Housing Summit highlights opportunities

Apr 6, 2023 | 3:28 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – Housing was the theme at a Union of BC Municipalities, as delegates from communities large and small across BC face the same issue: A demand for housing. Affordable housing.

City Councillor Cori Ramsay was a speaker at the event.

“One of the reoccurring themes was that there are challenges, but there are also opportunities for local government when it comes to housing. You know, how do we get the housing we need when it’s not necessarily under our jurisdiction? How do how are municipalities being good partners to private business and to the province when it comes to getting hitting our housing targets?”

During the Summit, the Province announced its Homes for People plan, which sets out four priorities: unlocking more homes faster; delivering more affordable homes; helping those with the greatest housing need; and creating a housing market for people rather than speculators.

“It hits on a lot of points that people are looking for solutions on. You know, a lot of the questions are what is the Province doing? And now we have this homes for people plan.”

This city is competing with 187 municipalities to lure developers to our community. But there’s some help on the way.

“We have the Housing Accelerator fund, which has just been announced by the feds, I think 20 days ago now, which is $4 billion to try and get net new 100,000 homes in Canada. So, you know, now we have this tool, but, you know, there are there are some barriers to accessing it.”

However, Ramsay says some of those barriers include the city having to have an action plan, apply for grants. Things that it challenging for a municipality with limited staffing.