Q&A: Marg Gordon

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Marg Gordon, CEO, BC Apartment Owners and Managers Association (BCAOMA)

Marg Gordon is the CEO of the BC Apartment Owners and Managers Association (BCAOMA), a position she has held for the last year. Prior to this role, Marg spent ten years as the Member Services Coordinator for the BC Non-Profit Housing Association. Marg also served two terms as a City Councillor for Port Coquitlam, and one term as a School Trustee for School District 43.

Who do you represent on BC Hydro's engagement initiatives?
I represent over 1,200 landlords with a combined total of residential 100,000 units throughout British Columbia, and this list continues to grow every day.

What are some of your responsibilities as the CEO of BCAOMA?
As the CEO for the BCAOMA, my primary responsibility is to lobby and advocate on behalf of our members to help them run their businesses and remain sustainable. I am also the liaison between our members and the Residential Tenancy Branch, the Ministry of Housing and Social Development and other government agencies; I act as the spokesperson for the association.

What are the top challenges currently facing your members?
The biggest challenge for our members is rent control. The current Rent Increase Calculation Formula does not adequately reflect the rising operating costs for apartment owners and managers. Costs are going up, but landlords are not able to recover those costs through rents. To be sustainable, we need to look at measures that will allow landlords to invest in upgrading their properties. We are currently undertaking a study to figure out what it really costs to run a residential building. Once this information is compiled, we will bring the results to the government and lobby for change.

The BCAOMA has been challenged by the significant negative gap between the rising costs associated with rental housing and the allowable rental rate increases. New tax incentives are also needed to encourage landlords to modernize – for example, eliminating GST on new rental housing; a 50% reduction in property taxes; changes in capital gains requirements including rollover provisions; and taxation at small business rates.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
I love that I am in a position where I can really help landlords and tenants. This is a natural fit for me. I love representing the work of this sector, as well as sharing knowledge and being able to teach people.

I am also really proud of the work that the BCAOMA has accomplished over the last year. For example, we've recently finished negotiating a partnership with underwriters Marsh Canada, to provide all tenants who live in BCAOMA member buildings with tenant insurance at 30% below the market rate. This is an amazing benefit for tenants! We also just signed a partnership agreement with BFI Canada Ltd. to provide a waste disposal pool with great price breaks for our members.

What are your top two or three energy interests?
When I worked at the BC Non-Profit Housing Association, I was involved with distributing BC Hydro's Energy Saving Kits to our tenants. By distributing low-flow showerheads and compact fluorescent light bulbs to tenants, they were able to see the impact on their bill. Showing tenants how to save energy really helps to get the conservation message across. I am puzzled; however, that these programs are limited to low-income tenants instead of being made available to tenants at all levels of income. These tools can empower them to take control of their own energy consumption.

I also believe that we need to incent the desire to save energy – we need to get to the point where we save energy without thinking. We are our own best guardians of our planet.

What BC Hydro initiatives are you currently involved in?
I have been a member of the Split Incentives Working Group since November of 2008. The first time that I sat at the table, I saw the value. This is a working group that will be heard, and I am very proud to be a part of it.

What strengths do you bring to the engagement table?
I have a solid background in rental housing, and have developed many long-term relationships in the industry. I make sure I am informed, and if I'm not, I make sure to ask questions. I also love a challenge, and find joy in being part of the solution. I don't give up. If I can't go over it, through it or around it, I'll find another way to conquer it.