By Canadian Press

Eby says governments must step up on housing, can’t rely on private sector

Nov 21, 2023 | 11:51 AM

VANCOUVER — British Columbia Premier David Eby says it’s “hard to understand” why other politicians still believe in relying on the private sector to deliver affordable housing and instead it’s time for governments to step up.

Eby says there are proposals at the federal level to sell public land and buildings to help solve the crisis, but B.C. is doing the opposite by taking inventory of provincially and municipally owned land in order to build more homes.

He told the BC Non-profit Housing Association’s annual conference his government is the right one to tackle the housing crisis as the province faces “huge challenges.”

He told the crowd that “it does matter who is in government” when it comes to housing.

Eby said he was excited about the potential for the federal government to provide more money for housing in Tuesday’s budget update.

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The premier also touted tighter rules for short-term rentals introduced this fall, saying his family uses platforms such as Airbnb,but the status quo can’t continue when other vacancy rates are so low and people are buying properties to run like hotels.

“We can’t leave any housing unoccupied,” Eby said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 21, 2023.

The Canadian Press