As the federal government considers a new national housing strategy, Burnaby’s local politicians are keen to have a say on the matter.
On Monday, city council weighed in on the national housing strategy by approving 15 recommendations the city wants the federal government to consider.
Among some of the recommendations, the city is calling on the government to dedicate $12.6 billion of the Social Infrastructure Fund for the renewal of social housing, provide adequate funding for the construction of new non-market rental housing units to meet existing and future needs and restore federal tax incentives for secured affordable market rental housing, including purpose-built rental buildings and accessory dwelling units.
The deadline to submit input on the housing strategy is Oct. 21 (today).
City council praised the federal government’s move to create a national housing strategy, but from a city that has dealt with housing issues first hand in the last few years, the politicians are eager for details and the work to start.
“We certainly are in a desperate situation,” Mayor Derek Corrigan said. “I think everyone knows that now and it’s too bad that often you have to reach a point of desperation for the provincial and federal governments to begin to act. At least they are beginning to act.”
He also said he’s hoping to see an increase in units on the ground and the money put into organizations like the Metro Vancouver Housing Corporation, which he suggested would be best to deliver housing across the region.
Coun. Colleen Jordan noted the recommendation to fund for the construction of new non-market rental housing units, adding some 55,000 rental units are needed in the region within the next 10 years.
She said there has to be an impetus to building market rental housing like what was done in the 1960s and ’70s, but made the point the units built need to be “secured” or kept as rental units forever.
Jordan also pointed out the city has been calling for a national housing strategy for years.
“I think it’s really important that it’s looked at from all the broad issues around housing in the country,” she said. “I’m quite happy to see this come forward.”
Some of the other recommendations from the city include ensuring supports for those with barriers such as mental health issues, addiction, and physical disabilities and providing permanent social housing for those with very low incomes.
To view the full recommendations from the city, go to www.burnaby.ca.
