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| British Columbia Housing Minister David Eby has captured the attention of municipal officials with comments over the weekend towards potential changes in Housing legislation |
If Prince Rupert Mayor Lee Brain is looking to expand the scope of his recent thoughts towards themes of Governmental over-reach, as delivered through his Civic Focused Facebook page, the Province of British Columbia may be offering up a new topic for the mayor's consideration.
A story from Dirk Meissner of The Canadian Press over the weekend has charted some of the planning that may be in motion by Housing Minister David Eby, highlighting the Ministers frustration with municipal government when it comes to making final decisions on housing approvals.
The article which you can review here, outlines that while the Minister notes that cities should have the right to say where housing needs go; they should not be allowed to decide whether or not housing goes ahead.
The BC Government's concerns over the glacial pace of housing approvals comes as many cities face a growing housing shortage and many have seen extreme homeless issues.
Some past decisions in recent years by municipal government in a number of areas of the province, have given the Horgan Government pause to consider the changes the Minister may have in mind to push ahead with their housing agenda.
In October the BC government streamlined some legislation to try to speed up housing approvals, a measure noted by Councillor Mirau earlier this year, when Council moved an application for some housing forward from fellow councillor Wade Niesh.
The Mesiner piece explores the topic rather extensively, noting of the push back from the UBCM, and how some observers of the housing situation in the province suggest the Minister's move may not be the best application of Provincial government intrusion.
Prince Rupert City Council revised some of its housing provisions in January of 2021, Council at the time noting how they had hoped that those moves will move housing forward faster in the community than has been seen in the past.
February saw City Council develop an Interim Housing Strategy towards any future action on housing.
In July of last year, the City adopted a Housing Action list, which provided a listing of some of their key objectives for housing in the community.
The pace of housing themes for Prince Rupert is one which has seen a few proposals approved and as noted above no shortage of initiatives, but little in the way of actual construction taking place for the most part to date.
In the article, the Minister notes the government plans are still preliminary and won't be introduced until the fall, which would make any potential revision of municipal powers something for the next council to be elected in October to deal with.
Starting perhaps with a letter seeking some clarification for Council directed towards MLA Jennifer Rice; or better yet to invite her to Council to outline the MLA to Council Chambers to relay the Province's thinking on the issue, as well as to explore current housing needs for the community.
More notes on Housing can be reviewed through our archive page.
As the Minister's thoughts of Municipal/Provincial relations may make for some commentary we imagine, you can explore more notes on the province scene from our Political blog D'Arcy McGee.
Curtailing municipal housing powers would not be provincial government "intrusion" or "over-reach". Quite the opposite. The Province is thinking about giving the housing sector greater freedom. That should fit quite nicely with the mayor's narrative on other issues. The provincial government's thinking is refreshingly pragmatic. No doubt there will be resistance at the municipal level to defend what it sees as their turf.
ReplyDeleteFreedom has quickly become the verbal equivalent of Franks Red Hot Sauce.
DeleteThis government wants to build over 100 000 housing units. They do not want municipalities spending time and resources on detached houses and subdivisions.
This government also has to act quickly as their budget for their housing goals is evaporating due to rapid inflation.
Victoria will issue an edict against detached housing developments, which will be line with policy from other jurisdictions like California and New Zealand.
It literally is municipal turf. you want bureacrats in victoria approving housing in your neighbourhood in rupert? cmon man
ReplyDeleteWhat the minister is talking about is having fewer municipal approvals, not moving the approvals to Victoria.
DeleteAgain another lie from NCR which makes anti-City bias incredibly clear. "little in the way of actual construction taking place for the most part to date"
ReplyDeleteYou are conveniently neglecting digby towers, raffles, new park transition house, trininty house, metlakatla/king ed housing, anchor inn... how many more need to be added to the list before you admit things are actually improving in this town
Would it be a bad thing to have Victoria overseeing development in municipalities?
ReplyDeleteHere is a recent local timeline for development;
2016 - The city identified six suitable lots for development.
2018 - Lax Kw'alaams receives $12 million from the provincial Indigenous Housing Fund for a Prince Rupert housing project.
2019 - 11th Ave site selected
2020 - Rezoning application submitted in November
2021 - Approval granted for project twelve months later
2023 - Expected move in date
Residents that find that pace of progress acceptable, are likely the same residents that are ok with boiling their water for several years.
you know youre slagging Lax Kw'alaams and not the City right? site selection is on Lax timeline. when the application gets submitted is on Lax timeline. Thrown in a pandemic to slow progress and there you have it. youre saying victoria would be better at desinging the project than the first nation looking after its own people? shameful.
DeleteThere is no anti-city bias in this article. Projection is more than just a way to watch a movie.
ReplyDeleteAs for those projects, how much direct city money is in them?