Quality of Life
In 2005 the Victoria Real Estate Board adopted a set of principles called Quality of Life that provide a framework for the real estate profession's government relations, community outreach and communications activities.
Below you will find an outline of these principles along with links attached to three of the principles that provide detailed information on some of the related activities in which the Board and its member REALTORS® have been involved.
The Quality of Life philosophy has five guiding principles:
Ensuring Economic Vitality
Realtors believe a strong economy with full employment for British Columbians remains the single biggest key to our quality of life. A healthy economy sustains vibrant communities for living and working. Commercial, industrial and residential growth, in turn, sustains a healthy economy.
Economic development brings new opportunity and improved quality of life for city residents by increasing jobs, tax base, purchasing power, diversity, availability of goods and services and offering community revitalization and improvement. An increased tax base is crucial to government's ability to deliver necessary public services, new amenities for neighbourhoods and maintain infrastructure to serve the needs of the community.
Providing Housing Opportunities
Realtors believe home ownership is the dream of most British Columbians and deserves a preferred place in our system of values. Home ownership contributes to community responsibility; civic, economic, business and employment stability; family security and wellbeing.
Every British Columbian has the right to safe, decent and affordable housing near where they work, shop and play, and that choice in style and location is critical to increasing home ownership. Furthermore, these objectives should be met through market-driven approaches that foster a wide range of urban, suburban and rural housing choices at all price levels. Accommodating growth relieves pressure on housing prices and provides increased opportunities for home ownership.
Preserving Our Environment
Realtors recognize the incredible gift that BC's natural environment offers. Furthermore, we recognize the importance of parks, open space and the environment to our quality of life and, therefore, the marketability of surrounding property. To maintain our quality of life and protect the environment, Realtors support policies that encourage conservation and wise use of natural resources. To protect the environment effectively, Realtors believe government must accommodate quality commercial, industrial and residential growth using innovative planning techniques. At the same time, the government must recognize the need for a healthy economy, the importance of local decision-making, private property rights and attainable homeownership opportunities.
Protecting Property Owners
Realtors believe private property rights are fundamental to our free-market economic system. Realtors recognize and protect the natural right to own property. A strong economy depends upon preserving the right to freely own, use and transfer real property.
Building Better Communities
Realtors believe communities flourish best when they offer a high quality of life at a reasonable cost. Livable communities offer a variety of affordable housing choices, nearby employment opportunities, an economically viable commercial sector, good schools, safe neighbourhoods, quality public services, ample recreation and park areas, open space and efficient transportation systems.
To promote livable communities, governments should encourage quality growth through policies that sufficiently fund transportation and infrastructure that provides the framework for a community's quality of life, and lays the essential groundwork for accommodating commercial, industrial and residential growth.
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The Board and its member Realtors put these principles into action in a number of ways: by providing financial and other support to worthwhile community groups through the Board's Community Donations Program; through government lobbying efforts at the municipal, provincial and federal levels; and through active involvement with other organizations and groups who are dedicated to making our community a better place to live for everyone.
