ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: June 14, 2002
Author/Local: Cameron Gray/7207

RTS No. 02785

CC File No. 1310/4551

Council: June 25, 2002

TO:	Vancouver City Council
FROM:	Director of the Housing Centre
SUBJECT:	Tri-Country Conference 2002

RECOMMENDATION

THAT Council approve a $5,000 contribution to the 2002 Tri-Country Conference that will be held in Vancouver September 10-13 2002 and will bring together leading experts from the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada to discuss the future of housing policy, source of funds to be the Affordable Housing Fund.

This is a grant and requires 8 affirmative votes of Council.

GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS

The General Manager RECOMMENDS approval of the foregoing.

COUNCIL POLICY

Council policy is to contribute to conferences where senior staff are involved in presenting or organizing.

PURPOSE

This report seeks Council approval of a $5,000 contribution to the 2002 Tri-Country Conference which will be held in Vancouver in September 2002 and at which experts from the UK, the US and Canada will discuss the future of housing policy.

BACKGROUND

The Tri-Country Conference brings together sixty leaders in housing policy from the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada, twenty from each, to discuss emerging housing issues and responses. It has been held every two years for the past twelve years. The location alternates between the UK, the US and Canada. The 2000 conference was held in Manchester, England.

2002 TRI-COUNTRY CONFERENCE

The 2002 Tri-Country Conference will be held in Vancouver this September. It will include context papers and case studies from each of the UK, the US and Canada. Canada will present two case studies, one from Toronto and one from Vancouver. The Vancouver case study will describe the City/Province non-market housing partnership that has evolved over the last decade. There will be tour of Vancouver's downtown non-market housing projects. The Director of the Housing Centre and the CEO of BC Housing are the conference co-chairs.

This is an important international conference. There are a limited number of attendees but they are influential policy makers. It is an opportunity to both present the City's non-market housing accomplishments to an international audience and receive feedback from external perspectives. The Canadian Housing and Renewal Assn. is hosting and organizing the conference for Canada, and have asked that the City contribute $5,000. Their letter is attached. CMHC, BC Housing and the City of Toronto will be contributing as well. It is recommended that Council approve a $5,000 contribution to the Tri-Country Conference with the funds to be provided to BC Housing who are making the local arrangements. The source of funds would be the Affordable Housing Fund. This is a grant and requires 8 affirmative votes of Council.

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