Close X
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
ADVT 
National

B.C. tables legislation to encourage communities to build homes near transit hubs

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 08 Nov, 2023 05:08 PM
  • B.C. tables legislation to encourage communities to build homes near transit hubs

The British Columbia government has introduced legislation it estimates could provide up to 100,000 new homes near designated transit areas over the next decade.

The government says the proposed legislation is aimed at encouraging communities to build housing in areas designated as transit hubs.

The legislation is among a series of housing-related bills introduced this fall by the New Democrat government to tackle what has become a crisis in both affordability and lack of housing. 

Premier David Eby says the government is taking an all-hands-on-deck approach to address the problem, including recently introducing bills aimed at limiting short-term rentals and requiring local governments to allow multi-unit buildings on lots typically used for detached homes.

Eby says outdated municipal zoning rules discourage development of multi-unit buildings on city lots, while the expansion of short-term accommodations cuts back on the long-term rental stock.

The New Democrat government also tabled proposed legislation to help local governments and housing developers establish which amenities — such as parks and daycares — can be expected to be part of new developments.

Opposition BC United Leader Kevin Falcon says the government's legislation appears rushed and desperate, and he compared the plan to "throwing spaghetti at the wall and hoping something sticks."

MORE National ARTICLES

'Extremely fluid': Liberals and NDP haven't yet agreed on promised pharmacare bill

'Extremely fluid': Liberals and NDP haven't yet agreed on promised pharmacare bill
The federal New Democrats have rejected the first draft of the Liberals' pharmacare legislation, in what the health minister describes as "extremely fluid" negotiations over the highly anticipated bill. The Liberals promised to table pharmacare legislation this fall as part of the supply-and-confidence deal the government struck with the NDP.

'Extremely fluid': Liberals and NDP haven't yet agreed on promised pharmacare bill

Victoria police looking for suspects in possible arson

Victoria police looking for suspects in possible arson
Police in Victoria say they're looking for two women who may have seen the suspect or suspects in a possible arson over the weekend. They say officers responded Saturday evening to reports of two fires inside a retail store, where staff used fire extinguishers to douse the initial flames.

Victoria police looking for suspects in possible arson

Man rams SUV into police cruiser

Man rams SUV into police cruiser
B-C's police watchdog has found a man who rammed his S-U-V into a police cruiser outside a Vancouver Island R-C-M-P detachment last spring was not seriously injured when he was hit by a single police bullet. One officer was also injured in the incident last May.

Man rams SUV into police cruiser

Champagne to announce initial commitments from grocers to stabilize prices today

Champagne to announce initial commitments from grocers to stabilize prices today
Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne says he is ready to announce the initial commitments he has secured from grocers to stabilize food prices. The Liberal government called on Canada's major grocers last month to present a plan to stabilize prices by Thanksgiving, or face consequences.  

Champagne to announce initial commitments from grocers to stabilize prices today

Competition intensity has decreased over last two decades, Competition Bureau finds

Competition intensity has decreased over last two decades, Competition Bureau finds
Competition Bureau commissioner Matthew Boswell says new research from the bureau finds the competition intensity in the country has decreased over the last two decades. Boswell shared the initial findings of a new report during a speech he delivered Thursday at the Competition Summit, a conference hosted by the bureau.

Competition intensity has decreased over last two decades, Competition Bureau finds

Trudeau says he never suggested those worried about 'parental rights' are hateful

Trudeau says he never suggested those worried about 'parental rights' are hateful
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday he never suggested that individuals concerned about their rights as parents were hateful when he issued a statement in response to the thousands who attended recent protests about "gender ideology" in schools.  

Trudeau says he never suggested those worried about 'parental rights' are hateful