(image credit - BC Housing)

By Michael Reeve

BC HOUSING

Kamloops mayor concerned B.C. Housing changes could affect local projects

Jul 11, 2022 | 4:24 PM

KAMLOOPS — On Friday evening, the B.C. NDP government announced wholesale changes to the B.C. Housing Board of Commissioners. The changes include a new chairperson, Allan Seckel, and more than half the board being replaced.

In making the announcement, B.C. Housing Minister David Eby stated that an external review called for greater oversight of the organization.

The City of Kamloops has partnered with B.C. Housing on countless projects over the years to help expand the housing inventory in the community. That includes a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to work together on future housing projects and shelters, signed in April this year.

Kamloops Mayor Ken Christian noted the instability is not ideal for the city.

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“There is no question, across the entire continuum, housing is an issue here in Kamloops. Whether it is at the shelter end or first-time home buyers, affordable rents, seniors housing, student housing. At every junction we have a shortage and it is becoming quite unaffordable,” said Christian.

It was noted in the MOU that since 2017, 1,300 new homes have been completed or are underway in Kamloops thanks to provincial investments.

The mayor also wondered if there could soon be a new housing minister, with Eby expected to run for party leadership, causing more ripples at B.C. Housing.

“What I’m more concerned about is the fate of some of the projects that we have on the books right now and some of the needs we have identified and how quickly those will be answered with a new board and possibly a new minister,” added Christian.

The official announcement came out at 6:35 pm on Friday evening. Due to that timing, the B.C. Liberals have questioned if the government is attempting to hide something.

“It really does make you question when an announcement comes out so late. That apparently has been building over the past two years. The changes to the positions don’t take effect until July 18, so there is another week-and-a-half, two weeks, that this could have been announced publicly for disclosure provided and people get a better understanding of exactly what is going on with BC Housing,” said Kamloops North-Thompson MLA Peter Milobar.

Milobar noted that the government is just 10 per cent through its 10-year housing plan. And should minister Eby seek leadership, it would signal a third housing minister in the past two-and-a-half years.

“What really precipitated this change?” questioned Milobar. “We’ve heard about several staffing changes over the past few years, an exodus of senior people, kind of a revolving door. That kind of lines up with [Eby’s] whole tenure as minister. It does make one start to wonder, what exactly has been going on the whole time minister Eby has been in charge of housing in B.C.?”

Despite the prospect of local projects being slowed by the board changeover, mixed with municipal elections coming in the fall, Christian is confident in City staff working through any potential stumbling blocks with the organization.

“The administration is really carrying the weight and the bulk of the work on these files. I think the administration in Kamloops is second to none, and they have a good working relationship with B.C Housing at a local level,” said Christian.