Housing

Auditor general Karen Hogan speaks during a news conference, Monday, February 12, 2024 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Auditor slams Canada’s First Nations housing and policing failures

Report finds poor management is leaving communities underserved and funds unspent

Auditor general Karen Hogan speaks during a news conference, Monday, February 12, 2024 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
The majority of British Columbians in a March 2024 Research Co. poll say they’re spending more on groceries now than in 2020. In this file photo, a customer shops in a grocery store in Wheeling, Ill., Friday, Jan. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Half of British Columbians finding it hard to ‘make ends meet,’ poll finds

Housing, groceries and transportation some of the spending areas residents are most concerned about

The majority of British Columbians in a March 2024 Research Co. poll say they’re spending more on groceries now than in 2020. In this file photo, a customer shops in a grocery store in Wheeling, Ill., Friday, Jan. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon, here seen in summer 2023, British Columbians can trust provincial safeguards as B.C. tries to reclaim affordable housing units from five investors. But the political opposition says they should have never been able to purchase those units. (Black Press Media file photo)

Legal dispute casting doubt over B.C. affordable housing program

Case involving 5 investors shows safeguards in place, housing minister says, opposition disagrees

Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon, here seen in summer 2023, British Columbians can trust provincial safeguards as B.C. tries to reclaim affordable housing units from five investors. But the political opposition says they should have never been able to purchase those units. (Black Press Media file photo)
Townhouses under construction in Maple Ridge. (Neil Corbett/The News)

Maple Ridge misses out on new federal housing funds

Mayor disappointed city not approved for Housing Accelerator Fund

Townhouses under construction in Maple Ridge. (Neil Corbett/The News)
Most of the half-million-plus in grant money from the provincial government in Chilliwack coffers will go toward updating the OCP. (City of Chilliwack)

$587K in Chilliwack coffers to update planning for more housing

Most of the provincial funding will go toward an OCP update in Chilliwack, years ahead of schedule

Most of the half-million-plus in grant money from the provincial government in Chilliwack coffers will go toward updating the OCP. (City of Chilliwack)
Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Sean Fraser speaks at a news conference in Ottawa on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle

Housing deals mean 750,000 homes in the next decade: Ottawa

Federal government says 179 housing agreement signed via $4B accelerator fund

Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Sean Fraser speaks at a news conference in Ottawa on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle
Cherry blossom trees line a residential street in Vancouver, on Tuesday, April 4, 2023.The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver says new listings were up in February as home sellers shed some of their hesitance and home sales also rose. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Listings up, sales follow, Greater Vancouver Realtors say

Despite rebound, sales still 23.3 per cent below 10-year seasonal average

Cherry blossom trees line a residential street in Vancouver, on Tuesday, April 4, 2023.The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver says new listings were up in February as home sellers shed some of their hesitance and home sales also rose. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Sonia Furstenau Thursday tabled legislation to prevent rents to go up when a unit becomes available. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)

BC Greens want rent hike limits tied to units, instead of renters

BC United accuses NDP of failing to support seniors by neglecting SAFER program

Sonia Furstenau Thursday tabled legislation to prevent rents to go up when a unit becomes available. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)
Tents and people are seen at a homeless encampment at Crab Park below the towers of the downtown skyline in Vancouver, on Sunday, August 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Vancouver’s unhoused could reach more than 4,700 people by 2030: report

Housing Minister Kahlon says improvements have been made, but acknowledges more work ahead

Tents and people are seen at a homeless encampment at Crab Park below the towers of the downtown skyline in Vancouver, on Sunday, August 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Premier David Eby, here seen with Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon Monday in Vancouver, says a new flipping tax will give a families a “leg up” in the search for housing. (Screencap)

‘Final warning’ given B.C. house flippers, Eby says new tax not about revenue

But BC United says new new flipping tax is ‘primarily a political announcement’

Premier David Eby, here seen with Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon Monday in Vancouver, says a new flipping tax will give a families a “leg up” in the search for housing. (Screencap)
Brendon Ogmundson, chief economist with the British Columbia Real Estate Association, broadly praises the housing policy of the NDP government to create more supply, but calls the flipping tax part of Budget 2024 “politically motivated” in questioning its effectiveness to curb speculation. (CANADIAN PRESS Jonathan Hayward)

Real estate economist says B.C.’s flipping tax might backfire

B.C. Real Estate Association: new tax won’t curb speculation, may give people disincentive to sell

Brendon Ogmundson, chief economist with the British Columbia Real Estate Association, broadly praises the housing policy of the NDP government to create more supply, but calls the flipping tax part of Budget 2024 “politically motivated” in questioning its effectiveness to curb speculation. (CANADIAN PRESS Jonathan Hayward)
B.C. is introducing a new measure that taxes home owners who resell their property within two years of purchase. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

B.C. Budget 2024: targets home flipping with new tax on fast resells

Measure will tax owners 20% if they flip a home within 1 year of purchase

B.C. is introducing a new measure that taxes home owners who resell their property within two years of purchase. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Notwithstanding its physical beauty, Metro Vancouver reports a lower quality of life than other parts of British Columbia, with the high cost of housing is one of the likely reasons, according to a new survey. Whereas 48 per cent of all British Columbians reported having a high life satisfaction, that number dropped to 45.1 per cent for residents of Vancouver Census Metropolitan Area (CMA). (Gerry Green/Twitter)

Pursuing happiness in B.C.? Stay away from Metro Vancouver

Statistics Canada says residents living outside of Metro Vancouver are happier, more optimistic

Notwithstanding its physical beauty, Metro Vancouver reports a lower quality of life than other parts of British Columbia, with the high cost of housing is one of the likely reasons, according to a new survey. Whereas 48 per cent of all British Columbians reported having a high life satisfaction, that number dropped to 45.1 per cent for residents of Vancouver Census Metropolitan Area (CMA). (Gerry Green/Twitter)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks at a housing announcement in Guelph, Ontario on Friday January 12, 2024. Trudeau is in Vancouver today, set to make a housing-related announcement alongside Premier David Eby and Mayor Ken Sim. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

UPDATE: B.C.’s middle-income housing program gets $2B from feds

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Premier David Eby made the announcement in Vancouver

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks at a housing announcement in Guelph, Ontario on Friday January 12, 2024. Trudeau is in Vancouver today, set to make a housing-related announcement alongside Premier David Eby and Mayor Ken Sim. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
BC United Leader Kevin Falcon unveiled four proposals Thursday to create more affordable housing. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

Rent-to-own program, tax cuts promised as BC United unveils housing platform

BC United Leader Kevin Falcon says measures market-friendly, and would help improve affordability

BC United Leader Kevin Falcon unveiled four proposals Thursday to create more affordable housing. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. says the annual pace of housing starts in January fell 10 per cent compared with December. Framers work on a new house under construction in Airdrie, Alta., Friday, Jan. 28, 2022.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Vancouver housing starts crater in January, new builds drop across Canada

New CMHC numbers say lack of multi-unit construction behind a 55% drop in Vancouver

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. says the annual pace of housing starts in January fell 10 per cent compared with December. Framers work on a new house under construction in Airdrie, Alta., Friday, Jan. 28, 2022.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
A panel of six B.C. mayors spoke on a panel about housing as the province’s population grows, at the Union of B.C. Municipalities Housing Summit in Vancouver on Feb. 13, 2024. Left to right: UBCM President Trish Mandewo, Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley, Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie, Langley City Mayor Nathan Pachal, Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog, Nelson Mayor Janice Morrison and Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto. (Jane Skrypnek/Black Press Media)

Housing the next 1 million residents: B.C. plan has gaps, mayors say

Municipal leaders question whether infrastructure, workforce can keep up with provincial mandates

A panel of six B.C. mayors spoke on a panel about housing as the province’s population grows, at the Union of B.C. Municipalities Housing Summit in Vancouver on Feb. 13, 2024. Left to right: UBCM President Trish Mandewo, Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley, Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie, Langley City Mayor Nathan Pachal, Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog, Nelson Mayor Janice Morrison and Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto. (Jane Skrypnek/Black Press Media)
Premier David Eby says the first purchase using the government’s Rental Protection Fund will save 290 affordable rental units in two housing co-ops that have expired leases and were facing the prospect of being sold out from under the residents. Eby listens to a question from a reporter during a news conference in Vancouver on Monday, Feb. 5, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns

B.C. rental protection fund used to save threatened rental housing co-ops

Province kicks in $71M toward $125M purchase preserving 290 units in Coquitlam

Premier David Eby says the first purchase using the government’s Rental Protection Fund will save 290 affordable rental units in two housing co-ops that have expired leases and were facing the prospect of being sold out from under the residents. Eby listens to a question from a reporter during a news conference in Vancouver on Monday, Feb. 5, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns
BC Green Leader Sonia Furstenau Tuesday called on government to take several steps to help renters. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)

B.C. Greens seek change to rental cap for landlords between renters

Furstenau’s party Tuesday calls on government to raise various support thresholds for renters

BC Green Leader Sonia Furstenau Tuesday called on government to take several steps to help renters. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland speaks at a news conference in Ottawa on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

$199M in federal cash coming to support low-income renters

$100M for emergency winter funding, $99M for the Canada Housing Benefit

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland speaks at a news conference in Ottawa on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld