The so-called B次元官网网址榥aughty listB次元官网网址� of communities targeted for additional housing grew by 20 with B.C.B次元官网网址檚 second-largest community B次元官网网址� Surrey B次元官网网址� joining the list.
Also joining are B.C.B次元官网网址檚 two largest communities in B.C.B次元官网网址檚 Interior: Prince George, as the first northern community, and the OkanaganB次元官网网址檚 Kelowna along with neighbouring West Kelowna.
This quartet is joined by several communities in Greater Victoria (Central Saanich, Colwood, North Saanich, Sidney, View Royal); the Vancouver Island communities of North Cowichan and Nanaimo; the Metro Vancouver communities of New Westminster, City of North Vancouver and Port Coquitlam; and the Fraser Valley communities of Chilliwack, the City of Langley; and Maple Ridge.
Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon announced the communities said to be located in B次元官网网址渉igh-growth, high-need regionsB次元官网网址� of B.C. Tuesday (April 23) in Victoria.
B次元官网网址淭his group of 20 are not a naughty list,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e got communities that are doing good work. WeB次元官网网址檝e got (City of) North Vancouver, (City of) Langley, we have got Kelowna, all of them doing good work already. This about aligning our targets and then communities that are not doing their work like North Saanich. We need to get more housing being built and so itB次元官网网址檚 about bringing the two together.B次元官网网址�
RELATED:
RELATED:
Municipal leaders in several of the chosen communities have generally been supportive of provincial housing initiatives. KelownaB次元官网网址檚 Mayor Tom Dyas has frequently met with Kahlon to discuss housing in the fast-growing Okanagan city and has validated provincial policy. But other communities like North Saanich will likely look at their inclusion with a sense of resistance.
City of North Vancouver Mayor Linda Buchanan, for example, said on Twitter that was she surprised about her communityB次元官网网址檚 inclusion. While she acknowledged KahlonB次元官网网址檚 praise, she added that her community already has a B次元官网网址渢houghtful and responsible planB次元官网网址� for growth.
B次元官网网址淚n my previous conversations with the (minister), I have been very clear that the (cityB次元官网网址檚) growth cannot be scaled up as a result of ordering a housing target,B次元官网网址� Buchanan said. B次元官网网址淗owever, in the spirit of collaboration, we will continue to engage with the province on housing and infrastructure.B次元官网网址�
My response on receiving a housing target order from the province 馃憞
B次元官网网址� Mayor Linda Buchanan (@LindaCBuchanan)
Kahlon said he hears from a lot of mayors who say they do not have a housing problem. B次元官网网址淭hey should go and talk to their constituents,B次元官网网址� he said. He added that the housing target aim to create housing for people already in communities B次元官网网址� not newcomers. While he acknowledged the need for infrastructure to support the additional housing, B.C. needs to be able to build infrastructure and housing at the same time.
B次元官网网址淚f people donB次元官网网址檛 have housing, they are not going to be to live in our communities,B次元官网网址� he said.
Communities will receive their housing targets for the next five years later this summer under legislation passed last year.
The Housing Supply Act establishes targets for Vancouver, Victoria, Saanich, Abbotsford, Kamloops, Delta, the District of North Vancouver, Port Moody, West Vancouver and Oak Bay.
Their total targets call for 60,000 units within the next five years, representing a 38-per-cent increase in new units to be built compared to what they would have built based on historic projections.
The 20 communities added today do not have targets yet. Kahlon added that the targets for the new communities will be B次元官网网址渕uch lowerB次元官网网址� because the first 10 communities had to fill a larger gap.
When Kahlon had announced the first 10 communities, he said that the province would be helping those communities to meet their targets in trying to counter the narrative that the province has singled them. But the legislation allows the province to take a more active role in case of failure.
