'How can we be going backwards?' Vancouver city council votes to allow natural gas heat in new buildings
CTV
Vancouver city council has voted to allow natural gas for heating and hot water in new construction.
Vancouver city council has voted to allow natural gas for heating and hot water in new construction.
The decision was made at Tuesday’s council meeting following a bylaw amendment from ABC Coun. Brian Montague.
Council voted 6-5 for new home construction to implement this option. ABC councillors Peter Meiszner and Lisa Dominato voted against the amendment, with Mayor Ken Sim calling in from Europe to support Montague.
“I think the amendment brings a balance, which is super important,” Sim said. “Look, we all love the environment and we all have a stake in the outcome and we need balance.”
According to Montague, the shift away from electrification is about affordability and fast-tracking the number of new builds that come onto the market.
“Electrification is not the way to go right now,” he said.
Bryn Davidson, the co-owner of Lanefab Design/Build, told CTV News he was disappointed in council’s decision.
