BC outlines multi-million dollar affordable housing plan

SURREY (NEWS 1130) – The premier is sharing details on how her BC Liberal government will start addressing affordable housing, with the crunch leaving many people in Metro Vancouver in a tough spot.

There will be 1,400 units built in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley including 600 for Vancouver and 300 for Surrey. This is all part of a plan to construct 2,900 units across BC for low-income renters, First Nations, seniors and other people who need help.

“I think we’ve made a lot of progress. We’ve made more progress in fighting homelessness than just about anywhere else in North America according to many of the experts. But it’s tough as life gets less affordable here,” says Premier Christy Clark.

The funding commitment from the provincial government is $516 million toward a total of 68 projects. “This is why we continue to work so hard to build Canada’s leading economy,” adds Clark. “It gives us the ability to make significant investments, put British Columbians first, and take immediate action to increase the rental supply in communities throughout BC.”

The investments are reportedly supposed to create 5,500 jobs. And before the end of the year, Victoria says you can expect more details on new housing projects.

New Democrat David Eby, the Opposition’s housing critic, says the government needs a housing plan that reaches beyond next spring’s election campaign.

David Eby says Premier Christy Clark’s plan to fund 29-hundred social housing units across the Lower Mainland appears to be a one-year pre-election tactic.

“This government has been dragged kicking and screaming to do something about housing. Literally, it has taken forums full of angry people shouting that there’s a housing crisis to get their attention. I hope now that they’re at the table that they’ll join the cities and join the federal government in a long term plan that goes beyond May 2017 which is the election.”