HOUSING will become its own standalone ministry as part of Premier David Eby’s plan to address the housing crisis in British Columbia.
The minister of housing will be named when Eby announces his cabinet on December 7.
Eby said on Tuesday: “For too many British Columbians, owning or even renting a good home feels out of reach. The housing crisis deserves the attention of a full ministry and the resources that come with it. As premier, I am committed to making meaningful progress to make sure everyone in B.C. can afford a good home.”
Eby made the announcement during a speech to about 1,400 attendees at the Housing Central Conference at the Sheraton Wall Centre Hotel in Vancouver. The annual conference on affordable housing is held by the BC Non-Profit Housing Association, the Aboriginal Housing Management Association, and the Co-operative Housing Federation of BC.
The announcement comes one day after government introduced new laws to build the homes people need, make it possible for homes that are vacant to be rented, and remove discriminatory age and rental restrictions in stratas that hurt young families.