National

B.C. secures eight new sites for middle-income rental housing scheme

Darpan News Desk, 30 Apr, 2024 12:33 PM

The new sites include three in the Township of Langley, one each in Kelowna and Kamloops, as well as properties in Sooke and Chemainus on Vancouver Island and Elkford in East Kootenay region.

The province says it is now seeking proposals for all eight sites to "fast-track" rental homes, as BC Builds backs the projects with low-cost financing.

B.C. Premier David Eby says the program's continued growth is needed because "handing over" the market to speculators and investors isn't "the way forward."

The province says the plan is for BC Builds projects to go from "concept to construction" within 12 to 18 months after the sites are identified, and there are already four other sites in place in Vancouver, North Vancouver, Duncan and Gibsons.

The total of 12 sites are estimated to deliver about 524 homes, and B.C. Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon says communities wanting to partner with the province on similar projects should contact his ministry immediately.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

BC Real Estate Association numbers point to market 'uptrend' at beginning of 2024

The BC Real Estate Association says there was a nearly 30 per cent increase in home sales last month compared with January 2023, while prices were also up. The association says 3,979 sales were completed last month, for an average price of $957,909, a more than 10-per-cent jump from the year before.

BC Real Estate Association numbers point to market 'uptrend' at beginning of 2024

B.C. report says climate change brings health risk, as doctor fears 'colossal harms'

Communities across British Columbia needs to prepare for a climate-related health crisis like the deadly 2021 heat dome every year, according to the lead contributor to a report on health risks associated with climate change. Dr. Michael Schwandt, a medical health officer with Vancouver Coastal Health, said the region needs to increase its resilience to extreme heat events, and risks "colossal harms" if it doesn't.

B.C. report says climate change brings health risk, as doctor fears 'colossal harms'

Protest outside Mount Sinai Hospital 'reprehensible' show of antisemitism: Trudeau

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is denouncing a protest outside a Toronto hospital as a "reprehensible" display of antisemitism as police say they are investigating several incidents that took place during the demonstration.

Protest outside Mount Sinai Hospital 'reprehensible' show of antisemitism: Trudeau

Bell CEO, other execs called to committee to testify over recent job cuts

Members of Parliament have invited several top executives from BCE Inc. and Bell Canada to testify later this month about the company's decision to cut about nine per cent of its workforce this year. The House of Commons heritage committee has agreed to invite BCE Inc. CEO Mirko Bibic to address the cuts, which include impacts on newsrooms across the country.

Bell CEO, other execs called to committee to testify over recent job cuts

B.C. eyes community, non-profit, underused lands to build affordable rental units

The New Democrat government's almost $3 billion BC Builds program will target property owned by governments, communities and non-profits, and provide low-cost financing to fast-track affordable rental developments on underutilized lands across B.C., he said.

B.C. eyes community, non-profit, underused lands to build affordable rental units

B.C. police seize $11M worth of contraband cigarettes along with guns, drugs

Police in British Columbia say an investigation spanning several communities has led to the largest one-time seizure of contraband cigarettes in the province, with a retail value of $11 million, along with guns, ammunition and illegal drugs. A statement from the Combined Special Enforcement Unit says it received information last August prompting the investigation that expanded throughout B.C.'s Lower Mainland and southern Vancouver Island.