ROLE OF THE COMMITTEES

To ensure that the positions adopted by UDI Quebec are strong, we have formed committees that include members and experts from the commercial real estate sector. Through these committees, UDI Quebec seeks to be as representative of the industry as possible and to pursue a rigorous and centered reflection.

To accomplish its mission effectively, the UDI has formed committees that perform strategic monitoring in their specific area of intervention (economic development, environment, taxation, urban planning, etc.).

STANDING COMMITTEES

Considering that it is necessary to assure constant vigilance in sectors with a direct impact on its members’ interests, the UDI can count on the collaboration of standing committees:

• Executive committee
• Municipal taxation committee (CRQ*)
• Municipal taxation committee (Provincial)
• Business coalition for Montreal's economic development
• Positioning committee (CRQ*)
• Environment committee (Provincial)
• Membership strategic committee (CRQ*)
• Membership strategic committee (Provincial)
• Urban planning committee (Provincial)
• Urban planning committee (CRQ*)
• The three-year strategic plannings committee (Provincial)

• Ad Hoc Committees

To find out when the next committee meetings wil be held, please contact Louise Duchesneau lduchesneau@iduquebec.com

Executive committee

Municipal taxation committee (Stéphane Dion - CRQ*)

Municipal taxation committee (Provincial)

Mandate

Closely monitor taxation of Quebec municipalities with the ultimate aim of reducing, or at least containing, the tax burden of commercial property owners.

2008 – 2009 themes

On the occasion of the new triennial real estate assessment role and the anticipated increase in commercial property values, make the necessary representations, within the context of the budget process of Quebec municipalities, to reduce their aggregate tax burden on commercial property owners.

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Business coalition for Montreal's economic development

Mandate

Work with the municipalities to ensure that the real estate industry contributes to Quebec’s economic development.

2008 – 2009 themes

Convince the elected representatives of the negative impact of an eventual parking tax in Montreal, or any other tax which could hurt the industry (tax on real estate transactions, etc.).

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Positioning committee (Stéphane Dion - CRQ*)

Mandate

The Positioning Committee’s role is to develop strategies intended to maximize the UDI’s name recognition.

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Environment committee (Provincial)

Mandate

Work with the elected representatives on the rehabilitation potential and the regulatory and legal provisions favourable to the environment.

2008 – 2009 themes

• Create a self-sufficient assistance program, funded by the three levels of government, to promote decontamination of contaminated soil;
• Subsidy program for the development of solutions to promote sustainable development;
• Amend the Environment Quality Act to allow rehabilitation and development simultaneously;
• Ensure that more powers are granted to the municipalities so that they can treat organic contamination on site.

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Membership strategic committee (Stéphane Dion - CRQ*)

Membership strategic committee (Provincial)

Mandate

The Membership strategic Committee’s mandate is to solicit commercial real estate industry professionals (office, retail, multiple unit residential and seniors’ residences) to become members of the UDI.

The UDI is mainly composed of owners of institutional and public buildings, financial institutions, real estate brokers, and real estate professionals (architects, engineers, urban planners, etc.).

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Urban planning committee (Provincial)

Urban planning committee (Stéphane Dion - CRQ*)

Mandate

In concert with Quebec municipalities, smooth out the difficulties encountered by developers in their real estate projects;

Exert a positive influence on the Ville de Montréal to improve the development conditions prevailing in that city;

Monitor and participate in the drafting of new urban planning by-laws.

2008 – 2009 themes

• Continue the sensitization process with Quebec municipalities in order to reduce real estate project approval times significantly;
• Ensure that urban planning is attuned to economic development strategies;
• Contribute to reduction of the tax burden of commercial properties;
• Reduce the development costs and the financial and procedural constraints;
• Promote the definition of real estate esthetics as an outcome of the development process, as opposed to an unavoidable objective.

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The three-year strategic plannings committee (Provincial)

Mandate

The three-year strategic plannings committee is responsible for the UDI’s three-year plan and ensures that the events, activities and issues favour the real estate sector’s economic development. It also defends its members’ interests and maintains good communication with the various government authorities.

The Committee reviews the work of the Board of Directors and reflects on everything done by the UDI (mission, issues, statutes and regulations, etc.). It recommends changes at all levels out of a concern for continuous improvement, all subject to approval by the Board of Directors.

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AD HOC COMMITTEES

Based on the needs arising from current events and issues potentially affecting the real estate industry, the UDI has also adopted ad hoc committees dedicated to the search for strategies with the aim of limiting the impacts of a government bill, a new legislative or taxation measure, etc.

The ad hoc committees are temporary but the Board of Directors may choose to make them permanent, depending on the evolution of the issues behind their creation. The ad hoc committees currently in operation at the UDI are:

• Quebec construction commission committee (CCQ) (Provincial) (CCQ) (Provincial)
• Brokers - Real estate brokerage act committee (Provincial)
• Private public partnership committee (Provincial)

Quebec construction commission committee (CCQ) (Provincial)

Mandate

Exchange views with the Commission de la construction du Québec and represent the UDI’s positions regarding certain problems of the Act respecting labour relations, vocational training and manpower management in the construction industry.

2008 – 2009 themes

• Modernize the Act based on the industry’s evolution;
• Ensure that a UDI representative is appointed to the Board of Directors of the Commission de la construction du Québec, in order to present the concerns of its members and submit its proposals, in particular:
  • that it no longer be mandatory to have maintenance and repair work performed by permanent employees;
  • that work which does not change the nature of an office or a dwelling can be performed by employees of the property manager, a subsidiary or the third-party property manage;
  • that the real estate industry can mandate a representative to the Board of Directors of the Commission de la construction du Québec, in order to present its concerns and suggestions.

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Brokers - Real estate brokerage act committee (Provincial)

Mandate

Make approaches to the Association des courtiers immobiliers du Québec (ACAIQ), in order to obtain a commercial broker title and the necessary training for this purpose.

2008 – 2009 themes

• Recommend to the ACAIQ that it introduce training better adapted to the commercial sector and identify the evaluation targets;
• Work in collaboration with the ACAIQ so that the Act is amended for this purpose.

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Private public partnership committee (Provincial)

Institut pour le Partenariat Public-Privé
MERX Canadian public tenders

Mandate

Monitor the status of Quebec public-private partnerships (PPP);

Inform the UDI’s members about issues related to PPP, such as priority of performance of projects, the concept of public management in order to promote public-private partnerships, etc.

2008 – 2009 themes

Hold a session with the Institute for Public-Private Partnerships in order to inform the members about eventual development projects with which the members could be associated.

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* Le Conseil régional de Québec de l'IDU Québec