Housing starts continue to rise locally, however demand for affordable housing is far exceeding supply. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

density and diversity

Election 2024: Mid-Island candidate’s priorities on addressing local housing crisis

Oct 15, 2024 | 12:27 PM

NANAIMO — NanaimoNewsNOW is continuing our local coverage of the 2024 provincial election, with a focus on four central Island ridings.

Our Election Centre is live, featuring the latest campaign news, candidate profiles, voter information and more.

As part of this coverage, we sent a survey to the 13 candidates running in the Nanaimo-Gabriola, Nanaimo-Lantzville, Ladysmith-Oceanside and Mid-Island Pacific Rim ridings, to gauge their thoughts on priority topics in the area.

Our four-part series leading up to general voting day on Oct. 19 continues, with candidate thoughts on housing issues unique to their ridings, and how they would campaign for better housing conditions and availability for people on the central Island.

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Question: The need for additional housing stock in the region is widely recognized, with various approaches proposed or underway to build more homes, faster, which in turn should reduce costs for renters and home buyers. What specific housing needs have you identified in the riding, and how would you address those needs as the riding’s MLA?

BC Green Party candidate Shirley Lambrecht said she is committed to investing in “below-market, non-market, social and co-op housing” to address the local housing crisis.

“We do not live in a “one-size-fits-all world.” I will work with the City of Nanaimo and the Regional District to develop and fund zoning and infrastructure to increase density while also offering options for tiny, smaller stand-alone units or alternative housing.”

She added using publicly owned land would result in reduced overall costs.

Lambrecht also said investment is needed in “next-generation green construction techniques and technologies” and she would advocate for additional higher education opportunities to educate new and upgrade existing tradespeople.

More on Lambrecht is available here.

Sheila Malcolmson of the BC NDP touted NDP investment in local affordable housing. saying the party had helped spearhead over 1,200 affordable housing units in Nanaimo, with multiple active agreements with BC Housing.

She admitted however “you would never know it”, indicating more needs to happen, including continued action on real estate speculators and “breaking down barriers to construction.”

“We have worked to eliminate local government regulations that cause housing shortage by blocking small unit developments like townhouses, duplexes, and triplexes. Experts say this is kickstarting construction of thousands of homes.”

Malcolmson also said the NDP have made it easier in recent years to build and rent out secondary suites on existing properties.

More on Malcolmson is available here.

BC Conservative candidate Dale Parker identified a need for affordable housing on Gabriola Island, as well as in Nanaimo.

“People live in RVs, and seniors (some living in their cars) and many others can not find affordable housing.”

Parker pointed to the Conservative Party’s plan which looks to streamline the approval process and deliver tax cuts on housing-related costs.

More on Parker is available here.

Question: The need for additional housing stock in the region is widely recognized, with various approaches proposed or underway to build more homes, faster, which in turn should reduce costs for renters and home buyers. What specific housing needs have you identified in the riding, and how would you address those needs as the riding’s MLA?

George Anderson of the BC NDP pointed to the NDP’s track record of building housing units in Nanaimo, including over 500 dedicated to seniors.

He said NDP plans focus around reducing barriers for construction and ensuring the workforce is supplied with enough people to build at the level needed.

“Our plan focuses on cutting through the red tape and investing in training for construction workers and other trades so that this new housing can be built quickly.”

Anderson added the NDP’s housing plan and rental protection funds are helping to create a substantial amount of middle-class homes and protect rental properties in the community.

More on Anderson is available here.

BC Conservative Party candidate Gwen O’Mahony pointed to the BC Conservative’s “Rustad Rebate” campaign promise, which she said would be “the largest tax cut for renters and homeowners in BC history”.

“The Rustad Rebate will bring significant relief to BC renters and those with mortgages, providing up to $3,000 a month in reduced housing costs.”

More on O’Mahony is available here.

Lia Versaevel of the BC Green Party said infrastructure has not kept up with the sheer volume of people looking to live, work and play in the riding, which shares contrasting visions of housing ranging from densification to large, open “dark-skies” lots.

Versaevel said single-family homes are expensive to build, especially with a need to import a considerable amount of materials from off Vancouver Island.

“Building codes must be brought up to date to take into consideration the number of parking places, for example, that are required in multi-family dwellings and commercial spaces. Transit corridors and an eventual restoration of passenger rail may mitigate the need for everyone to have a vehicle.”

She added investment in trades education is also essential, to address a shortage in electricians, welders, plumbers and solar installers.

More on Versaevel is available here.

Question: The need for additional housing stock in the region is widely recognized, with various approaches proposed or underway to build more homes, faster, which in turn should reduce costs for renters and home buyers. What specific housing needs have you identified in the riding, and how would you address those needs as the riding’s MLA?

Stephanie Higginson from the BC NDP said affordable housing is “one of the top issues I hear about” when canvassing in the riding, noting more is needed in a very short space of time.

“We need more purpose-built rentals, more multi-unit developments like townhouses, duplexes and triplexes, and we especially need more affordable housing for seniors.”

She said the NDP’s housing plan would create upwards of 300,000 more homes and would also eliminate regulations which “have prevented the construction of small multi-unit developments like townhouses, duplexes and triplexes”.

Higginson said the plan also aims to use public lands to construct more high-density housing and has provisions for secondary suites.

More on Higginson is available here.

Independent candidate Adam Walker said recent changes forced from the province, which were intended to positively affect affordability, haven’t had the desired impact.

He said he would push for “smart development” which “respects our community values while providing enough housing for everyone.”

“In Ladysmith, empty historical buildings could have their facades preserved while allowing for housing and other uses. Parksville and Qualicum Beach have downtown properties ideal for mixed-use development, with commercial on the ground floor and market rentals or condos above.”

Walker said additional resources must be put into creating stable housing for those experiencing homelessness, including facilities which provide on-site work opportunities.

More on Walker is available here.

BC Conservative candidate Brett Fee and BC Green Party candidate Laura Ferreira did not submit survey responses before a Tuesday, Oct. 8 deadline.

Question: The need for additional housing stock in the region is widely recognized, with various approaches proposed or underway to build more homes, faster, which in turn should reduce costs for renters and home buyers. What specific housing needs have you identified in the riding, and how would you address those needs as the riding’s MLA?

Adam Hayduk of the BC Conservatives said red tape and government restrictions are preventing housing projects from advancing at the speed they could be.

“We have a 120-unit housing project approved by the District of Ucluelet, including 48 rental apartments, and the builder reached out to me in frustration because he hasn’t been able to speak with our MLA in the last 2.5 years of trying.”

Hayduk said the same builder has had little to no communication from BC Housing since February 2024.

He said the BC Conservatives would cut red tape and reduce times needed for permits at all levels, to address a lack of housing in all areas, but particularly on the west coast of Vancouver Island.

More on Hayduk is available here.

BC NDP candidate Josie Osborne said her first-hand experience as Mayor of Tofino and chair of the Tofino Housing Corporation has helped her see the importance of building partnerships to get properties built fast.

She said the riding presents challenges with unique needs in different communities.

“Student housing in Bamfield, seniors housing on Denman Island and in Bowser, low to no barrier housing in Port Alberni, staff housing in Tofino and Ucluelet – and affordable housing for low and middle-income families everywhere.”

Osborne said actions taken by the NDP in recent years, including curbing real estate speculators, protecting rental buildings and regulating short-term rentals, have helped.

More on Osborne is available here.

BC Green Party candidate Ross Reid did not submit survey responses before a Tuesday, Oct. 8 deadline.

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by Alex Rawnsley