Affordable rent advocates are among those who are surpised at Monday香蕉视频直播檚 provincial budget update from the BC NDP.
The party had campaigned hard on a $400 annual rebate for renters if elected last spring, but no such cash was included in the update. Instead, $291 million over two years was set aside to build housing for the homeless, and another $208 million for 1,700 affordable rentals for lower-income families and seniors.
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香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 a little surprised they didn香蕉视频直播檛 do it,香蕉视频直播� said Generation Squeeze founder Paul Kershaw. 香蕉视频直播淭hey tabled a 香蕉视频直播榳ait for February香蕉视频直播� budget update.香蕉视频直播�
Kershaw said the party has only been in office for eight weeks and hasn香蕉视频直播檛 had time to accomplish much, but he香蕉视频直播檚 wary it could mean the government isn香蕉视频直播檛 serious about levelling the playing field between renters and homeowners. The latter already receive a grant, he said.
NDP香蕉视频直播檚 child care, renter rebate programs promised, not delivered in
香蕉视频直播� Tom Fletcher (@tomfletcherbc)
He actually goes futher to doubt the policy itself.
香蕉视频直播淎 dollar a day isn香蕉视频直播檛 going to transform the affordability of rentals,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 one thing not to see that renters香蕉视频直播� rebate, but what香蕉视频直播檚 problematic is where香蕉视频直播檚 the plan to incentivize developers to build purpose built rental?香蕉视频直播�
When reached for comment, a finance ministry spokesperson reiterated the government香蕉视频直播檚 budget update promises of $291 million for housing for the homeless, $208 million for affordable housing and $7 million over three years for the Residential Tenancy Branch.
In addition, an emailed statement from the ministry noted that they are 香蕉视频直播渄eveloping a comprehensive plan to make housing more affordable for people, to close speculation loopholes, and reduce tax fraud and money laundering in B.C. real estate.香蕉视频直播�
No rentals to be found
The rental vacancy rate in B.C. has hovered at an average of 1.3 per cent over the past three years, according to stats from the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
In Metro Vancouver, that rate sat at only 0.7 per cent at the end of 2016. The City of Vancouver香蕉视频直播檚 rate is 0.8 per cent, while Surrey sits at 0.4 per cent. White Rock has the fewest available rentals in the region, at 0.1 per cent.
Outside of Vancouver, the rate is 0.5 in Abbotsford and Mission, 0.6 per cent in Kelowna and 0.5 per cent in Victoria.
Rebate wouldn't help with rent costs
The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Greater Vancouver is $1,159, according to CMHC numbers. Abbotsford and Mission is at $744, Kelowna is $864 and Victoria is $912. Province-wide, it sits at $1,054.
Kershaw said he doesn香蕉视频直播檛 think a $400 rebate will touch that. Instead, he香蕉视频直播檇 like to see a province-wide application of Vancouver香蕉视频直播檚 charter rights, which allow the city to tax empty homes and more effectively regulate short-term rental.
香蕉视频直播淚 think we need a provincial framework,香蕉视频直播� said Kershaw. 香蕉视频直播淚 think we need other cities paying attention to the way Vancouver is doing things香蕉视频直播� and then adapt accordingly.
Victoria and Nelson are set to bring resolutions on the topic to the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention later this month.
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