Metro Vancouver mayors outraged over bill that would restrict professional peer reviews on development

Metro Vancouver mayors are taking aim at a provincial bill they say would limit a city’s ability to peer review development applications certified by professionals.

At a committee of mayors last week, Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley raised concerns about the [Professional Reliance Act](https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/bills/billscurrent/1st43rd:m216-1) proposed by NDP MLA George Anderson.

[…]

The bill would mean a local government must accept any technical submission certified by a professional registered under the Professional Governance Act (PGA) for a development project approval process — unless the submission is incomplete, according to the bill.

Professional engineers, geoscientists and architects, among other professions, fall under the PGA.

A local government would also not be allowed to [peer review](https://tools.egbc.ca/Practice-Resources/Individual-Practice/Guidelines-Advisories/Document/01525AMW4JBQUB6XYU2ZAI7RBQGPRPE6U3/Peer%20Review) a submission certified by a PGA professional.

Currently, B.C. municipalities can double-check the work of professionals submitted by developers as part of approving new housing.

For example, staff at the City of Vancouver review a variety of applications related to zoning, design and servicing to ensure they comply with city bylaws and other regulations, according to an emailed statement.

The city said staff can generally resolve any discrepancies through its standard review procedure.

!ping Can-BC&Yimby

Cry and seethe