B.C.'s new housing minister says renters' rebate, other relief measures could be coming in 2023
Premier David Eby signalled how much of a priority housing affordability is to the province by creating the first standalone ministry to deal with issues and tapping Ravi Kahlon to lead the file.
Kahlon was sworn in Wednesday and a day later, told CTV News he already had several meetings set up with municipal mayors to find out their challenges and seek solutions. He said he knows Eby has an aggressive plan to tackle housing.
"He's been going at an incredible pace, and I've tightened up my laces and I'm going to try to keep up with him," Kahlon told CTV News.
The new housing minister wants to get homes built faster, increase supply and work better with all levels of government. The NDP campaigned on making life, including housing, more affordable in 2017 and subsequently set a goal to build 110,000 units.
Critics say the government has fallen short of that goal, something Kahlon disputes.
"There's been substantial investments – historic level investments – being made across the province, but we have some structural issues that we need to address," Kahlon said adding the speed of building and zoning approvals is a priority for him.
Tom Davidoff, an associate professor with UBC's Sauder School of business, who specializes in housing, praised the emphasis the government is putting on getting municipalities to change their ways.
There has been a reluctance by municipal officials to "act in the collective interest" when it comes to housing for years, Davidoff says.
"And so we've seen lots and lots of reluctance to allow the sorts of housing that most British Columbians can afford," he added.
Affordability is a key pillar of the new premier's housing plan -- and right now, labour shortages and high interest rates threaten to push prices up.
Andy Yan is the director of the City program at SFU and noted housing is a complex file. He said Kahlon will need to figure out things like how to strike the right balance between market and non-market units.
"I think the initiative towards empowering non-profits as well as the development of co-op housing is another element. It's important to note that how that's going to be developed throughout the province that I think is really touching upon the mandate of the new minister," Yan said.
Last month Eby announced an end to nearly all rental bans in strata units, and a way to force municipalities to build supply. The premier also said a plan to deal with short-term rentals is on the way.
Davidoff said some type of tax may work in that regard.
"If we really make sure that there's a tax payer regularly working out of every address in the province or else the speculation tax is paid. Well that would create quite a disincentive to have units permanently Air-bnb’d, so that's probably the right approach."
Yan said Eby seems to be starting with more of the straightforward elements of housing policy and a plan would need to balance supply and demand in several areas like flipping and short-term rentals.
Along with a new housing strategy early next year, Kahlon said relief is coming and various measures are being considered.
"We're looking at the renters rebate and we're looking at a whole host of measures to support renters, and in some cases, landlords that are feeling challenged as well," Kahlon said.
A renter's rebate was also a campaign promise the BC NDP led by John Horgan made in 2017 and again in 2020.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction overturned by N.Y. appeals court
New York's highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction, reversing a landmark ruling of the #MeToo era in determining the trial judge improperly allowed women to testify about allegations against the ex-movie mogul that weren't part of the case.
BREAKING Honda to get up to $5B in govt help for EV battery, assembly plants
Honda is set to build an electric vehicle battery plant next to its Alliston, Ont., assembly plant, which it is retooling to produce fully electric vehicles, all part of a $15-billion project that is expected to include up to $5 billion in public money.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment that is banned at Queen’s Park.
CTE: Researchers believe widespread brain injury may contribute to veteran suicide rate
Researchers are working to better understand if some Canadian military veterans may be suffering from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, also known as CTE -- a disorder previously found in the brains of professional football and hockey players after their death.
1 arrested in northern Alberta during public shelter order
Residents of John D'Or Prairie, a community on the Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta, were told to take shelter Thursday morning during a police operation.
Secret $70M Lotto Max winners break their silence
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
New deep-water channel allows first ship to pass Key bridge wreckage in Baltimore
The first cargo ship passed through a newly opened deep-water channel in Baltimore on Thursday after being stuck in the harbor since the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed four weeks ago, halting most maritime traffic through the city's port.
First in Canada procedure performed at London, Ont. hospital
A London man has become the first person in Canada to receive a robotic assisted surgery on his spine. Dave Myeh suffered from debilitating, chronic back pain that led to sciatica in his right now and extreme pain in his lower back.