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The provincial election in British Columbia is just around the corner, taking place in two days. Although over 25% of voters have already exercised their right to early voting, there remains a significant portion of the electorate that is still deciding who to support.
Current polling underscores that voters are primarily concerned with affordability and housing issues. To delve deeper into their plans for addressing these challenges, we engaged with the leaders of the three major political parties in B.C.
BC NDP Leader David Eby
Your party has been in power for four years, yet many still struggle to find affordable rentals or homes. What measures would you propose for the next four years?
Addressing the housing crisis is a top priority for our government. Many individuals searching through rental listings often find themselves discouraged by the high costs associated with housing. We recognize this as a pivotal issue, and we are committed to implementing strategies to lower housing expenses.
Our goal is to facilitate the creation of over 300,000 homes aimed at middle-income families, and we have developed a clear plan to assist 5,000 residents in transitioning from renting to owning their first home. This includes utilizing public land to foster affordable housing developments and tackling issues of speculation by addressing short-term rentals and vacant properties, especially during this housing crisis.
Unlike our opponent, John Rustad, who believes that it’s not the government’s role to ensure affordable housing and advocates for market solutions, we have witnessed the shortcomings of that approach previously.
With the influx of approximately 300,000 people into the province within the next two years, it is essential to eliminate bureaucratic hurdles and expedite the construction of needed housing solutions.
Key aspects of the BC NDP housing platform include:
BC Conservative Leader John Rustad
You served in the cabinet of the former BC Liberal government, a time marked by increasing costs for residents. How can you assure voters that the BC Conservatives will offer a different approach?
It’s important to note that there hasn’t been a Conservative government in B.C. for nearly a century, which naturally means our strategy will differ from that of the BC Liberals. The claims that we will reintroduce costs like bridge tolls and MSP premiums are simply false. Our focus is firmly on making life affordable for British Columbians.
We are committed to introducing a housing rebate, eliminating the carbon tax, and exploring additional tax strategies aimed at providing financial relief to families, including making tips tax-free.
While I respect David Eby, the reality is he is contending with his own record in office. My previous role was primarily centered on Indigenous relations, where I signed 435 agreements. However, my involvement with bridge tolls predates my time in cabinet.
Conservative housing platform highlights include:
BC Green Leader Sonia Furstenau
The BC Green Party supports an increased consumer carbon tax. How would you ensure affordability for residents?
The root of unaffordability lies chiefly in the housing sector. For the past 20 years, successive governments have permitted real estate investment trusts (REITs) to acquire vast quantities of housing, often evicting tenants from affordable units and subsequently raising rents exorbitantly.
To illustrate the severity of the situation, in Victoria, the rent for a one-bedroom apartment increased from $988 in 2017 to $2,100 today. Despite a higher vacancy rate, rental prices have doubled. We must scrutinize these dynamics to tackle the underlying causes. Regarding inflation, it’s notable that about one-third can be attributed to fluctuations in oil and gas prices, where profits have soared.
Key proposals from the BC Green Party’s housing platform are:
Implementing vacancy controls to restrict rent increases, establishing uniform tenant protection standards, initiating a $1.5 billion annual fund to produce 26,000 units of non-market housing, including 3,000 units for Indigenous peoples, and increasing the Rental Protection Fund.
We are also advocating for a two percent tax on homes valued over $3 million and the introduction of legislation that recognizes housing as a human right.
For voters yet to cast their ballots, resources to find your local candidates and riding information are available here.
Source
globalnews.ca