The provincial government has established housing targets for a number of Vancouver Island municipalities in an effort to build more homes for people amid the Canada-wide housing crisis.
On Tuesday, April 23, the province announced an additional 20 priority municipalities across B.C. as part of the housing supply act that was introduced in 2023.
Among the B.C. municipalities identified as high priority, Central Saanich, Colwood, Esquimalt, North Saanich, Sidney, View Royal, Nanaimo and North Cowichan will receive housing targets for the next five years.
“We are addressing the housing crisis with our municipal partners so thousands more affordable homes can be built for people who need them,” said Minister of Housing Ravi Kahlon in a news release.
“Our goal for the next 20 communities is to build on the work they are already doing, while they continue to implement the recent provincial legislative changes.
This group includes communities that are doing well on housing and some that need to do more.”
The specific targets will be announced in the summer.
According to the province, they plan to help facilitate implementation of these new targets through a “range of resources and supports” such as the $1 billion growing communities funs, $10 million for a second intake of the local government development approvals program and $51 million in grant-based funding.
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