Victoria strata member concerned with B.C.'s sweeping restriction changes
Newly proposed legislation aimed at tackling B.C.'s housing shortage is causing some concern among condo owners and strata council members.
Joanne Thibault is a strata owner in a 22-unit building in Victoria, constructed in 1974.
"So we have all the challenges that all older wood-frame buildings face," said Thibault on Wednesday.
The building is due for a renovation, including new balcony walls, windows, patio doors and cedar siding.
"You’re not going to get away with anything less than $2-million," said the condo owner.
On Monday, B.C. Premier David Eby announced new legislation to remove rental restrictions on strata properties.
"We can’t leave any housing on the table," he said at Monday's announcement.
Murray Rankin, B.C.’s attorney general and minister responsible for housing, says there are currently thousands of vacant strata units that cannot be rented out because of rental restrictions.
This legislation will open those units up to provide more homes for people in B.C., he says.
"We are in a housing crisis and we need to do everything we can to increase housing stock across the province," said Rankin in a statement to CTV News on Wednesday.
That has thrown Thibault and the strata council she sits on into a tailspin.
She says that the new legislation opens her building up to landlords who are investing in rental properties that aren't interested in paying for necessary upgrades when compared to people who are looking to live in the units themselves.
"What would happen is that then our building would fall further into decline," said Thibault.
CRITICISM AND SUPPORT
Tony Gioventu, executive director of the Condominium Home Owners Association of BC, says the legislation could result in the opposite of its intended effect.
"I fear this is going to have an impact again on availability and affordability of housing," he said.
Gioventu says the province's new legislation will make getting into property ownership more costly.
"If there’s a rental bylaw you’re only competing against other people who are probably going to be wanting to live there," he said. "If there’s no rental bylaw, you’ve suddenly opened the door for speculators and investors who are going to be competing for the same properties."
He also suggests condo owners could see monthly expenses increase, paying for services such as property management companies.
On the other side of the coin, Philip MacKellar with the housing advocacy group Homes For Living, calls the recent move by the province a great first step.
"We as a housing organization support the province's changes to strata rules," said the volunteer.
"It will add units back to the rental market during a housing shortage, which is great, and it will give property owners greater agency over what they do with their own properties," he said.
Thibault says she bought into her building to be a part of a collective, which manages the wellbeing of the entire building in a unified way.
"That has been completely ignored in the decision by the B.C. government to pick away at the housing supply crisis," she said.
Thibault fears that if units in her building begin getting bought by investors, the sense of community within the building's walls will disappear.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW From yearning for a change to cost of living, why some Canadians have left or may leave the country
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
NEW Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
Defence attacks Stormy Daniels' credibility as she returns to the stand in Trump's hush money trial
Stormy Daniels will return to the witness stand Thursday in Donald Trump's hush money trial as the defence tries to undermine the credibility of the porn actor's salacious testimony about their alleged sexual encounter and the money she was paid to keep quiet.
With contactless screening tech, this Toronto startup hopes to catch breast cancer early — and save lives
Amid evidence of rising breast cancer rates among young women in Canada, one Toronto startup is offering a contactless and radiation-free device that can help doctors identify suspicious changes in breast tissue. The company, Linda Lifetech, says this can lead to earlier detection of breast cancer.
Tornadoes tear through southeastern U.S. as storms leave 3 dead
Forecasters warned a wave of dangerous storms in the U.S. could wash over parts of the South early Thursday, a day after severe weather with damaging tornadoes and large hail killed at least three people in the region.
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.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.