As Fall session comes to an end, NDP government take victory lap on string of housing initiatives introduced

Lieutenant Governor Janet Austin closed out the fall session on
Thursday thanking MLA's for their service and wishing them
Happy Holidays ahead

The fall session of the BC Legislature wrapped up on Thursday afternoon, bringing to a close the seven weeks of Legislature work for Northwest MLA's and those from across BC in the Chamber in Victoria.

The Legislature Hansard pages tracking the final moments of the busy Fall session now at an end.

As they wrapped up their Legislature duties on Thursday, the BC Government released a statement highlighting all of their work on housing files through the fall, a program which saw much of the legislation pass through the House on a rapid approach schedule.

“One of the biggest challenges facing people in British Columbia is finding a decent place to live that they can afford. That’s why our government is taking action. Through the new laws we passed, we're making sure homes are built faster and that homes are used for people, not speculators or investors.” --  Premier David Eby

The Government statement of Thursday noted of the scope of the legislation passed through the fall.

The B.C. legislature passed 19 pieces of legislation in the fall session, with two additional bills expected to be passed on Nov. 30, 2023, including strong and comprehensive action on housing to turn short-term rentals into homes for people, fix outdated zoning laws, create more small-scale, multi-unit homes and speed up the delivery of homes, including near transit hubs.​ 

New laws on climate action and emergency response, protection for workers, credential recognition, and to keep people safe and communities strong were also at the top of the legislative agenda. 

Key pieces of housing legislation passed in the fall session include: 

Reining in the rapidly expanding short-term rental market and turning short-term rentals into homes for people through the Short-Term Rentals Accommodations Act; 

Delivering more small-scale, multi-unit housing for people, including townhomes, triplexes and laneway homes, and fix outdated zoning rules to help build more homes faster through Bill 44; 

Speeding up the delivery of homes, removing barriers and encouraging more communities near transit, services and amenities that make life better for people through new transit-oriented development legislation. 

This legislation if passed builds on work underway to facilitate more transit-oriented development and create more livable communities; and reducing construction delays and streamlining processes to fund key services, infrastructure and amenities for growing communities through new development finance tools in Bill 46.

The full statement wrapping up their fall initiatives can be reviewed here.

While some of the program still awaits final approval of the Legislature, the accelerated timeline that the NDP government has taken has at times bristled some in the Legislature and in many municipalities across the province. 

The latter a bit wary over the government's move into areas normally their domain.

Earlier this week Green Party MLA Adam Olsen expressed his concern over the pace that the NDP put on their Legislation plans, calling on British Columbians to pay attention to to what is happening in the Legislature and what he called the complete contempt as to how the place is supposed to work.

It's a theme that a number of those who cover the Legislature have also taken note of over the last few weeks.

Eby promises time to debate housing bills. Two hours later, Kahlon invokes closure

Transformative BC housing bills being forced through with limited debate: critics 

New BC Housing legislation could have unintended consequences: expert 

Have the BC NDP become what they once despised in the Legislature?

The Union of British Columbia Municipalities noted earlier this month of the need to address the housing crisis, but also warned of some of the consequences to the push forward.

UBCM recognizes the urgent need to address the housing crisis and appreciates that many local governments support the introduced legislative changes. However, a shift towards prescriptive, centralized planning comes also with risks and potential unintended consequences.

The moves by the Eby government have also made for some debate around Municipal Chambers as the scope of what the NDP has in mind and how it impacts on local decision making became clear.

NDP housing bill 'undermines 10 years of planning: Langley Township Mayor

Public Hearings reduced in new BC housing plan, some ask why

View Royal and Oak Bay push back on housing legislation

The topic even made for some discussion in the Northwest, with Kitimat Council taking note of the push for the NDP government's agenda.

Kitimat council to challenge proposed housing legislation

As for Prince Rupert City Council, with infrastructure issues on their mind, the Mayor and Council had little comment this fall as announcement after announcement rolled out of Victoria. 

The issue of the scope of the Provincial insertion in to the municipal sphere one that only gained sporadic mention to the topic from the council membership.

With the House now adjourned until its next call of return sometime in 2024, all of the housing push will come through Minister Khalon's office, with no forum for discussion for the foreseeable future.

More notes on the work of the Northeast MLA's in the Legislature can be reviewed here.

Our look at Housing in Prince Rupert and the Northwest is available below.

Prince Rupert Housing

Housing in the Northwest 

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.