New 205-unit tower with affordable and supportive rental homes proposed for downtown Victoria
A new 20-storey rental tower in downtown Victoria could be the first of its kind to be put forward through a new municipal policy that's designed to speed up construction for housing.
The City of Victoria's "rapid development" policy allows non-profits, government, and co-op housing groups to avoid rezoning and hearing requirements.
However, the proposals must be for affordable housing or co-operative housing, and must be consistent with the city's official community plan, among other criteria.
"A policy like this could speed up the process by six months, a year, in some cases possibly even more," said BC Housing vice president Sara Goldvine.
BC Housing is leading the development of the 20-storey affordable and supportive housing tower, which has been proposed for the 900-block of Pandora Avenue.
The proposal includes 205 units in total, including 158 affordable rental homes and 47 supportive units – as well as 16,000 square feet of community space intended for child care and recreation.
A non-profit service provider would be contracted by BC Housing to manage the supportive housing units.
The non-profit would include outreach workers that offer skills training, employment help and connection to other community services.
BC Housing says it would also keep an eye on safety for the building and community, including security cameras and lights, 24/7 staff at the building, and policies for smoking and guests.
The development went through a trio of community engagement meetings this week. If the project moves forward, more future engagement sessions may be scheduled, according to BC Housing.
The proposed development falls in line with the province's plans to tackle B.C.'s housing shortage.
On Wednesday, Ravi Kahlon, who was named minister of the province’s new Ministry of Housing, said his three priorities to address the crisis would be "speed, supply and synergy."
If approved, BC Housing hopes to have the site ready for people to move in by 2028.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Would you pay $300 a year for quick access to a nurse? Dealing with demand, Ontario doctors get creative
Paid subscriptions to on-demand care are among the many strategies primary health-care providers in Ontario are adopting in order to meet increased demand for access to doctors in the past year, while also managing staffing shortages.
Justice minister says he'll 'look at' federal policy restricting gay men from donating sperm
Justice Minister David Lametti says he will "look at" a federal policy that restricts gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, after CTV News exclusively reported on Wednesday that a gay man is taking the federal government to court over it.
Liberals table bill delaying assisted dying expansion to March 2024
The federal government is seeking to delay the extension of assisted dying eligibility to people whose sole condition is a mental disorder until March 17, 2024. Justice Minister David Lametti introduced a bill seeking the extension in the House of Commons on Thursday.
Why Delissio pizzas and other Nestle products will disappear from Canadian stores
Nestle Canada says it is winding down its frozen meals and pizza business in Canada over the next six months. The four brands that will no longer be sold in the freezer aisle at Canadian grocery stores are Delissio, Stouffer's, Lean Cuisine and Life Cuisine.
Six more weeks of winter? Here are the predictions of groundhogs across North America
Will we see six more weeks of winter, or an early spring? Here’s what some of the groundhogs (and one human) have predicted so far, from coast-to-coast.
'Dances With Wolves' actor appears in court in abuse probe
A former 'Dances With Wolves' actor accused of sexually abusing Indigenous girls and leading a cult must remain held without bail until his next court hearing, a judge ordered Thursday morning.
Ukraine's new weapon will force a Russian shift
The United States has answered President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's plea for rockets that can strike deep behind the front lines of the nearly year-long conflict with Russia. Now Russian forces will need to adapt or face potentially catastrophic losses.
Former Wagner commander says he is sorry for fighting in Ukraine
A former commander of Russia's Wagner mercenary group who fled to Norway told Reuters he wanted to apologize for fighting in Ukraine and was speaking out to bring the perpetrators of crimes to justice.
As sexual assault rates rise, provinces face shortages of specially trained nurses
As rates of sexual assault climb across Canada, nursing experts say there is a shortage of specially trained forensic nurses to properly care for victims.
Vancouver
-
Former B.C. care aide faces 65 new charges for allegedly defrauding 19 elderly victims: Surrey RCMP
A 30-year-old Metro Vancouver woman is facing dozens of new charges for allegedly defrauding elderly people while she was working as a care aide.
-
Thousands of 'potentially fatal doses' of fentanyl seized from Surrey business: RCMP
A search warrant executed at a Surrey business allegedly being used as "a front for drug trafficking" led to the seizure of thousands of potentially fatal doses of illicit drugs, according to Mounties.
-
Falooda Drink with Almond Flavour recalled in Western provinces
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued a recall for Falooda Drink with Almond Flavour because the product contains milk that is not listed on the label.
Edmonton
-
4 arrested after south Edmonton pawn shop robbed, employees shot at: EPS
Four people in their 30s have now been charged with robbing a pawn shop in south Edmonton, while police work to determine if one of the accused also shot two workers at another store in December.
-
Hudson's Bay closing Londonderry Mall store in August
Hudson's Bay has announced it will close its Londonderry Mall location later this year.
-
Police find $160K in drugs in SUV's hidden compartment
Three people have been charged after more than $400,000 in drugs and cash were seized from two homes and a vehicle after a seven-month-long investigation in Edmonton.
Toronto
-
BREAKING
BREAKING | Thousands without power after large outage hits Scarborough
A large portion of Scarborough is currently without power. Crews are currently on their way to assess the outage.
-
Blue Jays' Alek Manoah fires back at MLB analyst for comments about his workout routine
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Alek Manoah took aim at a Major League Baseball Network analyst on social media Wednesday after the broadcaster made comments about Manoah’s exercise habits.
-
Air Canada outage impacts operations at Toronto Pearson Airport
An outage experienced by Air Canada impacted operations at Toronto Pearson International Airport Thursday afternoon.
Calgary
-
1 man dead after fire in southeast Calgary
A man is dead following a fire that broke out in southeast Calgary Thursday morning.
-
'Dances With Wolves' actor appears in court in abuse probe
A former 'Dances With Wolves' actor accused of sexually abusing Indigenous girls and leading a cult must remain held without bail until his next court hearing, a judge ordered Thursday morning.
-
Sexual exploitation charges laid against Airdrie, Alta., man
Authorities say an Airdrie, Alta., man faces several charges related to the sexual exploitation of a young family member.
Montreal
-
Quebec public health recommends booster only to those never infected with COVID-19
Quebec is changing its vaccine strategy: public health officials are now recommending booster shots only for people who have never had COVID-19.
-
Warm place to stay: Montreal opens emergency shelters due to extreme cold
The next few nights are expected to be frigid in Montreal, with wind chill factors dropping to -30. In order to prevent anyone experiencing homelessness from ending up outdoors, the City of Montreal is announcing the opening of two emergency shelters.
-
WEATHER
WEATHER | Extreme cold warnings blanket the province of Quebec
After an extremely mild month of January, the province is bracing for a blast of arctic air that will move in tonight and last until Saturday. Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued extreme cold warnings that covers most of the province with wind chills expected to be between -38 and -42 across the South and -50 across Northern Quebec.
Atlantic
-
Extreme cold warnings issued for all three Maritime provinces
On the day that Shubenacadie Sam predicted six more weeks of winter, there are extreme cold warnings cautioning that the coldest air of the season is about to arrive in the Maritimes.
-
Utility board defies Nova Scotia government, allows 14 per cent power rate hike
Nova Scotia's utility regulator has defied the provincial government and approved an average 14 per cent increase in electricity rates over two years.
-
N.S. reports three new COVID-19 deaths in current reporting period, decrease in hospitalizations, cases
Nova Scotia is reporting three new COVID-19-related deaths in its weekly update.
Winnipeg
-
Son of late MP Jim Carr to seek Liberal party nomination to run in Winnipeg riding
The son of Jim Carr, the Liberal member of Parliament who died last year, is seeking the party's nomination to run for his father's seat in an upcoming byelection.
-
Liberal leader wants Manitoba premier suspended for allegedly violating conflict of interest rules
A Manitoba judge is being asked to decide whether Premier Heather Stefanson violated conflict of interest rules, as alleged by the leader of Manitoba's Liberal Party.
-
Province reveals new funding for Manitoba schools
The Province of Manitoba intends to spend more on K-12 schools in the province next year.
Kitchener
-
Environment Canada issues extreme cold warning for Waterloo region and surrounding areas
A blast of cold Arctic air is expected to reach southern Ontario Thursday night, according to Environment Canada.
-
Wiarton Willie predicts an early spring on Groundhog Day
Wiarton Willie made his prediction his spring prediction Thursday morning at 8:07 a.m. The groundhog did not see his shadow, meaning we could get an early spring.
-
Ontario releases new health-care plan to make access 'faster' and 'easier'
Ontario has released a new 'connected' and 'convenient' health-care plan aimed at shortening wait times and localizing access to care across the province.
Regina
-
Regina hospital patient died while waiting for admission, paramedic logs reveal
Paramedic logs from 2022 are highlighting some of the pressures Regina EMS workers have been facing for months including one instance where a patient died following offload delays at the hospital, the documents indicate.
-
Lang's hockey rink garners national attention for 95-year-old drawbridge staircase
One of Saskatchewan’s oldest hockey rinks has garnered national attention for its unique features and unusual design.
-
Cowessess First Nation Chief Cadmus Delorme not seeking another term
Cowessess First Nation Chief Cadmus Delorme will not be seeking another term as Chief, he said in a Facebook post on Thursday.
Barrie
-
Recently married pedophile Shayne Lund appears before parole board
Convicted pedophile Shayne Lund, now 31, revealed he is recently married and took part in a day and full parole review in a videoconference hearing Thursday from the Ottawa area.
-
Mother, daughter duo arrested in animal abuse investigation
A mother and daughter from Sarnia are under arrest and facing charges associated with animal abuse.
-
Crash between car and transport sends elderly man to hospital
An elderly man is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries after his vehicle collided with a transport truck north of Cookstown.
Saskatoon
-
Man named in Legacy Christian Academy lawsuit faces sexual assault, exploitation charges
Saskatoon Police Services (SPS) have charged an Edmonton man with sexual assault that they say occurred at a Saskatoon faith-based school.
-
Man accused in Saskatoon killing uses social media to 'terrorize' victim's family, mother says
A man accused of killing his girlfriend is sending harassing social media messages to her family over social media — even though he's in jail.
-
Saskatoon pharmacy fined for overcharging government agency thousands of dollars
A Saskatoon pharmacy has been ordered to pay over $55,000 after acknowledging its guilt for improperly billing for medications.
Northern Ontario
-
OLG to unveil $48M lottery winner from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. is holding a big reveal Friday morning: the winner of a $48 million Lotto 6/49 Gold Ball draw.
-
North Bay woman charged for attacking 7-year-old neighbour after spat with her son: mom
An argument between two young boys playing outside together escalated to violence when a parent got involved, a North Bay mom says.
-
Highway 11 closed in northern Ont. after multi-vehicle pile up
Highway 11 in northern Ontario is closed Thursday morning from Highway 66 near Kenogami Lake to Matheson after a collision involving several vehicles, police say.