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Housing & Homelessness platforms

Here's what the candidates in Peace River North, and their parties, are promising.

Home construction and supply

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BC Conservatives

  • Require municipal governments to issue a clear yes or no for rezoning applications and permits within a set timeline

    "Approve homes in months, not years: 6 months for a rezoning and development permit, and 3 months for a building permit. If a clear yes/no is not issued by city hall within the required timeline, the provincial government will issue the permits." — conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08

  • Require zoning to be changed at the same time as other land-use policies

    "Require zoning to be proactive: We will work with cities to ensure that Zoning is changed at the same time as other land use policies, in what is sometimes referred to as “pre-zoning.” Even though Official Community Plans and Area Plans specify what types of buildings are encouraged, cities still require a unique rezoning for each building – adding years of delay that we can’t afford." — conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08

  • Require regulators to presume that work is done in accordance with the rules

    "Trust BC professionals to do their job: Critical months and years are wasted by having bureaucracies second-guess the work of highly-skilled, regulated, and certified technical professionals like engineers and architects. We will enact Presumption of Compliance laws so municipal and provincial regulators must presume that BC’s professionals can perform + peer-review their work in accordance with the rules." — conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08

  • Repeal the Step Code

    "Remove NDP taxes on housing: The NDP is increasing construction costs by up to 30-40% - in the middle of a housing crisis. This hidden tax, called the “Step Code”, also results in dark, cookie-cutter homes, with few windows and diminished quality of life for residents. We will immediately repeal the Step Code, the radical “Net-Zero” mandate, and all other NDP hidden taxes on housing." — conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08

  • Remove net-zero GHG requirements for new home construction
  • Limit the ability of local governments to regulate new housing

    "End over-regulation: Regulators often inflate the price of housing by over-stepping their role, such as by requiring endless design reviews or by forcing builders to give away brand new homes. These are heavy taxes on new housing, and they kill projects – often only the expensive ones can survive. We will amend the Local Government Act to prevent home-killing red tape." — conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08

  • Establish a BC Development Tribunal to hold regulators and politicians accountable with regards to development

    "Uphold the rule of law and defend property rights: Establish the BC Development Tribunal to hold regulators and politicians accountable to the rule of law and fair process." — conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08

  • Limit development cost charges, and allow them to be paid after projects are completed

    "Reform Development Cost Charges: Allow DCCs to be paid upon project completion, not as a front-loaded cost. We will also take action to prevent DCCs from being set at rates in excess of the “growth pays for growth” principle." — conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08

  • Prevent property tax increases based on future potential

    "Make taxes fair for homeowners: The scale of the housing crisis will require significant changes to zoning. We will work with BC Assessment to make sure that current homeowners don’t get hit with higher tax bills based on future potential." — conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08

  • Identify land in the Agricultural Land Reserve to use for building new towns
  • Repeal the current government's housing bill (Bill 44), but support municipalities to optionally continue implementation

    "Repeal Bill 44: Local government needs the flexibility to plan in the way that works best for their communities. We will work with cities, not against them, to build the housing BC needs. Some municipalities support the provisions of Bill 44, and we will continue to assist them in implementation." — conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08

  • Create a $1B/year infrastructure fund for municipalities who allow small-scale multi-unit housing on at least 2/3rds of residential land

    "Create the Civic Infrastructure Renewal Fund: A $1 billion per year fund that will be available to municipalities who are taking action to get homes built. The funds will be available to municipalities whose zoning allows for viable Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing on at least 2/3rds of residential land." — conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08

BC NDP

  • Fast-track construction of factory-built homes

    "This is the next logical step after cutting red tape to allow for the construction of more single homes, duplexes, triplexes and townhomes. Factory-built home construction will play a critical role in solving the housing crisis — delivering immediate results. While BC Builds continues to build large-scale multi-unit housing, BC’s emerging factory home construction industry can build complete state-of-the-art, small-scale multi-unit homes in just 12 weeks — and deliver those homes while also cutting construction waste by up to 70% and reducing harmful emissions by 43%. By fueling BC’s factory home construction industry, everyone from municipalities to multi-generational families can build quality small-scale multi- unit housing more affordably on land they already own."

    An Action Plan for You, retrieved 2024-10-07

  • Partner with non-profits and private companies to build middle-income housing on public land

    "We’ll never sell public land that is suitable for attainable housing to be built on. Instead, we’ll partner with the non- profit and private sector to build attainable middle-income housing."

    An Action Plan for You, retrieved 2024-10-07

  • Waive provincial property taxes for new purpose-built rental projects
  • Create a new local infrastructure investment fund tied to housing starts

    "Encourage municipal partnerships to build more housing through a new local infrastructure investment fund that’s tied to housing starts, while offering more flexibility to cities exceeding those targets."

    An Action Plan for You, retrieved 2024-10-07

  • Work with municipalities to allow non-market housing near new transit stations and extra height for new co-op, non-profit, & public housing

    "Work with municipalities to build up rather than out by:

    » Prioritizing the construction of affordable, non-market housing near new SkyTrain and rapid bus stations;

    » Cutting red tape and encouraging more development across all non- market housing; and,

    » Allowing additional height for all new co-op, non-profit and public rental housing."

    An Action Plan for You, retrieved 2024-10-07

  • Double construction apprenticeship training

    "Double construction apprenticeship training so BC has the supply of red-seal certified workers needed to build the tens of thousands homes we need every year."

    An Action Plan for You, retrieved 2024-10-07

Home purchases and ownership

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BC Conservatives

  • Make sure strata insurance rates are based on property risks in BC, not the US

    "Put all options on the table to get strata insurance costs under control: Strata residents shouldn’t be getting hosed. We will make sure that strata insurance rates charged to BC homeowners are based on the risks to property in BC, not the United States. If necessary to ensure a fair and competitive market, a publicly-owned option will be studied." — conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08

  • Mandate better materials or installation techniques for household systems like plumbing, if that can reduce insurance premiums

    "Put the Building Code to work: If the Building Code can help reduce insurance premiums by mandating better materials or installation techniques for key systems like plumbing, we will act to introduce these common-sense updates." — Common Sense Change for British Columbia, retrieved 2024-10-15

BC NDP

  • Allow first-time home buyers to defer payment on 40% of their unit's price for 25 years, or until they sell

    "Opening the door for first time home buyers by reducing the up-front costs of buying a home. Under this new program, homebuyers will pay 60% of their unit’s price initially, with the remaining 40% due only when they sell — or after 25 years — and their equity in the home has grown.

    It’s a model where everyone benefits. We’ll expand to 25,000 new homes for first-time homebuyers in communities across BC."

    An Action Plan for You, retrieved 2024-10-07

  • Ban blind-bidding

    "Cracking down on the inflated cost of buying a home by eliminating the blind-bidding that routinely means home buyers bid and pay thousands of dollars more than they need to get the house they want"

    An Action Plan for You, retrieved 2024-10-07

Homeless services

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BC Conservatives

  • Remove tent encampments and move occupants into appropriate support services with zero-tolerance for encampments on provincial properties
  • Stop pushing low-barrier housing facilities and shelters

    "Stop ramming-through “low barrier” facilities: We will never force any kind of “low-barrier” housing or shelter on a community that doesn’t want it. While many are good neighbours, some have had disastrous impacts – no one should have to worry about Victoria dictating that a risky facility gets built next door." — conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08

BC NDP

  • Expand the Homeless Encampment Action Response Temporary Housing programme to more communities

    "We will bring the Homeless Encampment Action Response Temporary Housing (HEARTH) program to more communities, in line with our provincial decampment strategy to get people inside." — An Action Plan for You, retrieved 2024-10-16

Housing prices

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BC Conservatives

  • Allow people to exempt $3,000/mo of rent or mortgage interest costs from provincial income taxes, starting with $1,500/mo in 2026

    "1) Largest tax cut for renters and homeowners in BC history – $3,000 per month of rent or mortgage interest costs will be exempt from provincial income taxes. This will be achieved by issuing a tax credit worth 5.06% of eligible housing costs, equivalent to the rate of BC’s base tax bracket.

    2) Immediate relief in Budget 2026 - by exempting $1,500 per month, increasing by $500 per year to the full level of $3,000 per month. This is a clear and long-term commitment to British Columbians who work hard.

    3) A fair and fiscally responsible tax credit – The 2026 budget impact will not exceed $900 million, and we will design a targeted tax credit that ensures the relief goes to people who need it to get ahead in life." — conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08

Public and affordable housing

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BC Conservatives

  • Stop pushing low-barrier housing facilities and shelters

    "Stop ramming-through “low barrier” facilities: We will never force any kind of “low-barrier” housing or shelter on a community that doesn’t want it. While many are good neighbours, some have had disastrous impacts – no one should have to worry about Victoria dictating that a risky facility gets built next door." — conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08

  • Conduct a forensic audit into BC Housing

    "Conduct a forensic audit into BC Housing: The audit will include its relationship with politically-connected non-profits." — conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08

  • Provide professional training for non-profits building housing

    "Provide professional training to non-profits building housing: Groups that receive tax dollars to build homes must be given training and support, so that public money is spent in a cost-effective and responsible manner." — conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08

  • Enact a zero-tolerance policy for criminal and nuisance behaviour related to government-funded housing facilities

    "Have zero tolerance for criminal and nuisance behavior related to government-funded housing facilities – social housing facilities will either be good neighbours, or have their funding revoked." — conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08

BC NDP

  • Work with municipalities to allow non-market housing near new transit stations and extra height for new co-op, non-profit, & public housing

    "Work with municipalities to build up rather than out by:

    » Prioritizing the construction of affordable, non-market housing near new SkyTrain and rapid bus stations;

    » Cutting red tape and encouraging more development across all non- market housing; and,

    » Allowing additional height for all new co-op, non-profit and public rental housing."

    An Action Plan for You, retrieved 2024-10-07

Rental housing

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BC Conservatives

  • Create a tax incentive programme to for developers building multi-unit rental housing

    "Unlike condominiums, rental buildings pay-back builders over a timespan of 50 to 60 years – but the costs are front-loaded. The successful MURB tax incentive program (Multi-Unit Residential Building) from 1974-1982 created a strong supply of rental housing by allowing costs to offset taxable income from other sources.

    A housing crisis calls for bold, creative solutions. The Conservative Party of BC will:

    1. Introduce real tax incentives for rental construction: We will work with the federal government to reintroduce a MURB tax incentive program for the 21st century. If Ottawa doesn’t play ball, we will introduce a made-in-BC version."

    conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08

BC NDP

  • Waive provincial property taxes for new purpose-built rental projects
  • Subsidise insurance for "Mom and Pop" landlords to protect against unpaid rent and damages, and offer legal advice

    "So many prospective “Mom and Pop” landlords want to help provide housing but are worried about unexpected problems, like unpaid rent or damage. We’ll give them the support and confidence they need to keep renting out their units through subsidized insurance that protects against unpaid rent and damages, offers legal advice and more." — An Action Plan for You, retrieved 2024-10-07

  • Replenish, as needed, the Rental Protection Fund to allow non-profits to buy affordable rental housing

    "Protect BC’s existing stock of rental housing by replenishing, as needed, the Rental Protection Fund that non-profits can use to buy and protect affordable rental housing for the long term, so people don’t have to be afraid that their homes are going to be sold out from under them to speculators or large corporate real estate companies." — An Action Plan for You, retrieved 2024-10-07

  • Ban "no pet" clauses for purpose-built rental apartment buildings

    "We’ll end the bias against pet owners — which impacts young people, seniors and people with disabilities most. This move will also bring down the rate of pet abandonments across the province, as renters no longer have to make the difficult choice between the housing they need and the pet they love." — An Action Plan for You, retrieved 2024-10-07



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