Homeowners, renters promised more security in B.C. throne speech

As the cost of living, health-care shortfalls and an eight-year toxic drug crisis continue to plague British Columbia, the provincial government delivered its speech from the throne on Tuesday afternoon, outlining its priorities for the year ahead.

The throne speech, read in the legislature by Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin, pledged more homes for first-time buyers and eviction protection for renters.

The speech marks the start of the spring legislative session and comes ahead of Thursday's provincial budget and an election expected in October.

"If we work together, this will be a place where everyone can build a good life, whether you live in a city, town, rural or First Nations community," said Austin.

Austin told the legislature that housing is a generational challenge in B.C. and the government will not tinker at the edges to fix the problem, continuing its goal to build thousands of affordable homes for middle-income earners.

The speech says the government will introduce actions this spring to protect renters from "bad-faith evictions," and help first-time buyers enter the housing market.

It says the government will also introduce legislation connected to the sextortion suicide of 12-year-old Carson Cleland of Prince George, and the similar death of 15-year-old Amanda Todd, to shed light on bullying, cyberbullying and online safety.

Austin said the new legislation will also include steps to "protect schools and kids from disruptive protests."

Premier David Eby said earlier that he expects the government to table about 20 pieces of new legislation and a budget that looks to help families facing the high cost of living.

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Speech comes ahead of fall election date

Affordability, child care, climate change and reconciliation are all top of mind for an NDP government looking to October, according to former B.C. NDP party president Moe Sihota.

"[The throne speech is] going to be more pointed than normal because this is an election year," he told TheEarly Edition guest host Gloria Macarenko on Monday.

In a Monday interview, Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon promised that, among other things, affordability will indeed factor into both the throne speech and the 2024 budget, the latter of which is to be presented in the legislature on Thursday.

"People are struggling with costs, global inflation," he said. "There's going to be measures around making sure that people can continue to afford the necessities in their life."

'Co-ordinated plan'

Home prices across Canada are expected to rise by 5.5 per cent by the end of 2024, according to a market survey forecast by Royal LePage. The province announced in September it would cap the allowable rent increase at 3.5 per cent for 2024 — up from two per cent the previous year.

B.C. Green Party house leader and Saanich North MLA Adam Olsen said the current affordable housing crisis has been decades in the making.

"I know that political parties are going to try to pin it on the current government, but it is the result of poor public policy over successive governments," he said.

He said the only way B.C. can dig its way out of the housing crisis is with a plan that incorporates health care, transportation and education, among other things.

"We can pretend like all of these issues are separate and take individual actions, but we actually have to see a co-ordinated plan."

Flipping tax

Kahlon said a long-awaited flipping tax will come forward during this next session, which was announced in April 2023 as part of the province's housing plan.

"We still hear consistently, [about] investors going in, buying properties, flipping them for large profits," he said. "That is not what we need."

When it was originally announced last year, Premier David Eby suggested that a flipping tax would discourage speculation.

"If you are holding a home right now that you intend to flip, if you are thinking about buying a home for the purposes of flipping it, the message today is that this tax is coming. It will cost you money," he said at the time.

"So stop engaging in that activity. Homes are for British Columbians to live in this province."

Budget to be released Thursday

Sihota and Olsen agree that costs associated with climate change must be worked into the budget this year, and the province faces a significant drought following years of devastating wildfires, extreme heat and flooding.

"The reality of climate change is upon us," Olsen said.

B.C. Conservative Party president Aisha Estey says affordability has to be the No. 1 priority for the 2024 budget.

"We need to give people a tax break. Life is too expensive," she said.

Dianne Watts, former Conservative MP, agrees.

At the same time, Watts said, the province needs to consider the amount of debt it's sitting with; as of Dec. 2023, the province's debt is an estimated $99.1 billion.

The Early Edition15:37Political Panel — What to expect from the throne speech and the provincial budget

<p>This week B.C.'s legislature is back in session, starting with the throne speech on Tuesday, and the release of the provincial budget on Thursday. The Early Edition's political panel weighs in.</p>