Skeena MLA speaks in support of BC United amendments to BC government's Short Term rental legislation

Ellis Ross the BC United MLA for Skeena
speaking yesterday in the Legislature

Last week Premier David Eby and Housing Minister Ravi Khalon introduced new legislation to address the concerns in many communities towards short term rentals and how that practice is impacting on affordable housing opportunities across the province.

Some of the measures that will take effect should Bill 35
move forward to Royal Assent
(click to enlarge)

Since its introduction on October 16th, the Legislation has made for much in the way of at times heated discussion in the Legislature during the Committee Stage where it is now at. 

The legislation from Bill 35 has also seen the opposition BC United members seeking to amend some of the elements towards it. 

A topic which Skeena MLA Ellis Ross spoke towards on Wednesday afternoon.

The MLA introducing his commentary by noting of the impact on those who had followed the rules outlined by the current government and those before it.

I've been watching the debate on Bill 35, the Short-Term Rental Accommodation Act, but I've been watching the debate for the last six years in terms of the housing crisis that we have been experienced in B.C. Not quite sure, in terms of the progress that we've made across the board in terms of addressing the housing issue here in B.C. 

We keep hearing the terms of the highest rental rates in Canada and the highest housing costs in North America. I do understand what this side of the House has been saying for the last six years — that you have to address supply. You have to address it, but I think what we're talking about on this side of the House is that you've got to build that supply. 

Because really, a lot of the speeches I've heard in this House is actually not talking about building per se, but talking about trying to change the nature of existing structures to provide more housing, which I can understand as well. 

But it's actually put a lot of pressure — undue pressure for that matter — on citizens that have been following the rules and following the laws of B.C. and Canada up to now. It was a freedom of home owners and property owners to do what they would with the properties that they invested in.

To wrap up his review of the provincial legislation, he provided a synopsis of what the opposition party was seeking towards the amendment they offered, though he noted he had doubts that they would be successful in their quest.

I think what we're trying to get at on this side of the House is that B and Bs serve a specific purpose that a lot of people utilize that is not being addressed fully by Bill 35. Like a lot of the other bills that have been approved in this House in the last six years, people will get a wake-up call probably six months later, after May, when this bill is approved. 

I have no doubt that this amendment is going to fail. I don't see anybody from government getting up to speak to the amendment, to the benefits of the amendment, where there are pros and cons to it, or even trying to debate some of the issues that this side of the House has been trying to advocate for on behalf of residents of B.C., as well as property owners and B and B operators. I do believe that the intention is good in terms of Bill 35 — the intention. 

Whether or not it will achieve the objectives that the government is talking about, we won't know for another year, a year and a half. But in saying that, the amendments that have been put forward already by the member from Vancouver Capilano, they're well-intentioned as well. 

We're trying to achieve a balance. We're trying to achieve some fairness. 

We're trying to achieve some level of recognition that says there is a purpose, a well-meaning purpose, for B and Bs that is not really, truly being entertained in this House. I think that's really why the member from Vancouver Capilano is pushing so hard for these amendments.

I will be voting in favour of the amendment to proposed Bill 35, specifically the proposal in terms of the amendment put forward by the member from Vancouver Capilano.

The full presentation to the Legislature can be reviewed from the video to the Chamber session from Wednesday here, his comments began around the 4:30 PM mark

More notes on Housing in the Northwest can be reviewed here.

Items of Interest from the Legislature can be explored here.