Third Session, 42nd Parliament

(2022) OFFICIAL REPORT

OF DEBATES

(HANSARD)

Monday, October 24, 2022

Morning Sitting

Issue No. 235

ISSN 1499-2175

The HTML transcript is provided for informational purposes only.

The PDF transcript remains the official digital version.

CONTENTS

Orders of the Day

Private Members’ Statements

Student and affordable housing

H. Sandhu

M. Bernier

Sea to Sky affordability

J. Sturdy

B. Bailey

Advancing reconciliation

G. Lore

M. Lee

Advanced education

C. Oakes

H. Yao

Private Members’ Motions

Motion 22 — Annual allowable rent increase

S. Chandra Herbert

M. Bernier

J. Rice

T. Halford

D. Routley

J. Sturdy

B. Anderson

D. Davies

A. Mercier

E. Sturko

M. Dykeman

MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2022

The House met at 10:02 a.m.

[Mr. Speaker in the chair.]

Routine Business

Prayers and reflections: A. Singh.

Orders of the Day

Private Members’ Statements

STUDENT AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING

H. Sandhu: I would like to discuss the importance of investments in housing

and student housing to address housing needs and also to share the

progress that we have made so far.

[R. Leonard in the chair.]

Housing is a basic need and necessity of every human being.

Everyone deserves to have a place they can call home — a safe and

affordable home. Affordable housing helps people to get a good start in

life. Accessible housing removes barriers for people with mobility

issues. Stable and secure options give women and children fleeing

vio­lence somewhere to go. Supportive housing gives people the

hand that they need to start over, while reducing homelessness and

crime. Student housing saves time and money and helps us build an even

better, stronger community.

We need to continue to build on the efforts and progress being

made by the government. We are seeing signs of progress since 2017. More

than 52,000 new rental homes have been registered in B.C. That is more

than the previous 15 years combined. We know people are still struggling

to buy or rent here in B.C. The biggest challenge is housing supply and

demand. We see thousands of new people moving to our province every

month, because B.C. is the most desirable place to live. So many

Canadians and newcomers choose to make B.C. their home for various great

reasons.

For too long, speculators treated housing as a commodity, because

there were no concrete measures put in place to tackle speculation. With

the money laundering and speculation, housing prices and affordability

became the biggest challenge in our province.

[10:05 a.m.]

To deal with the housing crisis, our government implemented an

ambitious 30-point housing plan to tackle the housing crisis by making

the largest investment in housing affordability in B.C.’s history by

investing more than $7 billion over ten years to build 114,000

affordable homes, with more than 32,000 units being built or

underway.

I am happy to share that a total of 665 affordable housing units

are completed or are being built in Vernon-Monashee across a diverse

range of housing needs. Hundreds of supportive housing units have

already been opened in Vernon-Monashee.

In addition to previously opened housing units, some of the

recently opened units include 52 new supportive housing units for people

experiencing or at risk of homelessness. These are operated by the

Turning Points Collaborative Society — 30 units of low-income housing

for families, 36 of low-income housing for seniors and 12 units for

people with disabilities. In addition to that, 13 new affordable homes

for seniors, people with disabilities and families; 48 affordable rental

income homes, altogether, are for seniors on low incomes.

Lumby was also the latest community to get 20 homes for low- to

moderate-income residents, at 2211 Shield Avenue. Also, a total of 51

rental units for Indigenous peo­ples over two different projects —

16 affordable on-reserve rental homes for the Okanagan Indian

Band.

B.C. is the first province in Canada to invest the provincial

housing fund into on-reserve housing, which is a federal responsibility.

B.C. has also opened its all-provincial housing programs to First

Nations. The province provided $1.7 million. We also received $3 million

from the province’s Building B.C. fund — invested into the construction

of 29 affordable units for families and seniors in Vernon, operated by

the Canadian Mental Health Association. These units just opened last

week, on October 20, so it’s very exciting.

Our investments record, delivering on more on-campus student

housing, also speaks for itself. Since 2018, our government has funded

8,000 student beds, compared to 130 beds from 2001 to 2017. Since 2018,

there has been a 1,039 percent increase in student housing initiatives.

We are well on our way to meeting the commitment to invest $450 million

over six years to provide about 5,000 new beds at public post-secondary

schools throughout B.C. and an additional 3,000 in collaboration with

post-secondary institutions. Currently, we have already built 7,200

on-campus net new student housing and achieved 90 percent of our target

goal.

In the Okanagan and in Vernon-Monashee, we are also benefiting

from these great investments: 376 additional affordable student homes

were funded at the Oka­nagan College campuses in Vernon, Salmon

Arm and Kelowna. These are the first-ever student housing units that are

being built in Vernon. I’m already getting such great feedback from our

community and many students who face difficulty finding housing. This is

in addition to the hundreds of units at the UBC Kelowna campus in

collaboration.

Another great initiative, which might be the first one so far….

This Okanagan College Vernon campus housing unit also includes the 44

child care spaces that are approved on the Vernon campus site, which

will remove the biggest barrier of child care that is being faced by

many students.

It’s very important for us to continue to build on the progress

we’re making in the housing sector by adding more tools and by finding

more ways to address this crisis. Our government is constantly working

to explore many ways so we can address this crisis and everybody can

have a place they can call home.

I look forward to hearing from the member opposite on how we can

continue to build on the progress we’ve made.

M. Bernier: I’m pleased to rise and respond to the member. I also appreciate

the latitude that the Speaker showed for the last member. The morning

period is supposed to be non-political, so I appreciate the fact that

I’ll probably get the same latitude during this time.

[10:10 a.m.]

Obviously, it’s really important that we do make sure we’re making

the investments to help people in this housing crisis, a housing crisis

that we’ve seen get worse and worse over the last five, six years. And

of course it’s vital, in the midst of a worsening housing crisis, that

we make the investments.

I look back to the time when I was in government, in cabinet, when

we invested and built 9,300 student housing beds across the province,

actually doubling the amount of beds that we had for our student

housing. I look at the impact that that had on our students and, I would

even say, on families and communities.

I know that in Dawson Creek alone, we built two towers housing

more than 400 students. And because of that, I got to see the impact

that that made on our Northern Lights College facility: the amount of

people that were able to come from other communities to my community

because now they had a place that they could live, because they had a

place that they could be close on campus. How important that was at that

time.

We’ve seen now how this housing crisis has really, really created

a catastrophic situation in our province. You look at the fact right now

that the National Bank of Canada is saying it’ll take 39 years for

somebody to save up enough money for a down payment for a home in

Vancouver. It’s no wonder that people are…. I shouldn’t use the word

stuck, because that would be unfair. Some people choose to…. People are

in a rental situation because of the affordability crisis that we’ve

created here in the province of British Columbia over the last five, six

years of inaction.

I look at the fact that 114,000 houses were promised by this

government over ten years. We’re now six years into it. Just over 7,000

homes are actually open with peo­ple living in them. That is a

complete failure of a housing policy right there.

CMHC has actually put out a report that says 570,000 units need to

be built by 2030 to deliver on any form of affordability to help people

in this province. So we are a long ways away from doing anything that

will actually help curb — or slow down, even — the housing and

affordability crisis that we have here in our province.

We know supply is a huge issue. I commend the member before me for

talking about some of the initiatives that have been taken specifically

in her riding and around her riding. Those are important. I’m not

wanting to take away from that at all. I’m just saying that that is a

drop in the bucket for what has actually been promised and what’s

actually needed to help the people here in British Columbia.

I think one of the things that’s been glaringly absent is the

support for the private sector in order to help build some of this

much-needed housing stock, whether it’s for rental stock, whether it’s

for students. Government can’t do anything — everything. Well, anything,

actually, is probably the right word at the time, but they can’t do

every­thing. They need to reach out across the spectrum to ensure

that this housing is being delivered.

We know…. I mean, I’ve got five children. I know how unaffordable

it is for my children right now, some who are still going to college and

university and struggling with trying to find affordable places where

they can live. The fact that they have to have two or three or four

students, sometimes, sharing a one- or two-bedroom apartment just to try

to make it work…. That’s not fair. That’s not the B.C. that I want to

see, and I know many parents out there that I hear from are saying how

they are struggling right now.

I applaud the member for bringing this forward, be­cause it

is an important issue. It’s an important issue that needs to be

addressed. It hasn’t been, and that’s something that we really need to

focus on. Because as we talk about the health care crisis and the

shortage of teachers, we’re talking about people that need to go to

school, need to go to college, need to go to university to get that

training to fill the voids that we’re desperately seeing right now in

our province. But they can’t do that if they can’t afford it.

Every piece that this government has been promising that they

failed to deliver on…. We implore them to actually follow through with

their promises, because that’s what’s going to help the families and our

students in the province of British Columbia.

H. Sandhu: I want to thank the member for Peace River South for sharing his

thoughts. It is great to work together and share creative ideas on how

we can best address this issue and continue making the progress we’ve

made so far.

[10:15 a.m.]

Besides building thousands of affordable units to meet the diverse

needs of people, our government has also taken some other measures. By

cracking down on money laundering, stopping tax fraud and closing

loopholes, the government is working to make our real estate market fair

for all British Columbians. To support new homebuyers, the province

operates the first-time-homebuyer program, which reduces or eliminates

the amount of property transfer tax that new homebuyers pay on their

first home.

In 2018, the province introduced new measures to curb speculative

demand of the housing market. Data collected on these measures shows

that they are contributing to the ongoing moderation of the B.C. housing

market and have led to an increase of housing starts and the vacancy

rate by freeing up more than 20,000 housing units available for

rent.

The speculation and vacancy tax targets speculators who own homes

in B.C. but do not pay taxes here. Over 99 percent of British Columbians

don’t pay this tax, and 92 percent of the revenue generated from the tax

income is from people other than B.C. residents.

Government has also increased the additional property tax rate,

also known as the foreign buyers tax, from 15 to 20 percent and

broadened its geographic scope. Increasing this tax deters people from

speculating in the province’s housing market and penalizes those who

do.

B.C. Housing also offers innovative development programs aimed at

creating new affordable home ownership options. Through HousingHub, B.C.

Housing administers the affordable home ownership program, which

supports the development of new owner-purchased homes eligible for

middle-income households.

We are helping women and children leaving violence by making the

first major investments in transition housing in more than two decades.

We are making historic investments in housing for Indigenous peoples by

funding homes both on and off reserve. We have ten times more housing

underway right now, within five years, compared to the previous 16

years.

We can imagine where we would be if we didn’t have these measures

in place to build the houses we have been building since 2017. There is

no doubt that the housing situation would be far worse than it is now.

Therefore, I will always support the housing goals that the people of

this province and my constituency voted for. I am extremely passionate

about housing solutions that meet the needs of people and everyone in

community, because everyone deserves a place they can call

home.

I thank all the colleagues in this House for their advo­cacy

and commitment to address this challenge.

SEA TO SKY AFFORDABILITY

J. Sturdy: It should come as no particular surprise that I rise today to

address the affordability crisis faced by British Columbians and, in

particular, the impacts to constituents of West Vancouver–Sea to Sky,

who I have the honour to represent in this House.

We know that record-high gas prices have been a problem in British

Columbia for some time now and that people are impacted in a variety of

ways. The Sea to Sky region is home to six First Nations communities,

the district of Squamish, the village of Pemberton, the resort

municipality of Whistler, Britannia Beach and Porteau Cove and is spread

along one road over 13,000 square kilometres. That means that people who

live, work and play in this region heavily depend on vehicles, whether

for car-pooling or driving or just basically getting around.

The lack of public transit to connect these communities means that

fuel and automobiles are essential for everyday life. Unlike the

efficient and convenient transportation solutions that some of the more

densely populated areas of British Columbia enjoy, going to work, taking

children to school or visiting loved ones means you need to

drive.

We know that these highly urban areas such as Metro, which is

serviced by TransLink, are subject to some of North America’s highest

fuel prices. These alarmingly high prices may have a variety of factors

behind them. However, the Ministry of Finance tax bulletin shows that

the consumption and sale of gas or diesel in Metro Vancouver or the

south coast British Columbia transportation service region is subject to

an 18½-cent transit levy or transit tax.

[10:20 a.m.]

This revenue supports the complex and robust transportation system

which we call TransLink. In the capital regional district, it’s 5½ cents

per litre and supports B.C. Transit in the capital. This brings the

total tax on gas to 38.05 cents per litre in greater Vancouver and 31.05

cents in the capital regional district, compared to 25.55 cents in the

rest of the province, including my constituency.

Now, I know I’m getting a bit into the weeds here. The reason I

rise here is to highlight how, despite the lower legislative tax burden

on fuel in the Sea to Sky and in other areas of British Columbia and the

lack of regional public transportation, fuel prices in the Sea to Sky

region are, in fact, on par with or higher than in Metro

Vancouver.

For years now, this has been the case. In fact, when I looked at

it on Friday, in putting these notes together, North Vancouver and

Burnaby were at $1.84, while Pemberton was more than ten cents higher,

at $1.95, Squamish was at $1.92, and Whistler was about two bucks a

litre. Clearly, the Sea to Sky region is faced with unfair and distorted

pricing and simply unacceptable gas prices as we all grapple with the

affordability crisis. The math just really doesn’t add up. Or maybe it

does.

In the Metro Vancouver area…. If Metro is paying $1.84, residents

in the Sea to Sky should be paying $1.72, if we take out that tax

burden. Even if you want to add a cent a litre for delivery costs, it

would be $1.73 per litre, at the most. People in the Sea to Sky are

overpaying by some 22 cents a litre and have been for many years now.

Frankly, this is an outrage.

Believe you me, Madam Speaker, my constituents are aware. I know

colleagues on both sides of this House are aware. Our colleagues from

the Fraser Valley have a similar type of situation. Those who aren’t

subject to the Trans­Link levy are subject to pricing that is in

excess of the area that’s subject to the TransLink levy.

Provincial support for a regional transit system, unfortunately,

has failed to materialize since B.C. Transit published the 25-year

transit future plan for the Sea to Sky region in 2017. If no regional

public transit, then what? The Sea to Sky requires some upgrades,

significant transportation upgrades, shoulder work, three- or

four-laning and that sort of thing. Rural resource roads are an

important component in the Sea to Sky to service remote communities, and

they need additional resources.

For sure, we need fair gas pricing. The Fuel Price Transparency

Act of 2019 looked to direct the B.C. Utilities Commission to understand

fuel pricing in British Columbia — not looking at the taxes, mind you,

but looking at the wholesale and retail pricing, with a direction to pay

special attention to places like Squamish, which, in fact, was

done.

There was a mystery ten cents that nobody seems to be able to

explain, including BCUC. There was no explanation there, but the bigger

issue that was not explained and that has become even worse is the issue

I mentioned earlier: the fact that we are paying the taxes, even though

we’re not getting the services.

It also drives up housing prices. It drives up fuel costs. It

drives up all the services that we consume — everything we do, really,

in many respects. Driving is just the reality, and fuel prices are out

of control. It puts people under huge pressure, because there’s no

alternative, unlike in other regions. There’s a Sea to Sky premium on

virtually everything. For example, concrete is $100 a metre more in the

Sea to Sky than it is in Metro Vancouver — and lumber prices or any of

these things, which are often a function of transportation

costs.

This price manipulation must be addressed, and a regional transit

system needs to be put into place. As a region that relies on

travellers’ mobility and on being connected, the unfair gas prices and

the irregularities of taxation and funding allocations must be

addressed.

This House must do what it takes to ensure that those who live,

work and play in the Sea to Sky region aren’t being taken advantage of.

We put in place the Fuel Price Transparency Act to understand the issue.

There’s evidence that there is unfair pricing. As a result of the

information that has been generated through the Fuel Price Transparency

Act…. That information needs to be acted on, and I think there are

opportunities to do that.

[10:25 a.m.]

B. Bailey: There’s no question that the cost of living is an increasing

challenge for B.C. families, and the Sea to Sky region is no exception.

In fact, there are a number of additional factors that this region

faces, adding to the upward pressure being experienced countrywide. Two

of the biggest expenses for families on the Sea to Sky corridor are

housing and child care. These are areas where our government has been

making historic investments, and there’s much more to do.

From Lions Bay to Squamish, from Whistler to Pemberton, housing

pressure has been on the increase. Whistler, of course, is a world-class

resort community. Like all resort towns, if employers don’t offer

accommodation, workers are often unable to find somewhere to live so

move to the next town over. Also, as more and more folks were able to

work from home, people moved to areas where housing was more affordable

than in the big city. This, too, added to housing supply

shortages.

Whistler has been innovating on housing solutions for a long

while. I understand that the Whistler Housing Auth­ority, prior to

the pandemic and recent migration patterns, has made headway but has not

been able to keep up with the growing demand and changing

circumstances.

As highlighted in a letter penned to the member opposite from

Tania Chiasson of Pemberton, the challenges don’t stop there. Tania says

that to understand the housing crisis in her town, try searching

long-term rentals in Pemberton and comparing it to Airbnb listings. When

I did this, I found zero long-term rentals and 84 Airbnbs. As Tania

points out, this is a huge factor adding to the pressure on housing in

Pemberton.

The province has been working with communities along the Sea to

Sky corridor to build housing. In Pemberton, where Tania and her family

live, B.C. Housing, the village of Pemberton and Sea to Sky Community

Services are building affordable housing.

The village of Pemberton advanced the Harrow Road rezoning

application on October 4, granting third reading of the bylaw. Harrow

Road plans to break ground next summer and anticipates that the

construction will take two years. When constructed, this 63-unit

development will include a mix of rents and incomes within a single

building, providing affordable non-market rental housing to families,

seniors and people living with disabilities. This is the kind of housing

we need. Working with municipalities, it’s what we’re

delivering.

As the challenges creating housing problems change, so, too, must

our approaches. The Premier-designate recently shared his housing

strategy with Jack Crompton, the mayor of Whistler, and the mayor

applauded it. He said: “I’m very much supportive of the ambitions in

this plan. I think it’s important to say that the details need to be

worked out, but it’s bold. These proposals demonstrate a seriousness and

an urgency I think British Columbians and Whistlerites want government

to bring to housing.”

The Premier-designate’s housing plan includes measures to curb

flipping, something that will certainly have a positive impact on the

housing markets in the Sea to Sky corridor.

In addition to the rising cost and lack of available housing, one

of the largest expenses Sea to Sky families face is child care. Since

launching in February 2018, the ChildCareBC plan has helped parents in

the Sea to Sky region save more than $3.3 million through the affordable

child care benefit and the child care fee reduction

initiative.

The district of Squamish received over $850,000 to fund 36 new

licensed child care spaces. Through the Childcare B.C. new spaces fund,

the Whistler Waldorf school and Little Peak Child Care in Brackendale

each received 16 new spaces for children aged three to five. This brings

the total spaces funded in the Sea to Sky region to more than

In addition to this direct funding, the province has made

significant investments to improve supports for B.C.’s early child care

learning professionals, including more than $140,000 for early childhood

educators in the Sea to Sky region. Of course, starting this December,

families in licensed care will experience a reduction in child care fees

of up to $550 per child.

There are many affordability measures we’ve introduced

provincewide that will help Sea to Sky families, including child support

funding; eliminating the MSP; addressing the high costs at ICBC; $60

million provincewide to school boards to assist with supplies and food

programs; adding to the climate tax credit; for low- and moderate-income

families, $500 million to be distributed to families who need it most;

$100 million added to the B.C. family benefit, which goes directly into

the pockets of parents; free transit for children under 12; and limiting

rent increases to 2 percent.

It is true that there is more to be done. Child care and housing

are top priorities for this government, and we are

delivering.

[10:30 a.m.]

J. Sturdy: Thank you to the member opposite for her remarks and for the

shout-out to Whistler Housing Auth­ority because I think it’s an

organization that has done tremendous work over the last 30 years by

setting a policy objective of housing 70 percent of the Whistler

workforce in the community and has been very successful

there.

However, unfortunately, it hasn’t been as successful in accessing

B.C. Housing funds over the course of the last number of years, for some

reason. As I think the member mentioned, the mayor and the mayor’s

comments…. I would tend to agree with him that, ultimately, statements

and press releases are nice, but the devil, frankly, is in the

details.

Unfortunately, the member wasn’t able to address some of the

issues that I raised, which are around the issue of fuel pricing on

regional transit. That’s why, as I mentioned earlier, that the Sea to

Sky was focused on, as a target, looking at fuel prices in 2019, and

since then, frankly, it’s just got worse.

It’s about time that residents get some results. Overpricing of

fuel pricing is really just taking money that could be productive to the

residents of the Sea to Sky and taking it out of their pockets — money

that people could be investing in their homes, in their community and in

their health. Really, it just gets sucked out of the region. Why?

Because the fuel companies can.

Remember, we don’t pay the TransLink tax. We don’t pay the 18½

cents, yet it consistently costs more to buy fuel in the Sea to Sky than

it does in Metro Vancouver. It just doesn’t make any sense. This is

just, as I say, taking money out of residents’ pockets and providing no

benefit to the region at all.

What was the point of the fuel transparency act if not to document

and make the case to the Canadian Competition Bureau? What’s the point

if not to act?

The region’s overall affordability issue — coupled with unjust gas

prices, congestion, the absence of regional public transportation —

means that these British Columbians in the Sea to Sky — and in the

Fraser Valley, I’d argue as well — just need some support. I’m here to

express the frustration of the residents, of business owners, of people

trying to get to work.

In the Sea to Sky, many people who would work in Whistler live in

Pemberton. Many people who live in Squamish work in Whistler or work in

Vancouver. It means driving. And at this point, this is becoming more

and more onerous and a bigger, bigger burden. The fuel transparency act

and other initiatives expose this issue, and now it’s time to

act.

ADVANCING RECONCILIATION

G. Lore: This morning I rise to talk about reconciliation, to talk about

our obligations as representatives in this province with a colonial past

and present that has impacted generations of Indigenous people on whose

land we live.

Three years ago this House unanimously adopted the declaration on

the rights of Indigenous people, and in March of this year, government

released the Declaration Act action plan. The action plan lays out four

collectively identified goals: self determination and the inherent right

to self-government; title and rights of Indigenous people; ending

Indigenous-specific racism and discrimination; social, cultural and

economic well-being.

I want to take the opportunity this morning to talk about what

this tangibly looks like, what it looks like across government, what it

means to make meaningful progress towards these goals together with

Indigenous people, rights and title holders in our province.

First of all, all students in B.C. must now complete

Indigenous-focused coursework before graduation, a course that will help

build further awareness and understanding of First Peoples’

perspectives, cultures and histories. This course requirement answers

calls by the First Nations Leadership Council, the First Nations

Education Steering Committee and the First Nations anti-racism strategy

to address systemic racism towards Indigenous students in the public

education system.

I did not learn about so-called residential schools until I was an

adult. It’s clear to me that my children will never not know.

B.C. is

the first Canadian province or jurisdiction to implement

Indigenous-focused graduation requirements for all K-to-12 students, and

I sincerely hope that others will soon follow.

[10:35 a.m.]

Reconciliation, from the classroom to the forests, working

together with nations, government has deferred 1.7 million hectares of

old-growth forests. Legislative changes last year mean we can address

long-standing and colonial inequities in existing forest tenure systems,

reducing timber harvesting rights for major players and doubling the

tenure held by First Nations.

Earlier this year, through a First Nation woodland license, the

Lheidli T’enneh First Nation will now have exclusive timber harvest

rights to more than 217,000 hectares within their territory — the

largest First Nations woodland license to date.

In late 2020, anti-Indigenous racism in the health care system was

made visible by accounts from Saanich Peninsula Hospital. The In

Plain Sight report, commissioned to investigate, laid out how

widespread and, indeed, how dangerous racism in our health care system

can be. The new health legislation, the Health Professions and

Occupations Act, addresses discrimination in health care and requires

cultural safety and humility to be embedded in the ways that

professionals provide care.

It will create more clarity to ensure health care is

pro­vided in an anti-discrimination way and with improved cultural

safety for patients. Regulatory colleges and others will be required to

work with Indigenous governing bodies and other entities representing

Indigenous peoples on issues like Indigenous cultural safety

practices.

The Ministry of Environment is also taking concrete action.

Working with two nations, along with B.C. Parks, an agreement has been

signed to move towards shared compliance and enforcement

responsibilities within provincially protected areas in both nations’

territories. The guardian shared compliance and enforcement pilot

project will designate Indigenous guardians with the same legal

authorities as B.C. Park rangers, recognizing the importance of local

expertise in protecting central coastal lands and waters, and of

collaborative approaches to the challenges that we face

together.

We also know that disaggregated data is key to rising to the

social challenges before us. Indigenous peoples and racialized

communities have been asking for race-based data collection. Through the

leadership of the Parliamentary Secretary for Anti-Racism, the

Anti-Racism Data Act sets a new path with Indigenous people and

racialized communities to use and share data safely — data that will

help us address systemic racism, and dismantle barriers and inequities

in services like health care and child care and housing

programs.

The legislation is the first of its kind to be co-developed with

Indigenous partners, including the First Nations Leadership Council and

Métis Nation B.C. It was also the first piece of legislation to be

co-developed under the Declaration Act. Fundamentally, it includes a

requirement for Indigenous people and racialized communities to be

involved in conversations around the implementation of the legislation

and how their data is used. Given how identity has been weaponized and

used as a source of exclusion and violence in the past, this is

essential. This is a new path forward. This is reconciliation in

action.

From the Ministry of Attorney General, the First Na­tions

justice strategy and the First Nations Justice Council is also leading

fundamental transformation and making meaningful progress. Under the

leadership of Chair Doug White, the Justice Council has a mandate to

rebuild First Nations justice systems, and to improve the experience of

Indigenous people in our province who are interacting with provincial

and federal justice systems.

Since 2020-2021, Indigenous justice centres have been fully

operational in Merritt, in Prince George and Prince Rupert, reducing

incarceration, diverting Indigenous people from the justice system to

healthy paths and making it easier for people to navigate the justice

system.

The council and this strategy are also making the jus­tice

system experience and the justice system itself more Indigenous. These

are tangible actions, concrete steps and meaningful progress towards the

goals in the Dec­laration Act; a commitment to moving towards

reconciliation in every ministry every single day and with our partners.

I look forward to hearing from my colleagues across the

aisle.

M. Lee: I rise to speak in support of this motion. A few days ago, we had,

in this Legislature, an opportunity to again advance reconciliation, to

remember the children who never came back home, the girls and women

whose lives were lost, the loved ones who are still searching for them

and the survivors.

[10:40 a.m.]

These days, of course, of remembrance were on Orange Shirt Day and

the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and on the National Day of

Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

We reflected on the legacy of the long, brutal history and

systemic trend of injustices that have disproportionately hurt First

Nations and Indigenous peoples. We can never fully understand the

intergenerational trauma of Indigenous peoples and communities who have

experienced the impacts of colonization.

For many of us, British Columbia and Canada have been our

salvation, a safe haven, a land of opportunity, yet for Indigenous

peoples, a revival has come at a heavy price. Advancing reconciliation

is a continuous movement throughout our time, much beyond days of

remembrance, and we are still learning.

As members of this Legislative Assembly, it falls upon us to build

a better future for our children and our grandchildren. We must work to

forge stronger relationships with Indigenous peoples, built on the

foundation of truth and reconciliation. As the MLA for

Vancouver-Langara, I have the responsibility of standing with all

members in this House to create real change.

We have the opportunity to work with Indigenous peoples in British

Columbia to build a better future for all of us. We must recognize the

inequities faced by Indigenous people, who continue to fall through the

cracks due to systemic issues that are deeply entrenched in our

institutions.

Support and resources for Indigenous peoples and na­tions

are urgently needed to address each of their unique circumstances and

challenges to make meaningful progress. This must be done in

collaboration and partnership with First Nations, including progress on

actions in the Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act

action plan.

In our nation-to-nation relationship, we can help in building

strong and resilient Indigenous communities with connectivity and access

to safe housing, health care, clean drinking water and education. These

are just some of the tangible steps in advancing

reconciliation.

Advancing reconciliation is supported by the relationships that we

have with First Nation leaders, Elders and knowledge-keepers. I am

grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to sit with and learn from many

around the prov­ince in my critic role. These discussions truly

humble me.

When I hear the kinds of questions being asked by First Nation

leaders, including to ministers of this government at the B.C. Assembly

of First Nations annual general meeting last month and the First Nations

Summit just last week, it is clear that we need to do more to provide a

more streamlined approach to building those nation-to-nation

partnerships.

This government needs to recognize that their collaboration

approach needs to change. Priorities need to be addressed to create the

kinds of resources that First Na­tions need to address the change

expected under UNDRIP and the DRIPA action plan.

This is going to take time, and we need to work thoughtfully with

our nation partners. There is so much in front of us that needs to be

addressed, and how we handle those challenges from a place of respect

and open dialogue in a good and humble way.

We face immense challenges in our time. Now, more than ever, it is

crucial that this government takes immediate, substantive action with

meaningful and measurable results and in a way that builds collaboration

with Indigenous peoples. We must work with our First Nations Indigenous

partners to move forward by creating opportunities for prosperity and

intergenerational wealth with Indigenous communities and to address the

barriers that Indigenous peoples face in our province. It is critical

that we work together to generate the resources needed to put First

Nations and Indigenous communities in a better position to address their

challenges and build better futures for their peoples.

This journey of reconciliation is a path we must walk every day

and walk together in a good and humble way.

[10:45 a.m.]

G. Lore: Thank you to the member for the comments. This urgency, this need

for progress, this need for reconciliation, this need for meaningful

action is why this work is woven throughout every part of government,

why my examples so far have touched on health and the environment and

forestry and the classroom, why it’s in every mandate letter for every

minister and every parliamentary secretary in our government. It is not

housed in one place. It is the direction and the momentum of

government.

I want to share a few more examples. In my work as Parliamentary

Secretary for Gender Equity, I have the incredible honour to work with

the Minister’s Advisory Council on Indigenous Women. I’m grateful for

their advice and take seriously my obligation to their wisdom. I’ve also

had the chance to work with Indigenous organizations and meet with

nations about their response to gender-based violence.

Half of government’s 2020 and 2021 investments in emergency sexual

assault response went to services by and for Indigenous communities. I

met with the outreach team at Seabird Island Nation and the victim

service worker with the First Nations courtworkers association. I

learned about the training created by Stó:lō Nation for front-line

workers, which teaches not only best practices in care and

trauma-informed response but also the roots and intractability of

colonialism and sexualized violence.

Given the historic and ongoing separation of children from their

communities and their land, from residential schools to the Sixties

Scoop to the millennial scoop, the efforts in the Ministry of Children

and Family are particularly important. Many changes have been made, and

more are coming.

A new MCFD rent supplement program supports eligible young adults

who previously lived in government care with $600 per month for two

years. We know Indigenous youth are overrepresented, and we also know

that aging out of government care has long been a superhighway to

poverty and homelessness. Over 50 percent of those rental supplements

will be awarded to Indigenous youth. This will provide stability and

prevent homelessness. This will change the lives of youth transitioning

to independence.

Most importantly and most transformatively, the ministry is

working directly with nations so that they can exercise their inherent

right to jurisdiction over their children and family services and so

that Indigenous children in need of protection remain connected to

family, community and culture.

From Education to Environment, from Attorney General to Health,

the United Nations declaration on the rights of Indigenous people

requires an all-of-government re­port. The Declaration Act

secretariat is leading this work, coordinating and assisting

cross-government efforts to work together with Indigenous people to

bring provincial legislation in line with the Declaration Act. Under the

leadership of Si Sityaawks, the declaration secretariat will help

government meet our legal obligations to take all measures necessary to

ensure the laws of B.C. are consistent with the declaration.

The examples I share today are what this looks like in practice.

There’s so much more to do, work that we will do together with nations

across government every day.

ADVANCED EDUCATION

C. Oakes: Today I rise about issues affecting young peo­ple and their

future in our incredible province.

Young British Columbians are the future of our prov­ince. We

are incredibly fortunate to have such a highly engaged and educated

population of young people who are committed to making this province a

better place.

We are also privileged to attract thousands of students every year

to this province, who come to British Columbia from across Canada and

around the world to better themselves through post-secondary education.

Together they drive innovation and research and contribute $22 billion

to Canada’s economy.

In every community across this province, in every sector, we’re

facing a labour shortage. Over the next ten years, this will only grow

more challenging, with over one million job openings expected. But

behind every number, that is a doctor required, that is a health care

professional, that is a child care early childhood educator, which are

people that we require every single day in our communities.

The best way to address this shortage is through the many

world-class post-secondary education institutions located around our

province. They will help prepare the workforce to thrive in an

environment of rapid change, demand for skills and more frequent

disruptions.

[10:50 a.m.]

Students are the key to B.C.’s economic stability and will fuel

our employment. In this age of disruption and transformational change,

students are our best asset to moving forward. Skills are the backbone

of a prosperous economy and a yardstick for a nation’s ability to

survive in a dynamic workplace. But in order to do this, the conditions

have to be right.

We are increasingly hearing from international students that

they’re concerned about being able to afford education in British

Columbia. International students’ tuition has increased by 39 percent

over the past four years. In 2017, the average international student

tuition fee rate of a bachelor of arts degree at UBC was $28,000. By

2021, it had risen to more than $38,000. That’s a $10,000 increase over

four years.

The unpredictability of international tuition is only one example

of post-secondary education becoming increasingly unaffordable.

Students, both domestic and international, are struggling to keep up

with the rising costs of inflation and general affordability across this

province. Full-time students often cannot make enough money through

part-time and summer jobs to cover tuition and living expenses, and as

rent and grocery prices increase, the number of students who experience

food insecurity is increasing.

Students are three times more likely to experience food insecurity

than the general population, and this can have a long-term effect on

students’ lives and their ability to succeed. One study at UBC Okanagan

found that 25 percent of food-insecure students had to reduce their

course load to afford tuition and living expenses. We have to do

something about this.

Just a few days ago, I spoke with representatives from the Alma

Mater Society and the Graduate Student Society of the University of

British Columbia. Their concerns mirrored the thousands of students

across British Columbia as they brought to the table many important

initiatives that they hope to see the government take on.

They outlined their recommendations to expand the B.C. student

loan forgiveness program, creating a third category for those working in

health care to mitigate the labour shortage we face and incentivize more

students to pursue those career paths.

Further, like many in British Columbia, housing is a major concern

for both domestic and international students, and the two societies are

asking for consistent investments in the B.C. student housing loan

program to ensure more on-campus housing. Housing costs are a major

restriction for students, with many hoping to study in British Columbia

having to rescind acceptances because of affordability issues. This is a

major step backwards in our efforts to address the labour shortage, as

students, when finished their programs, want to stay in British

Columbia, but the barriers that exist cannot sometimes be

overcome.

The affordability challenges don’t stop there. I recently sat down

with the Alliance of B.C. Students, where they highlighted some of the

major struggles that students continue to face that limit their ability

to study in British Columbia. One of the major concerns highlighted was

the levy known as the international students health fee.

International students in British Columbia are currently paying

$75 a month for MSP, and it is negatively impacting them, especially for

international student families who have to pay extra fees for their

children in addition to their own. This means that children as young as

five years old have medical debt in their name. The Alliance of B.C.

Students’ asks this government to include eliminating international

student contributions to the Medical Services Plan.

Additionally, many international students work part-time jobs and

are being double-charged for their health care fees through their

employer health tax and the international student health fee. This is

unfair and unjust for international students, who also contribute

billions to B.C.’s economy every year and are subsidizing post-secondary

education in B.C. by paying more than four times the domestic tuition

fees. To international students, this feels very exclusionary and

unjust, imposing even further costs on students who pay significantly

more than domestic students.

[10:55 a.m.]

During a time in which B.C. is facing an immense labour shortage,

it is concerning that many international students do not feel welcome.

It should concern this government that often students do not have the

choice to stay and build a life in British Columbia due to

unaffordability and disproportionate costs. We can and we must — and I

hope we will — do better for the students of British

Columbia.

H. Yao: Thank you, hon. Speaker, for the opportunity to respond to the MLA

for Cariboo North’s statement on the importance of advanced education

and skills training. I want to thank her and ABCS representatives for

sharing their thoughts, perspectives and concerns.

As British Columbia recovers from the pandemic, advanced education

and skills training are as important as ever to our government and

British Columbians. We understand the necessary role that advanced

education and skills training play in preparing British Columbia to

embrace the new and innovative economy of tomorrow. We deeply appreciate

the role advanced education and skills training play in building a B.C.

where all can thrive.

That’s why our government is improving affordability by

eliminating interest on B.C. student loans. Additionally, we launched

the B.C. access grant, the first new grant in 15 years, that supports

over 47,000 students as well as expands access to zero-cost textbooks.

We also introduced the B.C. graduate scholarship in 2018 to support

students’ success and decrease barriers for graduate students across the

province. So far, we have invested nearly $20 million in graduate

scholarships to support the province’s next generation of researchers,

innovators and leaders.

Our government is also building 8,000 on-campus housing beds so

far so more students can find an affordable place to live. For example,

we provided $87 million to the university of Vancouver Island to add 266

beds in a nine-storey hybrid mass-timber student housing building and

dining hall. This investment will increase on-campus accommodations from

536 beds to 802 beds, almost a 50 percent increase.

We’re also providing $202 million for new student housing to

academic space at Douglas College, New Westminster campus. The project

will create 368 beds in 13 storeys along with 11 storeys of academic

space. At Capilano University, North Vancouver campus, we’re funding new

student housing and a dining hall worth $58.2 million, with 362 beds in

a six-storey building and a 250-seat mass-timber dining hall with a

green roof.

We understand that there’s much more work to do, and our

government will continue our ten-year housing plan to ensure that a

total of 8,000 new student beds on campus will be built through the

province by 2028.

To better prepare British Columbia for the economy of tomorrow,

our government is investing in the expansion of advanced education and

skills training in a variety of ways. For example, we invested $66.6

million into a new health and science centre at BCIT. The funding will

support students in 32 different programs to simulate health care

scenarios in a flexible space that will contribute to better-quality

education.

We also provided the funding to double the number of provincially

subsidized veterinarian seats available at the Western College of

Veterinary Medicine. Additionally, we’re supporting students with their

tuition by providing funding to support students previously admitted to

non-provincially subsidized seats.

We introduced a made-in-B.C. skilled trades certification program

system to support good jobs and more career opportunities for

apprentices and trades workers. Skilled trades certificates will

encourage more people to choose careers in the trades so that we will

have the workforce we need in our economy recovery now and well into the

future. We also provided the funding through the Industry Training

Authority to increase apprenticeship training supports and program seats

for trades and add five new apprenticeship advisers in B.C.

The Advanced Education and Skills Training budget bridges

opportunities for British Columbia to ensure a career of their choice.

British Columbians face different kinds of challenges and barriers. We

must strive to remove those barriers that erode opportunities and

compromise British Columbians’ potential.

Our government is committed to

ensure that British Columbia prospers with all British Columbians

prospering together. We have eliminated tuition fees for former youth in

care who are 26 and under. We are working to expand the program to all

former youth in care, regardless of their age.

[11:00 a.m.]

We also reversed a decision and made adult basic education and

to complete adult basic education or newcomers to British Columbia who

to pursue their education without fees.

We also increased provincial funding to support literacy programs

throughout B.C. To support post-secondary students’ mental health, we

started Here2Talk, our free mental health support provided to students

across British Columbia, and we also relaunched a sexualized violence

prevention campaign to help raise awareness and prevent sexualized

violence on campus.

[J. Tegart in the chair.]

C. Oakes: Highly skilled young people in British Columbia are feeling

hopeless about their prospects. Even if they manage to make it through

their post-secondary degrees, their entry-level salaries are often not

enough to meet the costs of living. I’ve heard from students. While we

certainly go back and forth as governments on what each of us have

accomplished for the students, they want a government right now to take

action because they’re feeling the pinch right now.

Graduate students are struggling to find a job after completing a

highly advanced degree, which should never be the case in British

Columbia. Further, we need to do a much better job on the graduate

student programs in British Columbia. When we look at other provinces

and the competitive environment around the globe, we need to be

investing far more in our graduate student programs to ensure that we

are providing for those innovators, those researchers, those future

leaders that are going to support us in our futures ahead.

We have an economic plan the government announced that is based on

a skills for jobs plan of tomorrow, which, to be clear, is five years

into a ten-year plan, which is still not complete. You laid out a

foundation of an economic plan that’s based on the skills for tomorrow

plan. We haven’t seen what actually is the skills for tomorrow plan,

which ties to funding that the institutions need to provide the

necessary training to support the future of British Columbia, to drive

our innovation, to support our economy.

All signs of this roadmap are deeply troubling. How do we attract

people into the province? How do we compete against other provinces? How

do we compete in a global competitive market? How do we ensure that

we’re supporting the students? How do we make sure that all of those

pieces are aligned?

We have a government that says we have an economic plan tied to a

job plan that they actually haven’t delivered or announced yet. We’re

waiting for that Future Ready plan. Further, we need a funding review

formula to make sure that institutions actually have the funding to

provide that training.

All of these disconnects are putting students in a very

challenging position. When our future, our young people feel challenged,

it’s going to have huge consequences on all of us in the province of

British Columbia. We must listen to our students, who are the future of

this province, and provide them with everything that they need to excel

at their studies.

While cost of living skyrockets, our government must do everything

in its power to encourage students to stay in British Columbia — to

build their lives here, to make sure that they’re supported — because

students are the future of British Columbia.

Hon. K. Chen: I ask the House to consider proceeding with Motion 22,

standing in the name of the member for Vancouver–West

End.

Deputy Speaker: Members, unanimous consent of the House is required to proceed to

Motion 22 without disturbing the priorities of the motions preceding it

on the order paper.

Leave granted.

Private Members’ Motions

MOTION 22 — ANNUAL ALLOWABLE

RENT

INCREASE

S. Chandra Herbert: I move:

[Be it resolved that this House support holding the annual allowable

rent increase for 2023 at two percent.]

That sounds very technical, and it is, but it gets to the heart of

our communities and the ability for people to live good lives. I move

this motion because I hope that this House unites around the needs of

renters, that they demonstrate through this debate that they’ve heard

the voice of renters, that they will act for them.

[11:05 a.m.]

I learned about the voice of renters and what we need to do from

an elderly woman in my constituency who we lost a few years ago, a woman

named Anne Gregory. I can still hear her Austrian-accented voice in the

back of my mind telling me to: “Remember the renters. Don’t listen only

to the speculators. There will always be someone looking out for the

speculators. You don’t need to be that person.” She would say: “Remember

the renters. Their voices have been forgotten.”

Anne Gregory was a remarkable woman. She survived life under the

Nazis and then under the Russians after World War II. She moved to B.C.

She stood up strong for women’s rights in her union when she was working

at B.C. Tel. She faced down sexual harassment, and then she decided to

make a difference for seniors, and her difference for seniors was to

stand up for renters.

She said: “There’s a party that’s all about the speculators. You

need to be a party that listens to renters and acts for them. You need

to be a person that stands up for homes, not just profits. There are

people who want to profit off the vulnerable. We need governments to

look after the people.” And she knew well what she spoke of, because, of

course, where she was from in Vienna, they make looking after the people

through public housing, through other forms of housing, a

priority.

If we were listening to the government of the speculators today

that used to be in this province, British Columbians would be facing a

nearly 10 percent rent increase. But because we changed governments,

because we chose to elect governments that will listen to renters, this

next year we’ll be seeing an annual allowable rent increase of only 2

percent. That’s a massive difference for people.

As Anne would remind us, for 16 long years, what we faced in this

province were rents that went up above pensions, rents that increased

faster than wages, rents that outstripped people’s ability to pay them,

sending them onto the street, rents that made families have to choose

between feeding good food to their kids or paying the rent.

Think about this. If we underwent the same kind of rent policy

that some of my friends on the opposite side used to champion, for a

$3,000-a-month accommodation, we’d be facing a nearly $300-a-month rent

increase. Now think about that when you’re on a fixed income. Think

about that when your wages haven’t gone up, when you’re already dealing

with massive inflation.

We’ve decided to put people first, not speculators. That’s the

right action, because that money is going to go back into the local

community. That money is going to help provide a good meal for the kids

so that they can grow up big and strong. That’s going to make sure that

that senior is able to get the medication that they need.

I talk to renters a lot in my community, and this is the right

action for them. But I know some will say: “Oh, but this is going to

constrain supply.” Well, I can tell you that we’re building more

affordable rental housing now in this province, in the last five years,

than we did under the previous government’s speculators-first policy for

16 years. Putting people first, instead of speculators and the

profiteers, is the right action. It works. It makes people healthy. It

builds good, strong communities, and it’s actually building more housing

too.

Instead of condos marketed offshore to the super rich, we’re

getting rental housing marketed to middle-class families. We’re getting

social housing built for those people that ended up on the street

because of the speculators-first policy. We’re getting housing built so

that people can live in their communities. Student housing — more

student housing than ever before.

I just want to leave us with this. We can choose to make life

better for people, or we can choose to prioritize the speculators and

those that are already very wealthy. I know where I stand, and I hope

that this House unites to stand with renters instead of the

speculators.

M. Bernier: Wow. Where do I start on this? I thank the member for

Vancouver–West End for bringing this issue forward. I mean, I guess what

we’re going to expect for the next hour are catchphrases and slogans

trying to cover up on the fact that they’ve absolutely failed when it

comes to the housing issue in the province of British

Columbia.

Look, we’re in the middle of a housing crisis. Nobody seems to

want to argue that fact. What we can argue, though, is how people are

dealing with that to help the people of British Columbia. Look, I don’t

take issue or step with trying to help renters who are struggling,

because they are struggling.

[11:10 a.m.]

Under this government and, actually, under the former Minister of

Housing and soon-to-be Premier, the average cost for a one-bedroom

apartment in the province of British Columbia has gone from just over

$500 — $511, to be exact — per month to $2,412 a month, according to

rentals.ca. That’s under this government.

They want to talk about listening to renters; they really actually

aren’t. In fact, in the last six years, it has almost quadrupled — what

it costs the people in the province of British Columbia to rent. Of

course, the member opposite, before me, talks to a lot of renters in his

riding, because most of them can’t afford to buy a house in British

Columbia, under this government, anymore. It’s because of the costs that

have increased so much.

Look, if this government were actually listening to the voice of

renters — as the member before me and, I’m sure, others after him in the

NDP are going to sloganeer around — I guess my main comment is: where’s

the renters rebate?

There’s a slogan. There’s a catchphrase that this government has

no problem saying every single election: “We’re going to make life more

affordable. Elect us, and you’ll get a $400 renters rebate.” In fact,

the soon-to-be Premier, when he was Housing Minister, stood in this

House, and said — guess what: “We’re working on it. More to come, more

to do.” Well, when you’re not doing anything, of course you can use the

catchphrase “more to do,” which seems to be something that this

government tries to end almost every comment, answer or commentary

with.

Look, if you want to help renters, start with fulfilling some of

your promises. The $400 renters rebate — time and time again. The

Minister of Finance stands up and talks about how much money they have

in the budget. Well, obviously they’re not communicating with each other

because the Minister of Housing, the soon-to-be Premier, talked about

it: “We have to find out if there’s enough money in the budget. We’re

going to work on it. More to do.” The Minister of Finance says that it’s

there.

I assume some of the members are going to get up after me and

maybe finally talk about fulfilling that promise if they’re truly

wanting to help people in the province of British Columbia, specifically

the renters who are struggling under this government. We’re not arguing

that renters are struggling. We’re not arguing that renters need help

and that renters need support. What we’re challenging is the fact is

that this government continues to say they acknowledge that but do

nothing for them.

Now, if you really want to start talking about helping people in

the province of British Columbia on affordabil­ity, here’s another

slogan: “114,000 houses in the first ten years of government.” Well,

guess what. We’re in year 6, and we have just over 7,000 homes that are

actually open, with people living in them. Those aren’t my numbers.

Those are the numbers from the former Minister of Housing, the

soon-to-be Premier, who acknowledged in this House, basically, that they

have utterly failed under his watch, for the last six years, in

fulfilling the goals of trying to help people get into affordable

housing in the province of British Columbia.

Look, in the last Ipsos-Reid poll that came out, 74 percent of

people in the province of British Columbia have actually said that

they’ve given up even looking at trying to get into a home in B.C., the

way the prices are skyrocketing. So of course we’re going to need more

support for renters, but we also have to remember that we need support

to make sure we have that rental stock.

That’s not just government supplying it. The soon-to-be Premier —

it only took him six years, mind you; I’ll give him credit for this —

finally admitted that we need to be working with the private sector

because government can’t do everything. For the last six years, that

wasn’t the answer. Now that he wants to be Premier, he has said: “Look,

I acknowledge that I can’t do it all. We need the private sector to

build all these homes, because we need people in them.” Again, not my

words; those were his words.

So this is an important motion that came forward this morning. Of

course we need to be making sure that we have supports for renters. My

challenge to this government is, “If you really want to actually have

people believe what you’re saying, then follow through with all the

promises that you’ve made for the last six years — where you said,

‘Elect us; we’ll make life more affordable,’” because they’ve utterly

failed on all those promises.

J. Rice: I’m happy today to rise to my colleague’s motion that this House

support holding the annual allowable rent increase for 2023 at 2

percent. We all know that global inflation is making life more expensive

around the world. In fact, British Columbians have seen costs go up from

the grocery store to the gas pump, and household budgets are being

stretched.

[11:15 a.m.]

British Columbians need a break, and we’re focused on helping

families make ends meet by capping rent increases below inflation, at 2

percent. Capping rent increases below inflation, to 2 percent, will

provide significant savings for renters — more than $800 for a renter

paying $2,000 a month in rent. We’re focused on helping the 1½ million

renters in B.C. through this challenging period of global

inflation.

This, along with other new supports, is our government’s next step

in helping people with the current cost-of-living challenges we’re

facing due to global inflation. These measures are significant and

targeted. They allow us to provide the most help to those that need it

most. We’ve been reducing costs for people since 2017, when we formed

government. We’re going to continue to find even more ways to help

people with costs so that British Columbians have the help they need

today while building for a more secure future.

In 2018, the province capped annual rent increases to inflation,

saving renters hundreds of dollars a year. Prior to that, rent increased

at inflation plus an additional 2 percent under the B.C. Liberal

government. For example, an average rent for a one-bedroom apartment per

month in October of 2022, let’s say — the increase per month under the

B.C. Liberal formula, which was inflation plus 2 percent, would look at

a total increase of 9.7 percent per month. The increase under our

government is 2 percent. This is a stark contrast in how our various

parties treat renters in British Columbia.

For 16 years, the B.C. Liberals refused to act while housing

prices soared out of reach, vacancy rates hit historic lows and rental

rates became unaffordable. They would double down on the bad choices

that created these problems if given the chance. We’ve had more housing

complete or underway in three years than that side of the House built in

16 years. They refused to build affordable housing, allowed massive rent

increases and let dirty money and speculation drive up real estate

costs. Homelessness tripled. They have opposed nearly every major action

we’ve taken to support renters and would have cost renters hundreds of

dollars more per year.

We’ve taken action to support renters, such as capping rent

increases to inflation and freezing rents during the pandemic. We put

protections in place around fixed-term leases and renovictions. The

speculation tax and tax on homes are proving to work, and we’re actually

taking that funding and putting it into more affordable housing. We put

in an eviction ban during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We have to keep moving forward because that side of the House

would take us backwards. Our government is working to make housing more

affordable for everyone, implementing an ambitious 30-point housing plan

to tackle the housing crisis and make the largest investment in housing

affordability in B.C. history — more than $7 billion over ten years to

build 114,000 affordable homes so that all British Columbians can find

an affordable place to live.

I also just wanted to mention that since we’ve been government, we

have completed or have underway numerous housing projects within my

riding of North Coast. We have the Crow’s Nest supportive housing

completed — 36 beds. Lax Kw’alaams has eight beds built for seniors and

ten beds for low-income individuals and families. The Cedar Village — we

saw it to completion. It’s independent seniors’ housing for 32 people.

The Crane’s Crossing — 35-bed shelter, and 45 new supportive housing

units coming into effect. The Harbour View — 30 for low-income

individuals and families.

I can’t even finish my list. I appreciate the time that you have

allowed me today. Thank you.

[11:20 a.m.]

T. Halford: I rise today to speak to this motion. I do have to say that it’s a

bit surprising that the members on the other side want to discuss rental

costs given their new boss’s utter failure on this file. He had the file

for a number of years, and it is quite funny. I will try to get through

this without cracking too much laughter.

The fact of it is we have now got a default Premier coming in that

actually oversaw housing for five years. I think every corner of British

Columbia — every community, every riding — would agree that housing has

been a failure, whether it’s supply, whether it’s rental. Even the

member from Chilliwack has said in this House that ownership is not a

likely aspiration for the next generations to come. That is

fundamentally what this government believes.

The rent cap didn’t improve housing affordability. In fact,

average rents continue to go up and up. Under the former minister’s

tenure, soon to be Premier, the average cost of a one-bedroom apartment

rose $511 per month. That’s over $2,400, according to rentals.ca. I was

curious to see if there was anything better in my communities of Surrey

and White Rock, but of course, I was disappointed to see things are

about the same. In Surrey, the average monthly rent is over $1,200 —

almost $1,300. It’s gone up $269 per month since 2017. In White Rock,

it’s over $1,200. That’s up $187 per month under this

government.

Instead of promised relief, renters are seeing costs continue to

rise to new heights. Before me, the colleague spoke about the renters

rebate. I will say this. This is something that this government has

campaigned on not only once but twice. To have it now sitting here

before this House, in this debate, and the fact that this is a campaign

promise, not once but twice, shows that this government’s priorities

aren’t for renters. A National Bank report found the former Housing

Minister was responsible for the worst decline in housing affordability

since 1981.

What about the annual $400 renters rebate? We just spoke about

that again. Again, there is absolutely crickets. I will challenge any

government member of this House that is going to stand up and speak on

this motion to defend the fact that they campaigned, some of them not

only once but twice, on a $400 renters rebate. That will not appear in

their speaking notes, because it’s embarrassing.

It’s clear things have not only gotten worse for people, despite a

great number of promises made by this government to make life more

affordable, but in addition to housing unaffordability, people are also

trying to cope with inflation, which has skyrocketed over 7 percent in

B.C. Mortgage rates are rising, creating even more pressure for people.

Food costs are more. Fuel costs are more. Goods and services cost more.

The price of nearly everything continues to rise, and this government

fails to do anything significant to tackle it. And $110 from ICBC isn’t

going to cut it. Families need more.

At a time when people are having trouble paying their bills, what

does this government do, instead of providing relief to people? They

provide relief to themselves. They vote themselves a retroactive pay

raise of $20,000 per minister, and that’s $40,000 to the next Premier.

It’s appalling, it’s wrong, it’s poorly timed, and it shows British

Columbians just where this government’s priorities are.

In the meantime, my colleague, the member for Kamloops–South

Thompson, has put forward legislation to freeze MLA salaries in ’23-24

and forgo the nearly $10,000 MLA pay raise. Its common sense, and it’s

the right thing to do. Again, crickets from this government.

Just like we have seen, there is little to no movement on many of

their key promises. We’ll just go over a few more. In 2017, they

promised 114,000 new units over ten years. Well, more than halfway into

that ten-year goal, they’ve got less than 10 percent of those homes

built — just over 7,000 units. CMHC says B.C. will need to build 570,000

additional homes by 2030 to deliver any sort of affordability to the

housing market, which far exceeds this government’s promise of 114,000

units.

It is very, very clear that these members can get up and speak

anything they want in terms of their support for renters, but when it

comes to actionable items, this government has failed on every single

task it set out to deliver.

[11:25 a.m.]

D. Routley: I’d like to steer this away from this tiresome ideological back

and forth and actually talk about a few numbers here. In fact, over the

16 years of the previous government’s time in office, they built less

than 100 student housing units, for example. Already open in this

province are 465; under construction, 396; and in the planning stage,

286. That’s 1,141 student units which take the pressure off neighbouring

communities, off their other rental stock for other families.

I would like us to actually consider this…. Rather than a

consideration of a social value, which of course it is, let’s consider

the economic value. Let’s consider the economic value of child care.

We’ve seen how child care frees up the labour force. We’ve seen how

child care in Quebec has resulted in their having the highest proportion

of women working in the skilled trades. These are economic and social

paybacks from these kinds of investments, and housing is no different. A

labour force that can afford to live where they work — that’s important

to our economy.

Inflation not being embedded is very important to our economy

right now. If we had not acted to cap rents at 2 percent, if we had

continued to allow 2 percent on top of inflation to be added to rental

increases, as the previous government encouraged us to do and still

promises to do, then families would be paying a lot more money per

month.

I’ll give you just one example. In Vancouver, the average rent for

a one-bedroom apartment in October of 2022 was $2,590. Now, if that

increase that the previous government was going to allow, an extra 2

percent…. That family would be paying $2,841. With our rent cap, they’ll

be paying $2,641. That’s $251 a month on top of the $980 a year they got

from MSP premiums being wiped out, on top of the almost $500 per child

that they are subsidized to have child care services.

This is life-changing for families, and it’s changing for our

economy. It’s empowering people to participate, be­cause those

families don’t take that $251 and generally go spend it in Acapulco.

They spend it at the corner store. They spend it on clothes for their

kids. That is good for our economy and has social paybacks as

well.

It’s obvious that had we allowed those increases, they would be

permanent. If I was paying $1,000 a month for rent and the cap is 2

percent with inflation, I’d pay $1,020. The problem with the rent

increase the previous government was intending to sustain is that it

would be embedded, entrenched in our economy, that inflation

en­trenched. It would take advantage of what this entire globe

considers to be a temporary spike in inflation and make it a permanent

inflationary force in our economy.

What we have done is an economic measure that is protecting

families, protecting rental stock and protecting our economy from

inflation. In fact, we’ve built or are building or are in planning — and

that means with local governments — over 36,000 housing units in this

province. We have helped families meet their monthly needs in so many

different ways, including, as the previous speaker noted, the ICBC

rebates, the 20 percent lower ICBC basic insurance fees.

All of these add up to life-changing elements for families in

British Columbia. People who couldn’t before can now consider buying a

home and saving that down payment that the previous speaker was

concerned about.

Our government takes a holistic approach to these matters. Not

only is this a question of having the highest number of rental units in

construction ever in this province, which there are, not only is it a

social advantage for families, but it is an economic investment, and it

is a protection of our economy from embedded and entrenched inflation. I

hope the others will support it.

[11:30 a.m.]

J. Sturdy: I do rise today to speak to this motion.

In reference to the speaker previous, what government is not doing

is treating itself as a landlord in the same way that it treats all

other landlords in the province. In British Columbia, Crown land

residential rent increases can be inordinate, can be outrageous, and

that’s exactly what’s happening.

It’s clear that members across the House understand the need to

give renters relief in these challenging times because of the

affordability costs and many different issues, not the least of which

are the unjustified fuel prices that I spoke to a little bit earlier

today.

Rental rates have skyrocketed across British Columbia, with the

average rent rising by almost $250 a month since the new leader of the

NDP began his term as the Housing Minister, or the Minister Responsible

for Housing. According to a report from the National Bank, over the

course of the former Housing Minister’s tenure…. He presided over the

worst decline in housing affordability since 1991. I believe there are

some members in the House here who weren’t even born then. That is quite

the accolade.

Interjection.

J. Sturdy: Oh, ’81.

In the Sea to Sky, renters may not always be covered by these

blanket government interventions, as was imposed on the residential

tenancy branch. Over a year ago, I advo­cated for government to

take immediate action to address skyrocketing residential rents on Crown

land, and unfortunately, nothing has been done. Rent for tenants who

live on Crown land is based on the property’s assessed value, and in the

last year, tenants have seen rent increases of 100 percent, 200 percent

and even 300 percent due to increasing property values.

How is that acceptable in any circumstance? Well, it needs to be

addressed. This is significant for renters not just in the Sea to Sky,

not just in the Paradise Valley but also on the Sunshine Coast and in

the Okanagan.

In the Sea to Sky, communities have been subject to outrageous

rent increases and property value increases. Rent increase limits that

were put in place during COVID-19…. When most landlords elsewhere were

bound by a mandated rent freeze under the Residential Tenancy Act, Crown

land rent increases, for some reason, were exempted.

It does beg the question: why are residential Crown land

leaseholders not protected? Why does this NDP government, as a landlord,

treat itself differently and not impose the same limitations on itself

as it does on every other landlord in the province?

We, in our constituency offices, need to answer calls from

constituents who are desperate to try to make ends meet but are having

difficulties. There’s no regulation to stop government from increasing

the rents by absurd amounts, amounts that would be prohibited by any

other landlord in the province. Some of these constituents are single,

living on Crown land for generations, or they just moved. Yet they all

face the same insecurity of not knowing whether their subsequent rent

increase will determine whether there’s food on the table or

not.

We know Crown land residential rent is tied to a land value

assessment, which in itself has issues where legislation limits how B.C.

Assessment is allowed to assess land values in the case of leases. These

are policy and legislative issues that can be amended and can be

changed. Knowing how land values in British Columbia are increasingly

unaffordable to the average person, it doesn’t take much to realize that

these need to be acted on sooner rather than later. Government told us

two years ago they were looking into it. Well, now these Crown land

tenants are looking for answers.

I proposed a solution, by way of a private member’s bill, a couple

of times over the last couple of years, which was to impose the same

maximum allowable rent increase for residential Crown land tenants — the

same limit — as all other renters across the province enjoy. Living on

Crown land should not mean that you’re subject to unfair,

disproportionate and volatile rent pricing.

We have cases where people are subject to an 86 percent rent

increase where their neighbours are subject to 2 percent. This hypocrisy

should not be okay. Private landlords have limits to increases, and the

Crown has none.

British Columbians deserve a government that’s not just talking

about making life more affordable for all British Columbians but acting

on it. I’m waiting for this government to let me know when they’re done

just looking into it.

[11:35 a.m.]

To add insult to injury, they’re obligated to pay the taxes as

well. They have to pay the property taxes as well as these outrageous

rent increases. It’s time something was done.

B. Anderson: Today is a very exciting day for many of my friends and

constituents. In Nelson, we have had a zero percent vacancy rate for

well over a decade. We have a Premier-elect that is dedicated to solving

the housing crisis.

This is something that I talk with my friends about all the time.

We are the demographic that knows and feels this most acutely. Most of

my friends are renters or are people that are struggling to enter the

housing market for the very first time. So when they saw the

Premier-elect’s platform on how it’s all hands on deck to fix housing,

they were ecstatic. I have been getting messages all weekend from people

about how this is going to change their lives.

When the Premier-elect was campaigning and came to Nelson, he

spoke with Jason. Jason is a part of the renters association. It’s

called the Nelson Tenants Union. Jason was saying how…. Jason is around

my age. He was concerned that he would never be able to afford a home.

The Premier-elect was talking with Jason and said: “I want to change

that for you. I want you to be able to have a home, to become a

homeowner. We have many solutions on the table. We’re going to get there

for you, and we’re going to get there for all British

Columbians.”

This is an extremely exciting day for my community. We have done

so much. We can see this in Nelson, we can see this in Kaslo, and we can

see this in Creston. We have built now three affordable housing units in

Nelson. The working people in my community are being housed in those

units today because of the work our government has done and the

dedication that we’ve held.

We have units that are being started in Kaslo. When I got to go up

there and we did the groundbreaking, it was a truly magical moment.

Those folks up in Kaslo have been working for 20 years to try to get

more affordable housing in that community. Some people have been on that

board for 20 years. When we got to break ground, it was all women that

got to stand up there for one of the photos. It was the board chair of

the regional district, the mayor, the head of the housing association —

people that have been working extremely hard to be able to get

affordable housing in communities like Kaslo.

I know how important this is. When I was campaigning, I met a

woman from Kaslo working in a coffee shop in Hana’s Sunnyside Naturals,

which I absolutely love. We started talking about housing. She said she

had moved — I believe it was — ten times in the last 12 months, she and

her partner with their animal. That was extremely stressful for her.

She’s a hard-working member of the community. She has been there for a

long time. The investments that we’re making in community will allow

people like her to stay in her hometown and contribute to our

community.

I find it really interesting when I hear the members from across

talk about this. It sounds like they’re insincere because they are. I

don’t think that they really even know renters. I don’t think that

they’re actually friends with renters. They did absolutely nothing. They

did absolutely nothing for the housing stock for 16 years. It was

absolutely pathetic.

Interjection.

B. Anderson: Oh, you can hear that I’ve struck a bit of a nerve right now.

Yeah, I bet. When you do absolutely nothing for working people….

Interjection.

B. Anderson: Yeah. Look at the record.

I am so proud of our record. We have

built housing in Creston for people with disabilities. We’re creating

long-term care at Mount St. Francis.

This is something our community has been working on for decades.

Everyone is so ecstatic, everyone that I talked to. I talked with Jenny

at Nelson CARES, who has been working on this. She could not be more

supportive and grateful for the work that our community has been

doing.

My CAs Sarah and Anna hear about this every single day. They have

been working hard to get people like my friend Linda housed. We found

out on Friday that Linda has been offered two different places. We’re

working with my CAs right now to figure out what is the best fit for

peo­ple like my friend Linda.

[11:40 a.m.]

People like my friend Keith, on city council…. He is ecstatic

about this. He has been working to try to get more affordable renting

units in Nelson.

It’s our demographic, our friends, our seniors, our grandparents

that absolutely need this. We’re doing that work, and I could not be

more proud.

Deputy Speaker: Before we proceed with the next member, I would just ask that

people remember that it’s respectful language in the House.

D. Davies: I appreciate the time to get to speak to this motion. I do thank

the member for bringing this motion forward.

Just reflecting on the previous member for Nelson-Creston’s

enthusiasm and excitement for British Columbians, it’s like we’re living

in a utopia right now, and if you talk to almost half of the British

Columbians in this province, they’re living cheque to cheque. So I

really think there’s a disconnect between the reality and what the

members on that side of the House are talking about today.

We shouldn’t even be in this place talking about this. Had the

government done any work on this file over the past almost six years….

Building on that, let’s talk about the growing affordability crisis in

British Columbia, the minimum action that has been taken by this

government to combat the rising costs in houses and rent and a multitude

of other things right now that are crippling British

Columbians.

The latest real estate numbers are showing that the housing crisis

is continuing to worsen under this government, and now the former

Minister Responsible for Housing — and, yes, our next Premier; how

fitting is that? Or, how really concerning is that? — is now going to be

taking the seat shortly.

With the cost of purchasing a house out of reach for so many

British Columbians, many are looking to rentals for a more financially

accessible option. But we’re not seeing it. Rent has also skyrocketed

under this former Housing Minister. The average cost of a one-bedroom

apartment has risen by more than $500 a month. Looking at the numbers,

it’s not hard to see why many areas are struggling to afford rent in

British Columbia.

We’ve heard over and over again, as I mentioned, that almost half

of British Columbians are one paycheque away from complete insolvency.

Not a good picture. To make matters worse, these health and economic

impacts have disproportionately affected those most vulnerable members

of our communities, people that are living with disabilities or that are

unable to work due to the pandemic.

Many of these British Columbians rely on a steady and reliable

income — both federal and provincial assistance — to help pay for things

that they need, such as rent. This can be the difference between paying

rent or missing a rent cheque, buying groceries or going hungry,

medications or no medications. This impacts every piece of their budget.

The increase in rent is seriously affecting all British Columbians, but

also those who are already facing skyrocketing living when it comes to

gas, food and all our other essentials.

Let’s look at Langley. Rents are up more than $3,300 a year,

hardly more affordable by anyone’s standards. Maple Ridge — the hike has

been almost $3,600. The government knows that young people can’t afford

to buy in the Lower Mainland anymore, and now, this government, they’re

also being priced out of the rental market, even in places like the

Tri-Cities — once fairly affordable, now up almost $4,500. Have we heard

anything from the representing MLAs from that area? Nary a word.

Nothing.

Life is not affordable for so many young people, and the members

are silent on the other side. But they won’t feel the pinch as much as

most other people because instead of debating the opposition’s motion

that was brought forward to freeze legislation, or that the members

opposite, ministers, are receiving nearly $10,000 in pay increases,

including the newly elected or the newly crowned Premier, who is also

going to be receiving double that…. No, we don’t want to talk about

that.

As mentioned, among many of the other failed promises, British

Columbians were told to expect more than 114,000 new housing units by

this government. That number, as has been heard multiple times, is just

a little over 7,000.

[11:45 a.m.]

This is a government that can’t get things done. This government

not once but twice, also — I thought it was even more than twice —

promised a renters rebate of $400. Well, that’s now not enough to even

make an impact to cover the massive increase in rents that people are

experiencing across this province.

This government and the soon-to-be Premier want to continue to pat

themselves on the back. It just shows you how out of touch they are on

British Columbians. As inflation skyrockets to over 7½ percent, nearly 8

percent, and mortgages rise, there’s only one thing that’s going to

happen. That’s going to be more pressure on renters, because there’s

going to be fewer people to have a home.

A. Mercier: It is an honour to stand in this House and speak to this motion:

“Be it resolved that this House support…the annual allowable rent

increase for 2023 at two percent.”

I want to thank the member for Peace River North for inviting me

to stand up and to speak about Langley and all of the good work we’re

doing in Langley, because I’m one of these renters in Langley. My wife

and I rent a townhouse in Langley city, and the townhouse we rent is

being rented out as a consequence of the speculation and vacancy tax. It

was put on the market because the owners of it preferred to rent it out

and to pay that tax, which is an example of gov­ernment policy

working.

Langley is a growing community that is 38 percent renters right

now, and it is growing. When you look at Langley city’s OCP, the

official community plan, and the development that’s going to happen

around SkyTrain as we densify, when you look at the densification up

through Willoughby in the township, you see how much it’s growing, and

it’s young families moving into rentals and seniors moving into

rentals.

Folks in Langley had over 16 years of representation from those on

the other side. I can tell you how that impacted renters. It did nothing

for renters. I know that, because I’ve lived it. What we’re doing now in

Langley is helping renters, and this is a part of it. Capping rent

increases at 2 percent is a part of it.

We have done so much work since being elected. We froze rents

during the pandemic. We froze rents, and it might seem strange now to

look back and think about what a weird time the last three years have

been with the pandemic, but people were unsure if they would have a job

at the end of the day. A lot of employers were in a holding pattern, or

some of them had closed down as a consequence of this. It was a tough

time, and that gave people certainty.

At the same time we did that, we fixed the fixed-term and

renoviction protection loopholes in the Residential Tenancy Act. When we

did that, members from this House, on the other side, stood up and said:

“How dare you. How dare you freeze rents. How dare you fix these

loopholes.” That’s all on the record, in Hansard , because they

were more concerned about protecting investors than they were about

protecting renters.

Homes are for people, and that has been the driving thrust of this

government. I couldn’t tell you how proud I am of the Premier-elect, the

new Premier-designate, who has taken this file on and is going to

continue to take this file on as Premier, delivering for renters in the

Lower Mainland, in Langley and throughout this province.

I just want to say a word about my friend, the member for

Vancouver–West End, who has been a phenomenal housing advocate

throughout his life and not just as an elected official. I first met him

when my wife was living in the West End. There were renoviction fears in

her neighbourhood. It was the member for Vancouver–West End who helped

organize folks and push for those changes.

Let’s not make any bones about it here. If we weren’t in

government right now, there would be an over 10 percent inflationary

increase building on top of previous increases, because the old

government would have capped rents at inflation plus a percentage. So

right now they would be looking the other way while rents soared, at a

time when — the member for Peace River North is correct — people are

living paycheque to paycheque. They need a government that understands

them and understands about what their family is going through — in their

pocketbook.

It’s the same reason why, as we build out child care — to help

people get to work and to help families so that both members of the

family can work. It’s the same reason we’re giving, on average, a

$550-a-month cut to child care fees. That is huge for parents. I know

that because like a renter, I’m also a parent with two kids under five.

This is an extraordinarily important thing to be doing.

[11:50 a.m.]

We’ve seen what the other side’s approach is. I mean, the Leader

of the Opposition has gone on record, since becoming the Leader of the

Opposition, against the speculation and vacancy tax. But before he ran —

before the caucus opposite dealt with his predecessor, when he was

angling to run — he wrote two op-eds calling for the end of the

speculation and vacancy tax, calling for, effectively, housing to be

treated like an investment.

I can tell you, living in a unit that’s rented out because of that

tax, it is working. These measures are working, and we can’t take our

eyes off the ball because of some loud voices in this chamber. We need

to focus on helping and protecting renters, and that’s what we’re going

to do.

E. Sturko: I thank the member for bringing forward this motion.

As a member of this House who’s most recently been on the campaign

trail, I was able to hear firsthand from my constituents on how

difficult it is right now to find an affordable rental home, never mind

just finding a rental home at all. From young people leaving their homes

for the first time to young families to seniors, people from all walks

of life in Surrey are struggling with the skyrocketing rents that we’ve

seen over the last half decade under this government.

Furthermore, not only are people struggling under

sky­rocketing rental costs, but they are beyond disappointed with

the many failed promises from this government. For starters, where is

the long-promised renters rebate, first promised by this government in

2017? The soon-to-be Premier himself has long talked about the

importance of supporting renters, but of course, his actions speak

differently.

Under the member from Point Grey’s tenure as Housing Minister, the

cost of rent in my community has risen by, on average, over $3,228 a

year. How could anyone trust that the new leader of the NDP is going to

come through when he so clearly failed to address rental affordability

in any meaningful way during two terms in government? In addition to

that, in a recent survey by Ipsos, 74 percent of non-owners have given

up on ever owning a home — this under the watch of the former Housing

Minister.

In an even further damning indictment of the record of the former

Housing Minister, according to a report by the National Bank, he was

responsible for the worst decline in housing affordability since 1981.

How did we get to this point?

Remarkably, after five years, two terms, this government is only

now acknowledging what we have been saying for years — that the main

factor driving these astronomically high prices is, of course, a lack of

supply. In responding to this challenge, however, the government is too

slow to act and failing to put their money where their mouth is. It’s

clear that they’re failing to understand the urgency required to address

the affordability crisis.

At the end of the day, facts speak for themselves. This two-term

government has only sat and watched the cost of goods and housing

dramatically increase while they’ve been constantly scapegoating

foreigners, developers and homebuilders. And it’s taken them five years

to figure out that there’s a massive supply challenge.

There are real steps that could be taken immediately if this

government was serious about prioritizing affordability for renters. The

government themselves have even promised to take such action.

Let’s just remind ourselves of their track record. On their

promise to reduce construction costs, taxes, fees and red tape have only

skyrocketed and now add up to over $600,000 to the cost of a home in

Vancouver. On their promise to control the rising costs of strata

insurance, the costs of insurance have not gone down since spiking in

2020. And on this government’s most-talked-about promise to build

114,000 new rentals, social and co-op and owner-purchased housing units,

today less than 10 percent of those promised homes are open.

I think the list of failed promises speaks for itself. British

Columbians are tired of hearing empty promises. Seeing no real action to

help solve this housing crisis, voters during my by-election, and in

recent municipal elections, spoke loud and clear that housing was a

priority. Let’s hope we can start to see some results instead of the

same old, tired rhetoric.

[11:55 a.m.]

M. Dykeman: Thank you to the member for Vancouver–West End for bringing

forward this motion today: “Be it resolved that this House support

holding the annual allowable rent increase for 2023 at two percent.” I

am thrilled to rise in the House today to speak in support of this

motion.

[Mr. Speaker in the chair.]

I note that the opposition actually at no point acknowledged what

the motion was about. So I believe that it’s fair to draw an inference

that, likely, the holding pattern is the same over there — that at any

opportunity to support renters, we won’t receive that support from

opposition.

It doesn’t surprise me, as it’s fairly in line with the 16 years

that we’ve seen, including the previous Leader of the Opposition Andrew

Wilkinson. He quite famously talked about renting being a wacky time of

life — fun, enjoyable and a rite of passage — and a time where, when

talking about the challenges of renters, he simply flippantly put it off

and said: “Would I phrase it differently this time? Sure, why not? To

correct the record, renting can be very difficult and

stressful….”

You see, there is a long history of 16 years of not providing

supports. Our government recognizes these are challenging times. We’ve

had conflicting, difficult events happen in society over the last

several years — a pandemic; incredible inflation rising, including right

now. In the last 12-month period, we’ve seen a 7.6 percent rise in

inflation, and the previous CPI report showed an 8.1 percent inflation,

the largest yearly change since January 1983, driven by high gasoline

prices and myriad other events. We’ve seen a situation where consumers

right now are paying 35.6 percent more for gasoline.

We have had incredible pressures of people moving to our wonderful

country, with international immigration adding a record 41,355 people to

British Columbia’s population in the second quarter of 2022. That was an

increase of 193.7 percent from the same period in 2021. We have seen,

though, lots of gaps in positions needing to be filled, and this

movement will help with that.

But many people who are moving to a new country or moving from

another province or even moving from the west to the east, as we have

seen a lot in Langley, are typically renters. So providing security for

renters is good for our economy. It’s good for society in addition to

being a basic right. People should feel safe and secure in their home.

These have positive impacts.

That’s something I haven’t heard from opposition. Not only was it

not supported through the 16 years…. As a renter myself, living in one

of the fastest-growing communities, I’ve seen the consequences of those

policies where you aren’t supporting renters. Our government recognizes

the incredible benefit that comes from that and is now putting in

supports to benefit renters.

For example, Langley township, which I represent, has had the

highest number of housing starts. More than 4,300 homes began

construction in the last five years. Our government has supported an

incredible amount of housing projects, including Shepherd of the Valley

Church, which moved ahead with affordable housing with 70 rental

apartments and 12 family homes for single mothers with children who are

able to now access affordable housing.

We have new buildings going up for Solaro in Murray­ville,

partnering with a company. There was a comment that the private sector

didn’t support it. Well, that’s just not true. We have seen 100 new

rental homes in partnership built in my community. We have 62 rental

homes designed for affordable families, seniors and people with middle

incomes. Park Vista will provide that affordable housing.

We’ve seen 100 new affordable homes and construction being built

with the Langley Lions Housing Society, often supporting people who are

starting off or in vulnerable positions. To have access to affordable

housing is good for the economy. It’s the right thing to do, and our

government is committed to that. The reason why we have a backlog is

because for 16 years, those were the groups that were

ignored.

I’m proud to stand today and support it, because it’s the right

thing to do, and it’s the right thing for British Columbia.

Mr. Speaker: Member for Langley East to move the adjournment of the

debate.

M. Dykeman: Yes, I guess it’s around that time, hon. Speaker.

M. Dykeman moved adjournment of debate.

Motion approved.

Hon. K. Chen moved adjournment of the House.

Motion approved.

Mr. Speaker: This House stands adjourned until 1:30 p.m. this

afternoon.

The House adjourned at 12 noon.

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