B.C. residents critical of government’s housing affordability response, poll finds

British Columbians are just as concerned about housing affordability and the cost of living at the end of 2023 as they were at the start of the year, according to a new Angus Reid poll.

This time last year, only 15 per cent of residents said the B.C. NDP was doing a good job on inflation, and 12 per cent thought it was doing well with housing affordability.

This December, those figures haven’t changed much.

B.C.’s Minister of Housing Ravi Kahlon tells CityNews he expects “more people will be happy” as more housing comes online.

“But right now, people are facing the squeeze, and I appreciate the challenges that they’re dealing with,” he said.

The B.C Legislature passed numerous housing bills aimed at tackling housing affordability during the Fall session, including limiting short-term rentals to principal residences, changing zoning rules to allow for more housing to be built, and designating the land near transit hubs as places to develop lots of housing.

“The challenge is, many people don’t have time to pay attention to everything that’s happening in the legislature,” Kahlon added.

“What they’re seeing is that they’re struggling with housing, and what we’re trying to do is ensure that not only are we building affordable housing, but we’re also reforming the system of how housing gets approved.”

Jon Roe, a research associate with the Angus Reid Institute says B.C. residents are seeing that new housing legislation has not yet helped affordability, leaving them feeling skeptical.

“[There’s] kind of a split between people who believe changing the zoning rules, removing the single-family zoning rules, will be effective or not,” Roe said.

“The minimum building heights and density near transit – there’s a split between people thinking that will be effective or not – so there does seem to be some doubt from people in B.C. that some of these new policies will address this issue of housing affordability.”

When the government’s efforts will come to bear remains to be seen – and next Fall, when British Columbians head to the polls on Oct. 19, voters will decide if the government’s actions on these issues have been enough.