Local governments are currently not doing enough to boost BC's housing supply, officials say
The British Columbian government might take away some municipal-level powers responsible for housing construction approval, according to David Eby, housing minister and the MLA for Vancouver-Point Grey.
The legislation and regulatory changes, which are expected to be implemented in fall 2022, are likely to deactivate local governments’ ability to make final decisions when it comes to new housing supply.
This is because “municipalities are not approving enough housing for our population growth,” Eby told The Canadian Press.
Some of the local-level challenges include prolonged deliberations over building heights, neighbourhood ambience, and parking space – making the near-future prospects of affordability considerably dimmer, Eby said.
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“I think it’s quite possible that we’re going to need to be more prescriptive. One thing is clear is that the status quo is not acceptable,” Eby said, adding that while municipalities have the right to determine the locations of housing developments, “they shouldn’t be allowed to decide whether or not the housing goes ahead, which is currently where we are.”
Craig Hodge of the Union of B.C. Municipalities expressed unease over Eby’s “mixed messages,” particularly because the UBCM and the provincial government have collaborated on multiple projects for a long time.
“My main concern about some of the things the minister is talking about is making sure that we maintain local autonomy and the decision-making process in our communities,” Hodge said. “When you take that power away from municipalities you’re taking away that power from the citizens of those municipalities.”
