'The stakes are massive': Housing remains top issue ahead of Vancouver Island municipal elections
Fewer than three weeks before municipal elections, housing continues to dominate many campaigns on Vancouver Island.
Ross Crockford, a journalist with Focus Magazine, says while housing is always a big issue at the municipal level, it's bigger than usual this year.
"In this particular election it seems to be bigger than ever – the stakes are massive for so many people," he said Tuesday.
In Victoria, the controversial missing middle initiative, which would allow multiplexes to be built across the city without changes to zoning, sputtered a few weeks ago. A decision on the policy has been kicked down the road for the next mayor and council to decide – a table that will feature a new mayor and at least seven new councillors.
"So who gets elected is going to, in a way, be a referendum on this missing middle policy," said Crockford.
In Ucluelet, B.C., council voted three to two earlier this month to impose restrictions on short-term rentals and allow for carriage houses – steps its mayor says are aimed at addressing a lack of affordable housing and maintaining the character of its neighbourhoods.
"This is the largest decision that I made and I think this was the decision that was important to make in order to protect the 2,000 residents," said Mayor Mayco Noel.
The current mayor isn’t running again. Meanwhile, the two councillors who voted against the changes are running for mayor.
While the next municipal leader in Ucluelet may want to tweak the new bylaw, Noel thinks the essence of the new housing rules will remain.
"We stopped a bit of a storm that was coming to our front door," he said Tuesday.
In Oak Bay, B.C., council has recently taken steps to address its own housing problems, voting last week to green light secondary suites and ban short-term rentals.
"Housing is in a crunch everywhere, including Oak Bay, so this will help," said Oak Bay Mayor Kevin Murdoch.
"It won't solve all the problems but it's one piece of the puzzle," he said.
A housing puzzle that's shaping up to large consideration when voters hit the polls next month.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.