Premier John Horgan has issued the following statement in recognition of National Housing Day on Friday, Nov. 22, 2019:
“On National Housing Day, we acknowledge the positive impact that safe, affordable housing has on people’s lives.
“Our home is where our family is. Where our community is. Where we make plans for our future.
“For too long, British Columbians struggled to find housing they feel safe in and that they can afford. Our government is making different choices.
“We have made the largest investment in housing in B.C.'s history – $7 billion over 10 years. We are increasing supply, curbing speculative demand and tackling fraud and money laundering in the real estate market.
“In less than two years, we have more than 22,000 new homes completed or underway in communities throughout the province, including thousands of homes for low- and middle-income families. To support people experiencing homelessness, we have built over 2,000 units of supportive housing. And we are the first province in Canada to build housing on reserve, in partnership with First Nations.
“To make sure rental housing is fair and affordable for everyone, we have cut the annual allowable rent increase by 2% and are investing in the Residential Tenancy Branch to reduce wait times for tenancy disputes.
“And we’ve launched a public inquiry into money laundering in the B.C. real estate market, so we can keep our economy strong and working for people, not organized crime.
“We are making great progress, and there is much more to do. By working with our partners, we will keep delivering homes to people throughout B.C., so every person has a safe, affordable place to call home.”