New B.C. housing minister position draws mixed reaction

The B.C. government is making another move when it comes to the housing file.

Premier David Eby has announced the province will make it a standalone ministry for the first time, noting that up until now, the housing portfolio has usually been shared with another responsibility, like municipal affairs.

However, reviews are mixed on just how much of a difference this move will make, as a housing affordability crisis in the province continues.

Tsur Sommerville, a housing expert at UBC’s Sauder School of Business, says it’s not a panacea to have one minister devoted to housing. However, he points out it is an indication of priority.

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“Creating a standalone ministry does make a statement about importance. I mean, you’re moving housing from community and cities or sport and tourism. It’s historically been just a real afterthought, it’s just been sort of bounced around,” he told CityNews.

“It just feels to me like it allows for a clarity of mission and statement and operation that has potential to be valuable,” Sommerville continued, adding, “It’s one of those things that, in theory, doesn’t have to make a difference but it feels like it does make a difference.”

Housing now shares a ministry with Indigenous relations. Before that, it shared a ministry with municipal affairs.

Meanwhile, Liberal Leader Kevin Falcon sees it as nothing more than window dressing from the premier, who previously has had responsibility for housing.

“So do I feel any sense of comfort that he’s now going to do more bureaucratic reorganization to try and get different results? We’ve gotten terrible results in housing, that’s what we have to hold them accountable for,” Falcon said.

“It sounds to me like that means there’s going to be months worth of bureaucratic reorganization now to try and take a ministry that’s already in crisis.”

The opposition leader feels what’s needed is less red tape and more streamlining of development decision making.

Eby’s full new cabinet will be announced Dec. 7.