A coalition of B.C. municipalities, housing organizations and community groups is calling on the provincial government to establish a permanent housing policy roundtable.
Announced on Monday, the call for action follows a resolution passed by the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM). The motion, brought forward by the North Central Local Government Association, urges the province to create a standing body that brings together:
- local governments
- Indigenous housing organizations
- market and non-market housing groups
- academic experts
- provincial and federal housing officials
The goal is to support collaborative, evidence-based housing policy that reflects the needs of communities across the province, advocates say.
The B.C. Real Estate Association is supporting the initiative, along with a growing list of stakeholders that includes municipalities, chambers of commerce and sector organizations such as the Aboriginal Housing Management Association, Canadian Mortgage Brokers Association – B.C., LandlordBC and the Manufactured Home Park Owners Alliance of B.C.
The resolution comes as Christine Boyle takes over as B.C.’s Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs. Advocates say her appointment is an opportunity to move quickly on coordinated housing policy.
“This resolution represents a major step forward in creating inclusive and effective housing policy,” said Jasroop Gosal, BCREA’s manager of government relations. “We look forward to working with the new housing minister and all stakeholders to ensure this roundtable delivers real results for British Columbians.”
The resolution is now awaiting a formal response from the provincial government.
Current policy lacks collaboration: BCREA
In a brief on the housing roundtable, BCREA notes that the B.C. government has been under “significant pressure” in recent years to react quickly and introduce new measures to address the affordability crisis.
“While many of the new policy ideas have had merit, the policy development process has lacked advance, detailed consultation with a variety of housing experts, which is necessary to ensure a holistic view is adopted,” it reads.
