Burnaby, B.C. – Today, MCABC welcomed the opportunity to meet with Mayor Mike Hurley and City of Burnaby staff to highlight the critical role the mechanical contracting industry plays in Burnaby and across British Columbia. The discussion focused primarily on the significant impact of 2026 plumbing permit fee increases on projects that were previously tendered.
Effective January 1, 2026, the City of Burnaby implemented increases to plumbing permit fees intended to align with those of other municipalities. However, for mechanical contractors, these changes have created unintended consequences. Projects priced and tendered under previous fee structures are now exposed to substantial, unanticipated cost increases that were not—and could not have been—accounted for at the time of bid.
During the meeting, Kim Barbero, MCABC CEO; Trevor Hildebrand, MCABC Past Chair/Secretary Treasurer and President, Phase Mechanical; and Stuart Morrison, MCABC member and Principal, Northland Mechanical Contracting, illustrated the magnitude of the issue, citing one project that experienced an 80% increase in permit costs between December 2025 and early January. Such sudden and significant increases place an extraordinary burden on Contractors.
Stuart Morrison, Principal, Northland Mechanical Contracting; Kim Barbero, MCABC CEO; City of Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley; and Trevor Hildebrand, MCABC Past Chair/Secretary Treasurer and President, Phase Mechanical
The Mayor and City staff were receptive to MCABC’s input and expressed appreciation for the practical example provided. MCABC and the City of Burnaby have committed to ongoing collaboration, particularly around improving communication and ensuring that future policy changes consider downstream impacts on industry stakeholders.
This engagement with the City of Burnaby is another example of MCABC’s integrated government relations strategy in action—advocating on behalf of the mechanical contracting industry at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels to support fair, predictable, and transparent regulatory frameworks.
About
The Mechanical Contractors Association of B.C. (MCABC) is the dedicated representative of the mechanical contracting industry in British Columbia – the industry with the largest share of skilled trades workers in the construction sector. As the connection to industry excellence for our diverse membership, we deliver education and professional development programs that enable high standards of practice and business success. Through advocacy and strong industry partnerships, we influence policy and regulatory development at all levels of government, advancing the interests of our industry and improving its ability to meet B.C.’s growing infrastructure demand.
Media Contact
Conor Brendan Dunne
Manager, Communications & Stakeholder Engagement
cdunne@mcabc.org
(604) 205-5058
