If handled correctly, British Columbia’s new Housing Supply Act can ease municipal roadblocks to adequate housing. In tandem with an increase in nonmarket housing, such legislation has the potential to help stave off the housing crisis.
Six months after the targets are set, Minister Kahlon says the province will evaluate progress and step in if municipalities are not demonstrating real progress. […] If needed, the provincial government may then begin approving important housing projects and revising zoning rules.
This is huge. A lot of the resistance to the necessary solutions come from NIMBYs who hold out-sized sway in municipal politics on account of the very low turnout in those elections. However, cities are ultimately entirely subject to the province so if you have a government willing to step in and make things happen, they can overrule a lot of that opposition.
This is huge. A lot of the resistance to the necessary solutions come from NIMBYs who hold out-sized sway in municipal politics on account of the very low turnout in those elections. However, cities are ultimately entirely subject to the province so if you have a government willing to step in and make things happen, they can overrule a lot of that opposition.