BC’s housing minister Ravi Kahlon says that a recent report by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation shows that the government can’t rely on the private market to address the housing crisis.
“Quite frankly, we’re 20 years behind when it comes to building affordable housing, because for almost 20 years, the government decided, hey, this is not our place, the private sector will solve it,” he said.
Kahlon says that he can’t say how much of that housing will be in Nanaimo but that it will be an ongoing commitment.
He rejected a call from Nanaimo City Councillor Hillary Eastmure to implement vacancy control, which would regulate the amount of rent landlords can charge on vacant units, saying it would disincentivize private investment.
Kahlon, who is also the government house leader, said that he’s looking at introducing a couple of new housing bills in the upcoming spring session of the legislature.
