Housing

The Canada Post logo is seen on the outside the company’s Pacific Processing Centre in Richmond, B.C. on Thursday June 1, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Canada wants to turn post office properties into housing, here’s how

Military defence properties are another asset the feds are looking to leverage

The Canada Post logo is seen on the outside the company’s Pacific Processing Centre in Richmond, B.C. on Thursday June 1, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
New building is a focus of the 2024 federal budget, which announced plans to tap unused federal land to provide sites for new homes. (Photo by Morf Morford)

Budget 2024: Unused defence and Canada Post land tapped for housing

Stated goal is to create a supply of 3.87 million new homes by 2031

New building is a focus of the 2024 federal budget, which announced plans to tap unused federal land to provide sites for new homes. (Photo by Morf Morford)
Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Jennifer Whiteside making an announcement on complex care housing in Kelowna on April 15, 2024. (Brittany Webster/Capital News)

240 new complex care units to be built across B.C.

20 of the units will be built on Pacific Ave in Kelowna

  • Apr 15, 2024
Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Jennifer Whiteside making an announcement on complex care housing in Kelowna on April 15, 2024. (Brittany Webster/Capital News)
Real estate sales in B.C. dropped by 9.5 per cent in March 2024 compared to March 2023, according to new figures from the British Columbia Real Estate Association. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Evan Buhler)

B.C. homebuyers waiting on Bank of Canada to drop rates: economist

New figures show home sales in March 2024 dropped by 9.5 per cent compared to March 2023.

Real estate sales in B.C. dropped by 9.5 per cent in March 2024 compared to March 2023, according to new figures from the British Columbia Real Estate Association. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Evan Buhler)
Angela Mason of Amala Vacation Rental Solutions Ltd. in the ‘Air Lobby’ storefront her business operates on Pandora Avenue. Amala may not be able to continue most of its operations when the new short-term rental regulations come into force. (Mark Page/News Staff)

Victoria business petitions to stop B.C.’s incoming short-term rental law

New regulations would effectively end the businesses ability to operate

  • Apr 14, 2024
Angela Mason of Amala Vacation Rental Solutions Ltd. in the ‘Air Lobby’ storefront her business operates on Pandora Avenue. Amala may not be able to continue most of its operations when the new short-term rental regulations come into force. (Mark Page/News Staff)
An employee works on a modular home component at NRB Modular Solutions in Calgary, Friday, April 5, 2024. The Canadian government will allow 30-year amortization periods on insured mortgages for first-time homebuyers purchasing newly built homes. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

First-time buyers can soon get 30-year mortage amortizations: Freeland

Liberals say change will be announced in next week’s budget, come into effect later this summer

An employee works on a modular home component at NRB Modular Solutions in Calgary, Friday, April 5, 2024. The Canadian government will allow 30-year amortization periods on insured mortgages for first-time homebuyers purchasing newly built homes. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
New homes are constructed in Ottawa on Monday, Aug. 14, 2023. The Bank of Canada’s next rate announcement is unlikely to spur much immediate movement in the national housing market, but economists say it may be just a matter of months until buyers come crawling back from the sidelines. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Housing analysts say pent-up demand not expect to jolt market this spring

Caution persists as Canada’s potential buyers wait to see if interest rates come down

New homes are constructed in Ottawa on Monday, Aug. 14, 2023. The Bank of Canada’s next rate announcement is unlikely to spur much immediate movement in the national housing market, but economists say it may be just a matter of months until buyers come crawling back from the sidelines. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
B.C. Premier David Eby announces new protections for renters in a Victoria park on April 2, 2024. (Mark Page/News Staff)

New B.C. renter protections fulfill much of tenant advocate’s wish list

Changes include ban on landlord’s personal use evictions for larger apartment buildings

  • Apr 5, 2024
B.C. Premier David Eby announces new protections for renters in a Victoria park on April 2, 2024. (Mark Page/News Staff)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, second right, tours modular home construction facility before making a housing announcement in Calgary, Alta., Friday, April 5, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Potential homeowners, renters can benefit from fresh $600M for new builds

Liberals to unveil package of grants and loans in new budget later this month

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, second right, tours modular home construction facility before making a housing announcement in Calgary, Alta., Friday, April 5, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Housing prices in Metro Vancouver have reached a ‘full-blown-crisis’ according to report from the Royal Bank of Canada and the CMHC expects new home construction to dip in 2024. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

B.C. housing minister says province will surpass grim housing start forecasts

New RBC report also finds Metro Vancouver in ‘full-blown-crisis’

Housing prices in Metro Vancouver have reached a ‘full-blown-crisis’ according to report from the Royal Bank of Canada and the CMHC expects new home construction to dip in 2024. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau greets contractors following a housing announcement in Dartmouth, N.S. on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. Trudeau says a new $1.5-billion housing fund will help non-profit organizations acquire more rental units across Canada and make sure they remain affordable. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese

Rental protection fund aims $15B at creating affordable rentals: Trudeau

Federal loan and contribution program in upcoming budget based on B.C. model

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau greets contractors following a housing announcement in Dartmouth, N.S. on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. Trudeau says a new $1.5-billion housing fund will help non-profit organizations acquire more rental units across Canada and make sure they remain affordable. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese
For sale sign in front of a residential house. First announced in February during the unveiling of Budget 2024, Conroy officially tabled the bill Wednesday (April 3). Dubbed the Residential Property (Short-Term Holding) Profit Tax Act, it is also referred to as the house-flipping tax. (collected /Lakes District News)

B.C. tables house-flipping tax, to come into effect Jan. 1, 2025

Those who resell property within 2 years will be subject to the tax; retroactive to 2023 and 2024

For sale sign in front of a residential house. First announced in February during the unveiling of Budget 2024, Conroy officially tabled the bill Wednesday (April 3). Dubbed the Residential Property (Short-Term Holding) Profit Tax Act, it is also referred to as the house-flipping tax. (collected /Lakes District News)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets a drywall worker with Housing Minister Sean Fraser (left) as they tour an under-construction condo tower in midtown Toronto, Wednesday, April 3, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston

$15B apartment construction loan program latest federal housing offering

Trudeau offers glimpse of another program on its way in Canada’s upcoming budget

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets a drywall worker with Housing Minister Sean Fraser (left) as they tour an under-construction condo tower in midtown Toronto, Wednesday, April 3, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston
Premier David Eby (far right) welcomes Ottawa’s pledge of $6 billion for housing infrastructure, but says B.C. should be among the first provinces to receive funding given that its record of building more housing. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

B.C. welcomes promises of infrastructure dollars, but will ‘push’ for more

Ottawa’s announcement of $6 billion comes with strings attached

Premier David Eby (far right) welcomes Ottawa’s pledge of $6 billion for housing infrastructure, but says B.C. should be among the first provinces to receive funding given that its record of building more housing. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, centre, is flanked by Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Sean Fraser, left, and mayor of Halifax Mike Savage while making a housing announcement in Dartmouth, N.S. on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese

Trudeau unveils $6B housing fund — with strings attached

Program coming in new budget for provinces willing to adopt certain policies

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, centre, is flanked by Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Sean Fraser, left, and mayor of Halifax Mike Savage while making a housing announcement in Dartmouth, N.S. on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese
Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon speaks at a news conference in Victoria Tuesday (April 2, 2024). He was joined by Premier David Eby, right, Spencer Chandra Herbert, premier’s liaison for renters, and Victoria-Beacon Hill MLA Grace Lore. (Mark Page)
Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon speaks at a news conference in Victoria Tuesday (April 2, 2024). He was joined by Premier David Eby, right, Spencer Chandra Herbert, premier’s liaison for renters, and Victoria-Beacon Hill MLA Grace Lore. (Mark Page)

B.C. tables legislation to combat ‘bad faith’ evictions

Other elements of new law prevent landlords from raising rents if families grow

Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon speaks at a news conference in Victoria Tuesday (April 2, 2024). He was joined by Premier David Eby, right, Spencer Chandra Herbert, premier’s liaison for renters, and Victoria-Beacon Hill MLA Grace Lore. (Mark Page)
Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon speaks at a news conference in Victoria Tuesday (April 2, 2024). He was joined by Premier David Eby, right, Spencer Chandra Herbert, premier’s liaison for renters, and Victoria-Beacon Hill MLA Grace Lore. (Mark Page)
Hadgraft Wilson Place in Kelowna. (Brittany Webster/Capital News)

UPDATE: UBCO build evacuates Kelowna apartments

Hadgraft Wilson Place will see residents evacuate over the next couple days

  • Apr 1, 2024
Hadgraft Wilson Place in Kelowna. (Brittany Webster/Capital News)
No-fault evictions continue to plague B.C. renters. Several have shared their stories with Black Press Media. (Mark Page/News Staff)

Told to get out: No-fault evictions ensnare renters in B.C.

B.C. tenants’ rights advocates calling for change as the province leads the country in evictions

  • Mar 28, 2024
No-fault evictions continue to plague B.C. renters. Several have shared their stories with Black Press Media. (Mark Page/News Staff)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a Canadian Renters’ Bill of Rights among measures to protect renters. (Screencap)

New bill of rights helping renters unveiled by Trudeau in B.C.

Wednesday’s announcement includes making rental payments count toward credit scores

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a Canadian Renters’ Bill of Rights among measures to protect renters. (Screencap)
Premier David Eby Tuesday, here seen announcing BC Builds, last month announced nearly 2,000 new rental units in Metro Vancouver to be built through 17 projects receiving funding through Community Housing Fund.

B.C. economist calls 2,000 new rental units in Metro Van a ‘good start’

But Marc Lee of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives questions scale, pace of building

Premier David Eby Tuesday, here seen announcing BC Builds, last month announced nearly 2,000 new rental units in Metro Vancouver to be built through 17 projects receiving funding through Community Housing Fund.