Housing Q&A: Richard Lee, B.C. Liberals

The Burnaby NOW sent the following five questions on housing to each of the Burnaby candidates.

Candidates were asked to answer each question in 50 words or less. 

Here are the answers from Richard Lee, running for the B.C. Liberals in Burnaby North.

1. What city do you live in, and what neighbourhood in that city?

I lived in my grandfather’s house in Vancouver Chinatown Strathcona for eight years, shared a rental basement in Dunbar for seven years. Raised my family in our own home in Willingdon Heights for 13 years and moved to our current home in Sperling-Duthie for 18 years.

2. Do you rent or own your own home?

We own our own home.

3. If you own a home, when did you buy it? How has the current housing market situation impacted you?

We bought in 1986 in Burnaby after looking without success for a home close to UBC. We sold that home and bought the current one in 1999. Since my family owns one house the current housing market situation hasn’t impacted us as we have no plans to move.

4. If you rent, or have another housing arrangement, how has the current housing market situation impacted you?

I don’t rent now but if I rent I would look for the opportunity to own a condo close to where I work.

5. If there is one single policy that the next provincial government can enact to address a housing need, what would that policy be? Be specific.

The next government shall work with the cities/municipalities to increase housing and rental supply as well as speeding up the approval process for housing projects.