Greater Victoria municipalities on the province's radar for more housing
Oak Bay, Saanich and Victoria have found themselves on a provincial list that aims to correct British Columbia’s ongoing housing crisis.
“Simply put, housing supply cannot keep up with the demand,” said Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon.
The province’s goal is to cut municipal red tape. “Our aim is to make it easier for municipalities to approve projects quickly,” said Kahlon.
“We welcome the opportunity to work with the province,” said Dean Murdock, the mayor of Saanich.
Murdock welcomes his municipality making the province’s list and says council and city staff are already working to streamline the approval process for more housing.
“Saanich is a large municipality that has a role to play in creating more homes for more people,” said Murdock.
Saanich, along with nine other municipalities in the province will now take the summer to work with ministry staff to set housing goals within their communities.
The province says it will then support municipalities in reaching those goals. What that support will look like is still unknown.
“I think for us, this is just a reinforcement of the direction that we’ve been going in for some time and that we want to continue,” said Marianne Alto, the mayor of Victoria.
Alto lobbied to be included on the province’s list as the capital city has done a lot of work recently to add much needed housing to the region.
“We’re certainly making progress,” said Mike Kozakowski, the founder of citified.ca, a real estate and housing blog.
Kozakowski has crunched the numbers and says there are currently around 5,000 units of purpose-built rentals under construction in the Capital Region.
Some municipalities are punching well above their weight in terms of building units.
Per capita, View Royal is leading the charge. Esquimalt is in second place with Langford coming in third.
“There are four municipalities with zero purpose-built rental housing currently under construction,” said Kozakowski.
Those being North Saanich, Metchosin, Highlands and Oak Bay--which just found itself on the province’s list.
“We have been very deliberate in terms of trying to move forward on housing projects,” said Barb Desjardins, the mayor of Esquimalt.
Esquimalt has recently approved 1,700 units of purpose-built rental housing within its borders, as well as condominiums and townhouse projects.
“So that across the spectrum there is the ability for people to fit in the market somehow,” said Desjardins.
For those who made the list, changes must be made, or the province says it will step in and compel the region to cut red tape and approve units of housing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.4972530.1591455178!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Prince William made $42 million from his newly inherited estate last year, reports show
Newly released financial reports show that William, the Prince of Wales, drew a salary of $42.1 million last fiscal year, his first since inheriting the vast and lucrative Duchy of Cornwall.
'Sick to my stomach': People grieve Jasper National Park by sharing favourite photos
As an out-of-control wildfire roared through Alberta’s famed Jasper National Park and its townsite late Wednesday, many are fearing the worst as officials warned of 'significant loss' within the area.
LIVE @ 11:15 A.M. MT Extent of Jasper wildfire damage still unknown; Alberta Wildfire hosting update
Officials are waiting to learn Thursday morning the extent of wildfire damage in the Jasper townsite of Jasper National Park, which flames began to eat away at the night before.
Canadian women's soccer team staffer given suspended prison sentence over drone incident, prosecutor says
A Canada women's soccer team staffer has been given an eight-month suspended prison sentence after flying a drone to film the closed-door training session of the New Zealand team on Monday, the prosecutor's office said in a statement.
Jennifer Aniston criticizes JD Vance for 'childless cat ladies' remarks: 'I pray that your daughter is fortunate enough to bear children'
Jennifer Aniston is criticizing JD Vance for comments he made in his past about women without children.
Sale of envoy's NYC condo 'expected to exceed' $9M: government
The current official residence for Canada's representative in New York City is 'being readied for sale,' according to a spokesperson from Global Affairs Canada.
Jasper wildfire burns buildings, while poor air quality forces some fire crews out
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on social media that Ottawa has approved Alberta's request for federal assistance after a fast-moving wildfire hit Jasper National Park and its townsite late Wednesday.
'I'm so broke': Two Toronto women speak out after losing $76,000 in romance scam
Two women from the Toronto area are speaking out after losing thousands of dollars to a romance scam, including a single mother who lost $62,000.
Barrie-Innisfil MPP 'blacked-out' and crashed car into window of child care centre
Staff at a Barrie child care centre say they are frustrated by what they call a local MPP's inadequate response after a car crashed through a window in one of the toddler rooms.