Home Government of BC BC Legislative Assembly BC takes transformative action on housing in fall session

BC takes transformative action on housing in fall session

Reining in short term rentals | More small-scale, multi-unit housing | encouraging more communities near transit | Reducing construction delays

Island Social Trends

November 30, 2023

ravi kahlon, homes for people, fall session — Quick wrap-up for media about the housing legislation that has been passed this fall in the BC Legislative Assembly, Nov 30, 2023 in the upper rotunda. [Mary P Brooke / Island Social Trends]

ISLAND SOCIAL TRENDS Holiday Season COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Thursday November 30, 2023 | VICTORIA, BC

by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends

The fall session of the BC Legislative Assembly has now wrapped up with 21 pieces of legislation passed. Winter break comes next.

Today Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon held a brief wrap-up of the many pieces of housing legislation that will — over time — change the face of communities across the province. The challenge is to increase housing supply as quickly as possible. For the last two weeks there have been late-night sittings to get everything through.

ravi kahlon, housing — Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon debating Bill 46 in the legislative assembly on Nov 29, 2023. [Hansard]

There has been some pushback as to ramming through sections of the legislation without time for debate, as the NDP government takes advantage of its seat majority.

But today Kahlon said he wants British Columbians to know that the government is “putting in the work” to get those outcomes. “We want to address housing and the crisis that people are dealing with,” said Kahlon.

Renters in the mix:

More news is coming for renters next week, said Kahlon. One-third of people in BC rent their homes.

Earlier this week Finance Minister Katrine Conroy said that the Renter’s Tax Credit will be available within the 2023 tax filing process. Renters will get up to $400 back on their taxes, depending on income level. The Finance ministry says that they expect 80% of renting households will get the benefit starting in 2024 after they file income taxes.

katrine conroy, finance minister — BC Finance Minister Katrine Conroy delivering the 2023 Second Quarterly Report, on Nov 27, 2023. [Mary P Brooke / Island Social Trends]

The Renter’s Tax Credit is aimed at helping people with low and moderate incomes, including people who receive income and disability assistance, and who already receive support through BC Housing rental supplement programs like RAP and SAFER.

People who are being squeezed out of rental accommodation these days are having difficulty finding their next place to live — either by lack of actual housing units or that the rent levels have skyrocketed beyond what they were regularly paying.

Building homes faster:

“Taking action to tackle some of the biggest challenges people in B.C. are facing was at the centre of several new pieces of legislation passed during the fall session, including the most significant housing legislation in B.C. history to deliver more homes for people faster,” it was stated in a news release afterward.

“One of the biggest challenges facing people in British Columbia is finding a decent place to live that they can afford,” said Premier David Eby. “That’s why our government is taking action. Through the new laws we passed, we’re making sure homes are built faster and that homes are used for people, not speculators or investors.”

Housing profile:

What the NDP government is calling strong and comprehensive action on housing will see short-term rentals turned into homes for people, fix outdated zoning laws, create more small-scale, multi-unit homes and speed up the delivery of homes, including near transit hubs.

“Housing is one of the biggest challenges facing people in B.C. The housing crisis is hurting people and holding back our province’s economic potential,” said Ravi Kahlon, Government House Leader and Minister of Housing.

“That’s why this fall, we introduced a thoughtful and complete package of legislation designed to deliver more homes within reach for people and families, and to crack down on speculators and profiteers in the housing market, while also tackling other challenges that matter most to people.”

Key pieces of housing legislation passed in the fall session include:

reining in the rapidly expanding short-term rental market and turning short-term rentals into homes for people through the Short-Term Rentals Accommodations Act;
delivering more small-scale, multi-unit housing for people, including townhomes, triplexes and laneway homes, and fix outdated zoning rules to help build more homes faster through Bill 44;
speeding up the delivery of homes, removing barriers and encouraging more communities near transit, services and amenities that make life better for people through new transit-oriented development legislation. This legislation if passed builds on work underway to facilitate more transit-oriented development and create more livable communities; and
reducing construction delays and streamlining processes to fund key services, infrastructure and amenities for growing communities through new development finance tools in Bill 46.

The Province also expanded the successful speculation and vacancy tax to 13 additional communities to fight real estate speculation and turn more empty units into homes. Detailed regulations and guideline manuals to help municipalities and home builders implement the new housing zoning rules will be released in the coming weeks.

Tools in the spring:

The Ministry of Housing is developing legislative tools, which will be brought forward in spring 2024, to support local government in developing inclusionary zoning policies to create more affordable housing.

In early 2024, the ministry in partnership will also launch BC Builds, a new program that will leverage public and low-cost land, faster development timelines and low-interest construction financing and grants, to increase the amount of rental housing that is affordable for people and families with middle incomes.

Today Kahlon said that of course the spring legislative session will be robust given the upcoming election presently scheduled for October 19, 2024. “People sent us here to take action,” he said in a media availability this afternoon in the upper rotunda nicely decorated for the Christmas season.

xmas tree, bc legislature, ornaments — Fully adorned Christmas tree reaches from the main hall up to the second floor rotunda at the BC Legislature, Nov 30, 2023. [Mary P Brooke / Island Social Trends]

He said that “getting consensus is just very difficult” with four parties in the legislative assembly.

Other legislation this fall:

Other legislation this fall included: new laws on climate action and emergency response, protection for workers, credential recognition, and to keep people safe and communities strong were also at the top of the legislative agenda.

British Columbians will see a more proactive approach to emergency management, with an emphasis on disaster-risk reduction, introducing systemic change to improve outcomes for Indigenous learners, accelerating zero-emission vehicles targets, better protecting B.C.’s forests and ecosystems, improving working conditions for online platform workers and providing more support for victims of violent crime.

“This fall, we took big steps forward to deliver more homes for people faster and we’re already starting to see a positive impact,” Kahlon said. “Make no mistake, this isn’t easy or simple, but we’re going to keep doing the work, finding solutions to address the biggest challenges, so people can build a good life here.”