Inside Burnaby Council: Big Decisions, Bigger Questions

This week at Burnaby Council, two major topics were debated—modular housing and the rollout of e-bikes and e-scooters.

Both are important. Both have potential.But both also raise serious questions about execution, cost, and accountability.

1. Modular Housing Pilot – $1.35M for 4 Units

Council is considering a modular four-plex housing project at a cost of approximately $1.35 million.

That’s over $330,000 per unit—and that figure does not include land value or full site preparation costs.

This project was not included in the City’s approved financial plan and would be funded through contingency.

While modular housing may offer faster construction timelines and potential long-term benefits, key questions remain:

• What is the true total cost of this project?

• Why was this not planned and budgeted in advance?

• Why is the project being built outside the region rather than supporting local industry?

• Can this realistically scale across Burnaby?

Pilot projects should provide clear value and measurable outcomes—not just good intentions.