British Columbia’s provincial parties are beginning to outline their priorities for housing ahead of the Oct. 24 provincial election, with promises ranging from new developer and vacancy taxes, to renter protections, to making homes more affordable. B.C.’s provincial parties are campaigning on a variety of housing promises, from increasing taxes on developers, to more protections for renters, to providing municipalities more autonomy. B.C. NDP Leader David Eby has been adamant his government’s work so far has helped bring down home prices faster than anywhere else in Canada, allowed rents to drop, and made 20,000 empty units available thanks to the speculation and vacancy tax. B.C. Conservatives criticize the NDP government’s relationship with municipalities and promise more on its housing plan. B.C. Greens prioritize affordable units and renter protections.
Will these housing promises help British Columbians afford homes? No, they remain campaign platforms without confirmed legislation or implementation timelines.