The provincial government Wednesday (Nov. 29) passed what is perhaps its most important piece of housing legislation after limiting debate on it, much to the chagrin of the opposition.
Bill 44 passed with 45 votes in favour from the New Democratic caucus with 29 votes against coming from BC United, BC Greens, the Conservative Party of BC and independent Adam Walker.
The bill increases density across most B.C. municipalities. Starting July 1, 2024, developers will be able to start building a minimum of three and up to six units (near transit) on lots currently zoned for single-family homes and duplexes in municipalities above 5,000 people home to 90 per cent of the provincial population.
While passage of the bill was never in doubt, the process of passage came to the forefront Wednesday when Housing Minister and Government House Leader Ravi Kahlon limited debate.
B次元官网网址淭he responsibility of the House is toB次元官网网址nsure that all items receive the attention they deserve and they are not obstructed,B次元官网网址� he said.
The move drew a combination of outrage and mockery from the opposition, with the respective house leaders of BC United (Todd Stone) and BC Greens (Adam Olsen) denying the existence of a consensus around the governmentB次元官网网址檚 move.
B次元官网网址淭hank you, Mr. Chair and thanks to the Government House Leader for being generous with the time to debate this bill,B次元官网网址� Peter Milobar, MLA for Kamloops-North Thompson, said. B次元官网网址淲e now have nine minutes, 10 minutes left to canvas 21 more sections in this bill,B次元官网网址� he said in accusing government of not wanting to talk about the bill in detail.
Various voices including government leaders consider Bill 44 in combination with other housing-related legislation significant changes to future land use and urban planning processes. But opposition voices have also lamented the ability to scrutinize the bills individually and analyze them in their totality, with the fall session ending Thursday (Nov. 30).
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BC Green Leader Sonia Furstenau raised these points in her last media availability.
B次元官网网址淲hat is happening more and more, the game is becoming more important than the work,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲hen we have a government that is manipulating when we can and canB次元官网网址檛 debate bills, changing their mind at the last minute, putting a huge amount of legislation on the table, with very limited time to debate it, and then answering questions in an open and transparent way, it seems more and more like a government that has something to hide.B次元官网网址�
With the session ending Thursday, it means that legislators wonB次元官网网址檛 have the ability to fully understand Bill 44 as well as the other pieces of housing legislation.
B次元官网网址淭hat alone is something to hide,B次元官网网址� she said.
For government to be effective, it needs to be open and transparent, she said, adding that transparency helps builds trust in government, thereby fighting the rise of populism.
Both Premier David Eby and Kahlon need to answer why the legislature has reached a point, where government needs to limit debate, she said, adding it is not for government to decide how much time the opposition should have to debate bills.
B次元官网网址淭his is a government that has been there since 2017 and they waited until three weeks before the end of a fall session to bring in their legislation,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淪o I think that pointing at somebody else and saying itB次元官网网址檚 their fault that I didnB次元官网网址檛 get my work done on time is not an excuse.B次元官网网址�
Premier David Eby defended his governmentB次元官网网址檚 management of the house Wednesday afternoon at an unrelated event before Kahlon limited debate on Bill 44.
B.C. for many years has not had fall sessions, he said.
B次元官网网址淲e have had significantly more sitting days, weB次元官网网址檙e trying to recognize the reality of our Legislative Assembly as it stands right now,B次元官网网址� he said. Right now, it has four parties and one independent, B次元官网网址渁ll of whom have the right and need to ask questions about legislation,B次元官网网址� Eby said. B次元官网网址淭his has required additional time to respond to that. B次元官网网址�
With that comment, Eby referred to the recent extensions of sitting hours last week and this week, including Wednesday. That has ensured that B次元官网网址減eople are able to canvass legislation in detail,B次元官网网址� Eby said.
B次元官网网址�(It)B次元官网网址檚 an important role for opposition parties to be able to do that, something that I did for four yearsB次元官网网址o itB次元官网网址檚 certainly something we support.B次元官网网址�
Eby said he met with Furstenau Wednesday morning to discuss these issues.
B次元官网网址淪he reminded me of her interest in more time, more opportunity to canvas bills and we will continue to look for ways to improve the way this space operates,B次元官网网址� he said.
Eby later expressed hope of being able to work better with the opposition parties.
B次元官网网址淏ut right now, it has been a challenge,B次元官网网址� he said, noting that the legislature has been sitting and debating these bills for almost 12-hour-long days. But he also added that that British Columbians canB次元官网网址檛 wait on these initiatives to housing. The province is facing a housing crisis right now, he said.
B次元官网网址�(We) feel a sense of urgency around these reforms as well,B次元官网网址� he said.
wolfgang.depner@blackpress.ca
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