The City of Kamloops is among the first 10 communities that will be subject to new housing targets set by the provincial government under the Housing Supply Act passed last year.
The cities of Vancouver and Victoria are also on the list as is Abbotsford, Delta, and Port Moody along with the districts of North Vancouver, Oak Bay, Saanich, and West Vancouver.
“The housing crisis is hurting people and holding back our economy, and we’re taking action with our partners to cut red tape and get homes built faster for people,” Housing Minister Ravi said Wednesday morning. “Municipalities are our critical partners in addressing the housing crisis and building healthy, economically viable communities.”
“Our government is eager to work with this first cohort of municipalities to get shovels in the ground faster and ensure the homes people need get built.”
The announcement comes one day after City Council voted 5-3 to write a letter to Kahlon, asking that the provincial government “not interfere” with local government land use decision-making authority by imposing housing targets.
Put forward by Councillor Nancy Bepple, she argued that the province’s “Homes for People” initiative strips local governments of its ability to do the job it’s supposed to do.
However, in the wake of Kamloops being tapped as one of the initial ten cities, Bepple says it’s her hope the City and Victoria can work toward a plan to allow the province to “back away a little bit.”
“I think we have a good relationship with [Housing] Minister Ravi Kahlon, so I don’t think words like push-back is the right term. I think conversation would be better,” argues Bepple. “What I’m hoping with the motion is that the province looks at what the City of Kamloops has done so far, which is — I would say — significant in terms of creating different types of zoning to allow a range of housing.”
Voting in favour of Bepple’s motion were councillors Bepple, Dale Bass, Margot Middleton, Katie Neustaeter, and Stephen Karpuk. Councillors Kelly Hall, Mike O’Reilly, and Bill Sarai were opposed, with Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson recusing himself due to a conflict of interest.
The Province said the ten communities were chosen “using an objective and data-based process” and that these targets will encourage municipalities to address local barriers to construction so that housing can get built faster, by updating zoning bylaws and streamlining local development approval processes.
“An empirical index was developed, based on work with economists and experts in the field, to identify municipalities according to multiple dimensions of housing need,” a BC Government news release said. “The index relies on measures that prioritize the urgency of local housing needs, the availability of the right housing supply, including land availability and unrealized potential for more homes, and housing affordability.”
The Province says it will consult with the selected municipalities over the summer and set the final housing targets.
“All communities will be encouraged to take the action needed to speed up local processes,” the release added. “Many already have.”
“Once targets are set, the Province will monitor progress and work with municipalities to help address any barriers. To support implementation, the Province will continue to help local governments speed up local approval processes through the continued implementation of the development approvals process review, as well as the Province’s work accelerating and streamlining provincial permitting across multiple ministries and developing a new digital permitting process.”
A second group of eight to 10 municipalities will be selected and notified in late 2023.
– With files from Paul James
