Vancouver, Delta among first group of municipalities selected for housing targets

VANCOUVER – The first cohort of municipalities for housing targets have been selected, paving the way for building more good homes in areas with the greatest need throughout British Columbia.
The Housing Supply Act gives the Province the authority to set housing targets in municipalities, starting with those with the greatest need and highest projected growth. The targets will encourage municipalities to address local barriers to construction so that housing can get built faster, including updating zoning bylaws and streamlining local development approval processes.
The selected municipalities are cities of Abbotsford, Delta, Kamloops, Port Moody, Vancouver, Victoria. Districts of North Vancouver, Oak Bay, Saanich and West Vancouver are also part of the group.
“While many communities throughout the province are facing significant housing needs, the Province has selected these municipalities using an objective and data-based process. An empirical index was developed, based on work with economists and experts in the field, to identify municipalities according to multiple dimensions of housing need. The index relies on measures that prioritize the urgency of local housing needs, the availability of the right housing supply, including land availability and unrealized potential for more homes, and housing affordability,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing.
Over the summer, the Province will consult with the selected municipalities and set the final housing targets. All communities will be encouraged to take the action needed to speed up local processes. Many already have.
Once targets are set, the Province will monitor progress and work with municipalities to help address any barriers. To support implementation, the Province will continue to help local governments speed up local approval processes through the continued implementation of the development approvals process review, as well as the Province’s work accelerating and streamlining provincial permitting across multiple ministries and developing a new digital permitting process.
“The housing challenges we see today aren’t just limited to one municipality, they impact our region and province as a whole. It’s great to see the provincial government taking an increased leadership role in ensuring the delivery of more housing across the province,” said Ken Sim, mayor, Vancouver. “In the last six months, Vancouver has made significant headway in breaking down long-standing barriers to housing approval and construction. We hope our progress can inspire other communities across British Columbia to take bold action on housing.”
A second group of eight to 10 municipalities will be selected and notified in late 2023.
“The Housing Supply Act recognizes that municipalities may make land-use decisions based not just on maintaining local built character or amenity, but also in the broader provincial interest of allowing households to choose the location and type of housing that serves them best. In determining which municipalities would benefit from additional help in making land-use decisions, I was pleased to see that the Province was receptive to feedback from professionals in the field of housing and implemented a screening mechanism that was based on objective and, I believe, reasonable standards,” said Neil Moody, CEO, Canadian Home Builders’ Association of BC.