File photo (Image credit: CFJC Today).

By Dan Coulter, MLA for Chilliwack

SOUND OFF

SOUND OFF: Supporting local governments to deliver more housing

Jan 24, 2024 | 10:30 AM

HOUSING IS ONE OF THE TOP ISSUES affecting British Columbians today, and it’s been a key focus since we formed government in 2017. When we launched our comprehensive Homes for People plan, we wanted to make sure we could get more people into homes faster, and that’s why we passed multiple pieces of legislation this fall to support that goal.

Understanding the need for adaptable communities, the province is taking action to increase density and speed up housing approvals. This includes building more small-scale multi-unit housing and the development of transit-oriented projects, designed to create vibrant, interconnected communities that align with modern living standards.

Housing isn’t only an issue for the province, and local governments work extremely hard to approve and build housing that is suitable for their communities. As some of our closest partners, we want to make sure that they are supported to implement the necessary changes in their community to adapt to new housing regulations.

That’s why last week our government announced $51 million in capacity-building funding split between all 188 local governments in B.C.

In Kamloops, we were able to provide $614,787 to the local government to help with the transition.

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This funding will help local governments meet the requirements outlined in new legislation more quickly. We know that the work to adapt to these changes will need to happen soon, so we’re taking a proactive approach by providing three years of funding upfront instead of on a yearly basis. This is especially helpful for smaller local governments that don’t have as many resources to quickly adjust to the conditions set by the new housing bills.

We’re committed to supporting our municipal partners in navigating the complexities of the housing crisis and making sure that the transition to these regulations is as smooth as possible, regardless of their size or resources.

Our multifaceted Homes for People plan is addressing the housing crisis head-on, from all angles, and this is just one way that we’re working to build more homes for British Columbians. Since 2017, more than 77,000 homes have been delivered or are underway across B.C., and there’s more to come.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.