Housing dominates Eby meeting with Trudeau ahead of B.C. announcement
B.C. Premier David Eby and a contingent of six provincial cabinet ministers were in Ottawa Monday meeting with their federal counterparts, including Prime Minister Trudeau.
It was the third time Eby has met with Trudeau since becoming premier – and this time, housing was front and centre.
Eby and Trudeau had a photo op Monday morning, and the housing crisis came up almost immediately.
The premier said he'll be pushing Ottawa to use federal land to add to the housing supply.
It’s something he first brought up back in February – the idea of building more homes on parks and military bases.
Another area the premier wants to see changes is better sharing of security intelligence with provinces. He told CTV News he only learned one hour before the public did about the prime minister's allegation that India may have been involved in the murder of Surrey Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
“There’s a critical need for provinces to be brought into the loop at an earlier stage,” said Eby Monday. “CSIS, for example, by law is required to only share their intelligence with the federal government, It means that when they brief me – which they did that day – they can share basically what’s in the public domain already, which is not helpful. I can read the newspaper, too.”
Other issues expected to be front and centre in the two-day visit are clean energy and securing federal support for emergency responses to disasters, such as wildfires and flooding.
The contingent of ministers with the premier – including Attorney General Niki Sharma – will be pressing the senate to green light the bail reform that was passed last week by the House of Commons
Infrastructure and Transportation Minister Rob Fleming is also on the trip, and is expected to lobby for federal funding for projects, including the Massey Tunnel replacement.
And British Columbians will get some concrete news on the housing front Tuesday afternoon. That’s when Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon – who will be back in B.C. from the Ottawa trip – will make an announcement in Saanich setting out the specific housing targets for 10 communities across the province, including Vancouver, Victoria, Saanich and Kamloops.
If those targets aren't met, the province can overrule decisions by municipalities on things like zoning to ensure more housing gets created.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Foreign meddling 'did not affect' overall federal election results: inquiry report
Foreign interference by China did not affect the overall results of the 2019 and 2021 general elections won by Justin Trudeau's Liberals, a federal commission of inquiry has found.
BREAKING Police make arrests in killing of B.C. Sikh activist, source confirms
Police have made arrests in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a senior government source has confirmed to CTV News.
WATCH LIVE Funeral today for broadcasting legend and voice of 'Hockey Night in Canada' Bob Cole
A funeral is being held today for hockey broadcasting legend Bob Cole in his hometown of St. John's, N.L.
Magnitude 4.8 earthquake recorded west of Vancouver Island
A 4.8-magnitude earthquake was reported west of Vancouver Island Thursday evening.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
How falling for a stranger she met on a beach led this woman to ditch the U.S. for the French Riviera
Niki Benjamin, from the U.S., had travelled to a paradise island to do some soul searching, and her life ended up going in a very different direction when her dog ran up to a stranger.
Biscuits with possible plastic pieces, metal found in ground pork: Here are the recalls for this week
Here are the latest recalls Canadians should watch out for, according to Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Supreme Court orders new trial for B.C. francophone who was not given French option
The Supreme Court is ordering a new trial for a francophone man in British Columbia who says he was not informed of his right to have a trial in the official language of his choice.