This week, VRBA provided several recommendations to assist housing affordability at the budget consultation of BC’s Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services.
Past recommendations included rezoning for small multis resulting in Bill 44 enabling more townhomes for young families. This year, our recommendations are:
- Provincial govt should establish reasonable DCCs based on industry housing analysis
It’s time the provincial govt replaced local governments to establish Development Cost Charges (DCCs). The CRD board recently bypassed the province’s DCC Best Practices Guide by rejecting a review of an industry study on new DCCs. The study reveals most new housing is not viable under current market conditions and the imposed DCCs will further delay market recovery.
- Create mandatory housing development education for new municipal councils
Following up on our first recommendation, new municipal councils should be required to attend an education seminar on housing development including rezoning, costs of construction, including DCCs, permit fees and new building code costs.
One of the challenges for builders is explaining the business model to elected officials. If councils expect amenities, green space and affordable housing, they must understand how this impacts housing prices. The costs of a project must be at a price-point purchasers can afford.
- Enable skilled trades electives for university students
A recent Labour Survey says youth unemployment is 13% – double the rate for Canada’s overall labour force.
Meanwhile, trades shortages grow as baby boomers retire. Studies predict 83,000 job openings in the trades by 2032.
We have vast numbers of students pursuing university degrees in the humanities and sciences and choosing electives. Many would enjoy practical electives in framing, welding, and other skills.
This offers a well-rounded education and provides employable skills during the summer and immediately after graduation. Construction represents good-paying jobs in every community across BC.
It’s time for a more flexible education system promoting the skilled trades, boosting youth employment, and accommodating our changing economy.
It is now up to the provincial government to address our recommendations to improve housing in BC.
This column appears Wednesdays in the Times Colonist.
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