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CHBA Report - President's Message, Summer focus : Building Code
and export strategy
Bryk, T.
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CH BA Re port - Pre side nt 's M e ssa ge , Sum m e r foc us : Building Code
a nd e x port st ra t e gy
V I S I - 1 7 6
B r y k , T .
J u l y 1 9 9 4
A version of this document is published in / Une version de ce document se trouve dans:
Home Builder Magazine, (4), July, pp. 38, July, 1994
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CHBA
REPORT
President's Message
Summer Focus: Building Code and Export Strategy
Ted Bryk, President, CHBA
II.
"Building codes have
overstepped the limits
of health, safety and
structural efficiency."
•
CHBA EXECUTIVE BOARD President:
Ted Bryk, Orangeville, Ont.
Immediate Past President:
Bill Strain, Surrey, B.C.
First Vice-President:
Bruce Clemmensen, Weston, Ont. Second Vice-Presidents:
Wally Miller, Vancouver, B.C, Bob Mclaughlin, Aothesay, N.B.
Treasurer:
Mary Kenny, Halifax, N.8.
Secretary:
Cal Wenzel, Calgary, Alta.
Presidential Appointees: Serge Boucher, Brossard, Que.
Garnet Kindervater, 81. John's, Nfld. Bud Sinclair, Hamilton, Ont.
Chief Operating Officer:
John Kenward, Ottaw8,Ont,
CHBACONTACT
Michael Gough, National Office, Ottawa
38 Home BUIlDER July/August '94
Though the dog days of summer are upon us, the CHBA continues to be active and vocal on issues of interest to all member home builders and renovators. I'd like to update you on two important ones. The first is our Association's concerns with the National Building Code of Canada and its provincial derivatives. The sec-ond is our strategy for developing an export market for the Canadian housing industry.
Focus Has Been Lost
It seems that many) including provincial regulato-ry bodies, have lost sight of the true purpose of the model National Building Code: its critical role as a model document adoptable by provinces to ensure safe housing for Canadians. The CHBA has always strongly supported that goal in the form of uniform minimum standards in provincial building codesｭｯ､ｾ
eled on the National Building Code.
However) the national model code and many provincial building codes have overstepped the lim-its of health, safety and structurai sufficiency. They have expanded the Code's scope to include issues it was never intendedtocover, like security provisions. Another is the energy regulations found in a num-ber of provincial codes, and now proposed forｩｮ｣ｬｵｾ
sion in the National Building Code. Understandably, there is considerable controversy surrounding this issue - precisely because it does not fall within the health and safety parameters. The Association recogw nizes the right of provinces to impose energy efficiency regulations. That is why the CHBA has remained plugged into the development of the model National Building Code for houses. While we want the Energy Codeto remain separate from the model National Building Code, we suggest it be looked at seriously by those provinces insisting on regulations in this area, There is a sensible "litmus test" for proposed changes to the Code: three vital questions which must be answered every time a change is suggested, They are:
1.Is there a health and safety problem?
2. Does the proposed requirement alleviate the prob-lem?
3. Is it expensive? If it is) then the proposal must be subjected to rigorous cost-benefit analysis.
Pasition Paper Issued
We can't forget the ultimate clients of building code regulations: home-buying consumers. Code require-ments must be sensitive to their needs and expectaw tions) including concern for costs. As home builders, our livelihood depends upon effectively capturing the
voice of consumers, The viability 'of our product is seriously threatened by unnecessary Code require-ments. You can expect that review of building code, and related building regulations, will be issues in your province shortly. Indeed, CHBA-BC has just complet-ed a major position paper on these issues, beginning a crucial dialogue with its provincial government. I am very pleased that CHBA-BC relied heavily on CHBA's new Position Paper on the Role, Scope and Purpose of the National Building Code of Canada when developing its document. If you haven't gotten your copy yet, contact your Local Association Executive Officer to get one.
Housing - a Marketable Export
The CHBA has also been working hard for sever-al years to develop an export strategy for one of Canada's greatest resources; the expertise andｰｲｯ､ｾ
ucts of our housing industry. We recently submitted a paper to the federal government which outlines our key suggestions,
Service a Vital Component
Until now, housing exports have focused on the tangible: the products needed to build shelter. The CHBA believes Canadians offer many high-quality ser-vices that are equally well suited for export, and which will help to build long-term sustainable markets for Canada's first-rate building products.
To exploit this potential, we offer several sugges-tions for an effective' approach. First, the government and other organizations must offer a wide range of information and provide help to companies interest-ed in exporting - especially small firms.
This could be done most efficiently if the two fed-eral departments (Industry Canada, and Foreign Affairs and International Trade) and several other key orga-nizarions concerned, such as the Canadian Building Exports Council and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, work cohesively, Federal export assis-tance and financial help should be made directly avail-able to the entrepreneurs who need it.
Finally, we recommend strong market research to uncover the best opportunities for Canadian firms in world housing markets.
