Local NDP MLAs faced a lot of criticism around Burnaby’s demovictions this year.
During a tour of Metrotown this summer, Andrew Weaver, leader of the provincial Green Party, called out city council and its ties to the provincial NDP. He said the dominance of one party at city hall has led to what he dubbed “collective groupthink.”
“This is what happens when people get into power too long; they start to think about issues other than representing the people,” he said at the time, adding the NDP in opposition is not raising questions because they don’t want to criticize their own.
During a summer interview, Kathy Corrigan, retiring Burnaby-Deer Lake NDP MLA, wouldn’t discuss what the city is doing and referred the NOW to her husband, Mayor Derek Corrigan. She did, however, say the provincial and federal governments have done a “dismal job” building affordable and social housing over decades.
Meanwhile, Burnaby South NDP MP Kennedy Stewart said the demovictions were a result of a “failed federal housing policy.”
“I can’t say the mayor and council are the cause of this,” he said, adding that all three levels of government need to come together.
Anne Kang, the NDP candidate running for Corrigan’s seat, said it’s not the city’s jurisdiction to create social housing and reiterated Stewart’s comments about having federal, provincial and municipal politicians come up with a solution.
When asked about the demovictions issue, the leader of the provincial NDP said land use decisions in Burnaby are the city’s responsibility.
John Horgan suggested the Christy Clark Liberals have let down people in low-income situations by not building new sources of supply.
“We have a crisis in housing here. It’s not the making of the Burnaby council. It’s not the making of the Coquitlam council. It’s the making of the Liberal government,” he said.
