'You don't listen to renters': Vancouver Tenants Union disrupts housing announcement
Rental housing advocates interrupted an announcement by B.C.'s housing minister in Vancouver Wednesday morning to object to the provincial government's response to the affordability crisis.
"I'm sorry to be doing this," said Mazdak Gharibnavaz, a volunteer with the Vancouver Tenants Union, as he stepped in front of Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon's podium.
"You and your staff – no offence to you – you do not know what renters need. We do."
Gharibnavaz went on to tell the minister and the assembled reporters that thousands of families are at risk of "demoviction" along the path of the future Broadway subway line.
He said the VTU had spoken to 300 residents of the neighbourhood, who estimate that their rents would rise by $800 per month for one-bedroom units and $1,100 per month for two-bedroom units if they have to move into new buildings being constructed in the area.
"We've been talking to renters all along this neighbourhood," he said. "You don't listen to renters in this city, and that's why we need to be speaking out today."
Kahlon was speaking at the site of a future 28-storey rental tower, which is under construction at 2538 Birch St. in Vancouver.
The project is slated to include 258 rental units, with 58 of them designated as "below market" units and 200 designed to be affordable to households with middle incomes, according to the province.
Gharibnavaz described the project – and the redevelopment of the Broadway Corridor more broadly – as an effort to replace aging, affordable rental buildings with new towers that are significantly more expensive, even when they're supposed to be affordable.
"These are luxury homes that you want to replace their buildings with," he said. "Your plan is for your developer friends to drive us out of our neighbourhoods and out of our cities. Tenants understand that this provincial government will not protect us or stand up for our human right to housing."
The VTU is calling for policies that will protect renters from getting displaced and keep land values low to prevent skyrocketing rents.
After the disruption finished, Kahlon carried on with his news conference, addressing the VTU protesters' points while taking questions from reporters.
"They highlighted that they heard from 300 people," the housing minister said.
"I hear from thousands of people who are looking for housing. They can't find it. This project, here, that they decided they were going to protest, is a project that was a Denny's before and now is 258 rental units available, 58 units for families making less than $80,000, 200 units for families making $170,000 or less."
Kahlon added that B.C. needs to continue to build affordable housing for people at all income levels, and defended the provincial government's efforts to do that.
Vancouver’s deputy mayor Mike Klassen said the rental homes will help families and seniors thrive.
“This project is abut more than just putting roofs over people’s heads, it is about creating belonging and community in this vibrant city,” Klassen said.
But Gharibnavaz is worried the different tiers of renters will cause division.
“What it means is the social mix of the people who end up in these buildings will drive out the most vulnerable people,” he said. “Their neighbours are not going to understand the struggles that they’re having because there’s such a difference in the rents that they’re paying. What we need is publicly built rental stocks that keep rents low. That’s what we need, not partnerships with for-profits, profit incentives.”
The development is being done in collaboration with Jameson Development Corp., the City of Vancouver and the province through its HousingHub program.
The program’s mandate is to increase the supply of affordable homes for middle-income earners by offering low-interest financing to developers.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Poilievre will do 'anything to win,' must condemn Alex Jones endorsement: Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is ramping up his attacks on Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre as he promotes his government's federal budget.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
New evidence challenges the Pentagon's account of a horrific attack as the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan: CNN exclusive
New video evidence uncovered by CNN significantly undermines two Pentagon investigations into an ISIS-K suicide attack outside Kabul airport, during the American withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
All Alberta wildfires to date in 2024 believed to be human-caused: province
There are 63 wildfires burning in Alberta's forest protection area as of Wednesday morning and seven mutual aid fires, including one in the Municipal District of Peace.
Suspects waving weapons, smashing glass in Toronto jewelry store robbery caught on video
Arrests have been made after five men were captured on video rampaging through a jewelry store in Toronto, waving weapons and smashing glass display cases.
Pilot proposes to flight attendant girlfriend in front of passengers
A Polish pilot proposed to his flight attendant girlfriend during a flight from Warsaw to Krakow, and she said yes.
Ottawa injects another $36M into fund for those seriously injured or killed by vaccines
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Ex-SNC executive sentenced to prison term in bridge bribery case
The RCMP says a former SNC-Lavalin executive has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison in connection with a bribery scheme for a bridge repair contract in Montreal.