David Eby's Housing plans spark some discussion among UBCM membership

MLA David Eby, who currently is in the race to succeed John Horgan as NDP leader and Premier released a housing plan in late September. 

The proposal for significant housing policy change is one that was revealed during the course of the current Municipal Election campaigns in the province, something which has it flying somewhat under the radar for municipal governments at the moment.

Eby who stepped aside from his Housing and Attorney General duties as the leadership campaign began has been in charge of the Housing file through the current NDP government's mandate and has taken a number of steps already to move housing issues forwards, sometimes running up against city council's across BC who haven't always embraced his change of focus, or moves of provincial intervention towards them.

Mr. Eby's proposals gained their launch with a video presentation and information website to provide a glimpse of where he would take housing policy should he be named NDP leader and Premier designate later this fall by the Party.

The document is one with a variety of layers towards addressing the housing crisis for many communities, with immediate action proposed through Indigenous and Local government to build more housing to respond to homelessness immediately.

Also of interest are Eby's proposals towards more housing for the Middle Class, with an expansion of the provincial government's role in creating middle class homes for BC communities under the BC Builds banner.

Also proposed is a BC Flipping Tax, acquisition and securing rental housing for the long term, as well as stepping into some areas of Municipal overview to change the game as the would be Premier puts it.

The full proposal from Mr. Eby can be reviewed here.

UBCM which is the umbrella group for British Columbia municipalities has taken on an analysis of Mr. Eby's proposals and while they receive some of the initiatives with a warm welcome, some of the other elements, particularly those impacting on Municipal overview are raising a few flags for the group. 

Many other elements of the plan have the potential to create large amounts of affordable housing supply but would also require further consultation with UBCM and local governments to address implications for local democracy and accountability and also to minimize potential unintended consequences.

Three areas of note for UBCM include:

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 UBCM also has scone concerns over the NDP leadership contestants thought on legislation towards housing targets.

Finally, UBCM would have significant concerns with “legislation on housing targets and forcing municipalities to act” that MLA Eby has indicated will likely be coming forward this fall. 

While details of this legislation are not detailed in MLA Eby’s housing plan, the plan indicates that: Municipalities’ ‘housing needs plans’ will be used to set minimum standards for housing delivery, with municipalities exceeding targets rewarded with additional community amenity support and those failing to hit targets supported through provincial intervention to meet growth demands.

The full UBCM review can be examined here. 

Prince Rupert City Council, which has made Housing one of its main talking points of the last few months, hasn't had much to say on the housing proposals of Mr. Eby, the current council membership seemingly more focused on their Port Tax Cap themes when it comes to engagement with the province these days.

One Councillor, Barry Cunningham did make mention of the Housing proposals from Mr. Eby, though he had little to expand to the topic other than his social media shout out, with no thoughts on how the many elements of the Eby plan may impact on the Prince Rupert area.

He was however, the only incumbent or challenger in the current election campaign to even make note of the major policy planning proposed by the province.

With Election Day coming up fast now, the next council will be the ones that will be tasked with reading the full proposal and offering up commentary towards any areas that they may think make for a provincial over reach.

Something which should put the Housing issue to the top of the to do list when they successful candidates take office in November.

More notes no Housing can be explored through our achieve page here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.