Correspondence from Housing Reset Re: Risks of Bill M216
Email expressing concerns about the Professional Reliance Act (Bill M216).
From: Housing Reset info@housingreset.ca
Sent: November 12, 2025 10:31 AM
To: info@housingreset.ca
Subject: All BC municipal councils: Risks of Bill M216 (Professional Reliance Act) - Expert Letter to BC Govt
(To City Clerk: This is a critical matter for all BC municipalities, returning to BC Legislature on November 17, likely for a vote. We hope you will share this e-mail/letter with your City Council and City Manager. There has been virtually zero media coverage so far, but just today, the Delta Optimist covered the story - "New B.C. law could make cities take the word of professionals" (link). The Metro Vancouver Mayor's Committee, representing municipalities with about half the B.C. population, held a special meeting on November 7, coming out strongly against Bill M216 (video link).)
To All Mayors and Councils in British Columbia:
This message and attached letter was sent to the BC Government, including all MLAs. It expresses serious concerns about Bill M216 (Professional Reliance Act), from thirty urbanists, urban planners, architects, and academics, most with decades of experience.
This letter makes the following points.
Bill M216, introduced as a Member's Bill on Oct 21 (and set for a vote in BC Legislature as early as Nov 17)...
- Amounts to a quiet revolution in local governance
- Is a technical bill with profound consequences
- Is part of a pattern of Provincial overreach
- If passed, will institutionalize conflict of interest.
- If passed, will erode municipal self-determination
- Represents centralization without affordability
- Lacks transparency and accountability
The signatories are calling for democratic restraint on Bill M216. In other words, it should be withdrawn, lest considerable harm be done to the relationship between the Province, municipalities, and the people of British Columbia. The open letter enumerates many problems with the Bill. Removing democratic checks does not guarantee affordability, and risks handing over unprecedented control to private actors and provincially appointed officials—for no discernible benefit and at great expense to the public good.
The full text of the open letter is attached in PDF format, and also available at the Housing Reset link, which compiled a series of open letters to all levels of government sent this year. https://housingreset.ca/2025/11/07/govbc-bill-m216-professional-reliance-act/
Presumably you have also noted that the Union of BC Municipalities has also expressed serious concerns about Bill M216 (link).
The letter is also being sent to all mayors and councils across this province. Please take these matters seriously.
Open letter signatories:
Larry Beasley, Lance Berelowitz, Patrick Condon, Frank Ducote, Alexandra Flynn, and more (see attached PDF for full list of 30 signatories)
Attached:
2025-11-07 Letter to Province re Bill M216-Professional Reliance Act -Final-1.pdf
HOUSING RESET
Urbanist experts on housing policy
info@housingreset.ca
www.housingreset.ca
Metro Vancouver based professionals and academics with decades of experience in housing policy, urban planning, architecture, urban design, and real estate development -- broadening the search for enduring housing solutions.