minister responsible for Housing, who oversees building policy and standards, homeowner protection, residential tenancy issues, energy policy and housing affordability.

• Premier Christy Clark is also important because she provides overall leadership and sets government priorities.

The Real Estate Board’s Government Relations (GR) Committee together with BC Real Estate Association, plans to meet with these ministers at the earliest possible date.

The GR Committee will be talking to them about our key issue of concern – the overwhelming level of taxes associated with buying property. This includes changes to the Property Transfer Tax (PTT) and the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) and other housing related concerns.

We have been recommending the government:

1. Increase the 1% PTT threshold to $525,000 from $200,000, and in expensive markets increase it to $700,000.

2. Raise the HST BC New Housing Rebate threshold to $700,000 from $525,000 in expensive markets such as the Lower Mainland.

3. Allow Input Tax Credits for owners of residential rental accommodations.

We’ll also be talking to:

• Hon. Ida Chong, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development about local fees and taxes and land use regulation.

• Hon. Blair Lekstrom, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure about public transit finance and development.

• Hon. Don McRae, Minister of Agriculture, about concerns over proposed changes in how residential property is treated under the Agricultural Land Reserve regulations.