A University of B.C. housing-policy expert says repealing parts of the province’s housing legislation would be a mistake despite thousands of empty condos.
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A housing expert at the University of B.C. says British Columbia’s glut of empty condos should not be taken as proof the housing market is working, and she warned the province against winding back policies from the outgoing NDP government that were designed to tame prices and rent.
Alexandra Flynn, who teaches housing policy at UBC, said the province still needs “a lot of homes for low-to very-low-income residents,” even though there are thousands of vacant units. She said market housing aimed at above-average income earners is not the housing B.C. needs, adding that, left alone, the market cannot supply affordable and deeply affordable housing.
Flynn also warned that without government intervention—through granting and funding—developers would not be able to provide the type of housing required. She made the comments as Premier-designate Lorne Doerkson promised to repeal key aspects of B.C.’s housing legislation introduced under Premier David Eby.
Doerkson’s remarks came during the inaugural meeting of the Conservative caucus, when he said his government would “return housing decisions” to the people and communities, arguing they know neighbourhood needs better than Victoria. He was specifically referring to the proposed repeal of Bill 44.
Bill 44 legalized higher densities on single-lot properties in municipalities with populations above 5,000, while also including housing targets. The legislation has drawn heavy criticism from local governments, particularly over the way targets were set.
Sarrah Storey, president of the Union of the British Columbia Municipalities and mayor of Fraser Lake, said Bill 44 was “highly problematic.” She said municipalities objected because the province imposed the framework as a “one-size-fits-all model” without seeking local input, while UBCM agrees that housing policy for a community such as Williams Lake should not be made in Victoria.
Storey said if the province changes Bill 44, municipalities should have the choice to keep existing policies. She also said housing plans must consider infrastructure capacity, adding that the “best way to support developers” is ensuring local governments can direct development to areas ready to accommodate growth.
Flynn said she disagrees with the repeal plan, describing Bill 44 as a “powerful tool” even though parts may need fixing. She said the new government should avoid “knee-jerk reactions” and stressed the need to improve the dialogue between municipalities and the provincial government through proper engagement and “bilateral relationships.”
She also pointed to other contributors to the province’s housing situation improving compared to 2017, including the work of the non-profit housing sector, municipalities, the federal government, and the provincial government. Flynn said changing circumstances over time do not remove the need for municipalities to ensure affordable housing can be built, and she argued that “this is not the time to be thinking about what to repeal,” but instead to set a new housing course for the future.
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