BC housing crisis discussion
Tuesday, June 12 ~ VICTORIA. Today in Victoria a think-tank over lunch will be held to discuss the broader issues of housing supply and demand.
The 6th Annual Kenneth W. and Patricia Mariash Global Issues Dialogue being held at the Roundhouse at Bayview Place in Esquimalt will feature some high profile speakers from a mix of political backgrounds and perspectives: former BC NDP premier Mike Harcourt, former Conservative Saskatchewan premier Brad Wall and the urban-progressive Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps.
Pegged as a ‘let’s talk’ session, the discussion of the BC housing crisis will include prices and supply, the BC speculation tax, urban growth and the cost of regulations, issues of zoning and permitting.
A discussion panel includes Focus Equities owner and Bayview Place developer Kenneth Mariash, president of Reliance Properties Jon Stovell, and former BC Liberal cabinet minister Peter Fassbender who held the portfolio of Community, Sport and Cultural Development and was Minister responsible for TransLink.
Sure to come up is the impact of the BC government’s speculation tax, that business experts say will cause more problems for housing supply in urban areas, not less. Overall, greater housing density seems to be the way forward for growing communities in BC, which includes efficiencies with transportation and public transit.
Langford is the fastest-growing community on south Vancouver Island, where issues of commuter congestion come second only to housing. “I hope this seminar will shed light on how damaging the speculation tax will be for Langford’s economy and jobs, especially at Bear Mountain which is our largest employer base and brings the most international and national sport events and tourist visits to Langford and region,” says Langford Mayor Stew Young.
The event today is coordinated by the United Nations Association in Canada, hosted by Ken Mariash and Kathryn White, President and CEO of UNA Canada, with moderator Peter Legge.
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