National

B.C. to bring in housing supply, rental changes

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 21 Nov, 2022 02:09 PM

VICTORIA - The British Columbia government is moving to increase housing supply with measures that will end rental restrictions and force local governments to meet housing growth targets.

Join Premier David Eby; Murray Rankin, Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Housing; Marianne Alto, mayor of Victoria; and Omama Shoib, a health-care worker, for an announcement about new actions to tackle the housing crisis. https://t.co/f6UG8vTtm1
— BC Government News (@BCGovNews) November 21, 2022

Housing Minister Murray Rankin introduced two pieces of legislation today, saying the province will work with local governments on the housing targets and that rental restrictions on apartment complexes will be removed.

Premier David Eby, who was sworn in on Friday, says housing is one of the most critical issues that he will immediately address.

The legislation includes provisions that allow the province to force municipal compliance, although the government says it doesn't expect that will be necessary for communities facing a housing crisis.

The legislation would also change the law to remove discriminatory age limits in all condominium properties covered by the Strata Property Act, however 55-plus buildings would remain to preserve seniors' communities.

Eby, who was housing minister before running for premier, released a housing plan during his leadership campaign aimed at addressing affordability, targeting speculators and protecting renters.

The premier said on Friday that he planned to "hit the ground running" and then set out two one-time payments for residents, to help mitigate inflation pressures on them.

Extra support with the cost of living is on the way:
• $100 credit on your power bill in Dec
• Savings of up to $550 per child per month on child care in Dec
• New BC Affordability Credit in Jan
• Increased BC Family Benefit for Jan-March 2023 https://t.co/DshgshYU1R pic.twitter.com/TKVlfmXA0E
— BC Government News (@BCGovNews) November 18, 2022

He announced a new public safety plan on Sunday to increase enforcement on repeat violent offenders and expand mental-health crisis response teams.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Vancouver Police investigates after security guard threatened with knife

The incident happened on October 27 at around 7:30 p.m., after security for Hotel Georgia asked the suspect, who was loitering in the breezeway of the hotel, to leave the area. The suspect pulled a knife from his jacket and approached the security guard.

Vancouver Police investigates after security guard threatened with knife

B.C. woman's remains found 32 years after death

RCMP say the human remains were discovered last month in Connaught Hill Park. Police say with the help of the BC Coroners Service, it was able to identify the remains as those of Donna Charlie, who was killed in 1990.

B.C. woman's remains found 32 years after death

Surrey man charged in connection to uttering threats to an American journalist

On November 10, 2022, 38 year-old Nicholas Sullivan was charged with five counts of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm through social media. He is scheduled to appear in court later this month.

Surrey man charged in connection to uttering threats to an American journalist

Xi confronts and warns Trudeau over media briefing

"Everything we discuss has been leaked to the paper; that's not appropriate," Xi told Trudeau through an interpreter who was with Xi when the pair met at an event during the G20 summit.

Xi confronts and warns Trudeau over media briefing

No mask mandate for B.C.: health officer

Dr. Bonnie Henry said while influenza cases are up, 90 per cent of people in the province have some immunity to the COVID-19 virus through vaccination, infection or both. Henry said masks are an important tool, but they should be used in situations where it makes sense, including in health-care settings.

No mask mandate for B.C.: health officer

B.C. Liberal Party set to become BC United

British Columbia Liberal Party members have voted to change the party's name to BC United. Leader Kevin Falcon said 80 per cent of the voters who cast a ballot were in favour of the name change, and he was thrilled with the result.