To ensure Kamloops has a voice in the provincial election conversation, The Wren surveyed readers to identify their top questions and concerns for candidates in the lead-up to the Oct. 19 election.
The Wren took the most frequently asked questions on the survey and sent them to all of the candidates for written response. When asked what issue they wanted candidates to address, 51 per cent of survey respondents identified housing and affordability, making it the third most important issue behind homelessness/social supports and health care.
The Wren requested responses from all candidates for the Kamloops Centre and Kamloops North-Thompson riding but as of Oct. 10, two candidates did not respond. We will update the story if responses are provided. To request that additional information be included, send us an email.
These responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity. Additional link and fact checking is provided in brackets.
What are the parties saying about housing and affordability?
The Conservative Party of BC’s housing strategy focuses on building more homes and speeding up rezoning and building permits. On Oct. 15 the party released its costed plan which touts a rent and mortgage rebate beginning in 2026. Initially amounting to about $265 in annual savings for the average income earner, the party states it will eventually save renters and owners up to $1,800 per year. The party also plans on enacting “presumption of compliance” laws in the interest of speeding up the work of engineers and architects.
The BC NDP’s Opening Doors to Home Ownership plan intends on allocating $1.29 billion to finance the development of homes for middle income households by partnering with non-profit and private builders. The party’s platform also encourages municipalities to build more non-market rental housing by allowing additional height and cutting red tape along with waiving provincial property taxes for purpose-built rentals. The party also has plans to expand its speculation tax and crack down on home flipping.
The BC Greens platform includes providing $1.5 billion annually to construct 26,000 non-market housing units, 3,000 of which will be designated for Indigenous Peoples. The platform also includes preventing landlords from “dramatically increasing” rents after a tenancy ends by implementing vacancy control, and increasing funding for the Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters and the Rental Assistance Program. The party also plans to address the commodification of housing, and look into implementing a tax on Real Estate Investment Trusts.
Q. What will you/your party do to improve housing availability and affordability?
Tristan Cavers, BC Green Party (Kamloops – North Thompson): B.C. needs more non-market housing, this housing can happen as co-op housing or by service groups. The BC Greens would also bring in vacancy controls and tackle Real Estate Investments Trusts (REIT). These REITs exist to extract the maximum profit from renting British Columbians, most of this profit leaves the province.
Maddi Genn, BC NDP (Kamloops – North Thompson): Everyone deserves accessible housing and so far we have made major strides like the average rent decrease. It just goes to show that what we’re doing is working, but we need to keep moving forward. Together, David Eby and I will work hard to continue these successes by using public land to build more middle-class housing, making changes so it’s easier to build and rent out secondary/basement suites and continue to protect the affordable rentals we do have by capping rents.
Ward Stamer, Conservative Party of BC (Kamloops – North Thompson): No response.
Kamal Grewal, BC NDP (Kamloops Centre): Delivering affordable homes in great neighbourhoods. We’re breaking down the barriers that stand in the way of opening up, building more housing, and creating a more affordable path to home ownership. Our Housing Action Plan is “the boldest in Canada” (Globe & Mail editorial) that will create 300,000 additional middle-class homes. John Rustad said he will (end the speculation tax and reverse NDP housing policies) – which will help those at the top, not you.
Peter Milobar, Conservative Party of BC (Kamloops Centre): No response.
Randy Sunderman, BC Green Party (Kamloops Centre): There are several moving pieces to this conversation, like (our goal to) limit the rental rates increases between tenants using vacancy control. Vacancy control is a form of rent control that limits how much a landlord can increase the rent when one tenant moves out and another moves in.
We will build 26,000 new units of non-market rental housing annually (to ensure) housing remains protected from market forces and create long-term affordable rents for British Columbians. We will provide housing cooperatives with access to grants, forgivable loans and guarantees. In Kamloops, we have organizations such as Propolis showing real leadership on this front. True partnership with the province would support in moving the concepts and ideas of these community-oriented non-profits forward much quicker. For me personally, it is also important how the province interacts with municipalities and First Nations communities on housing development and must include community building as a central theme.
There are many issues surrounding infrastructure costs and community sources. At this year’s Union of BC Municipalities conference, there has been a call for infrastructure funding. We need to go beyond this and look at how we provide a reliable stream of funding that supports municipalities on an on-going basis to begin achieving our community priority infrastructure needs.
Q. How will your party support families and individuals to escape poverty?
Tristan Cavers, BC Green Party (Kamloops – North Thompson): The Green Party would raise the rate for British Columbians in poverty and those on disabilities. All current social assistance would nearly double, disability assistance would increase by a third.
Maddi Genn, BC NDP (Kamloops – North Thompson): There are too many families that are struggling with the cost of living these days and there are so many things that we can do to help families not just get by, but thrive. Since coming into government, David Eby has worked hard to make life more affordable. We decreased ICBC rates by $500, more than doubled the BC Family benefit and reduced childcare costs a significant amount, allowing the possibility for many families to begin a two- income household. I will fight hard to keep us moving forward so families right here in Kamloops-North Thompson can benefit even more.
Ward Stamer, Conservative Party of BC (Kamloops – North Thompson): No response.
Kamal Grewal, BC NDP (Kamloops Centre): Defending your household budget – with $500 savings on car insurance, thousands per year in child care fee reductions and no MSP fees, while protecting the public services your family counts on. John Rustad has a record of increased fees and costs for everything from health care, housing, childcare, hydro and transit. He did it before, and he’ll do it again.
Peter Milobar, Conservative Party of BC (Kamloops Centre): No response.
Randy Sunderman, BC Green Party (Kamloops Centre): Children are a key consideration when we talk about poverty in our communities, and we want to see no child in school hungry. To combat hunger among school age children we are introducing the Universal School Food Program. We will build on the federal government and BC NDPs limited investment, by working with partners to establish a long-term universal school food program. It ensures equal access, high nutritional standards, strong collaboration between schools and local communities.
Free transit would work to decrease the transit transportation costs of individuals and families.
Building non-market rental housing is the quickest way to lift families and individuals out of poverty. BC Greens fundamentally believe that housing is a human right and not a commodity. By establishing caps on rental increases on vacant units, we will be saving escalating rents when they move.
In addition, we will continue to advocate for better support for those living with disabilities and low-income seniors. BC Greens have been calling for better rates for those living with disabilities. With nearly a quarter of people with disabilities living in poverty in British Columbia, the B.C. Green Caucus called on the government to raise the shamefully low disability rates to above the poverty line while waiting for federal funding. Annual persons with disability rates for single persons in B.C. are roughly $16,300. The poverty rate for Canada is approximately $26,000 for a single person. In the 2023 budget, a $125 increase in the disability shelter rate was announced – the first increase since 2007. The rate increased from $375 to $500 in July 2023. The average rent price in British Columbia is $2,471. The BC Greens want to see the disability shelter rate increased further.
On April 9, 2024, the government announced new measures to support seniors and to enhance the Shelter Aid For Elderly Renters (SAFER) program – a one-time $430 benefit to the roughly 20,000 seniors in its support program for elderly low-income renters. Other changes will include the possible annual review and amendment of rent ceilings, which are used to determine how much rental assistance a senior receives. While a good first step, the $4,000 hike in the income threshold to $37,240 falls short of addressing the pressing needs of seniors while the cost of living continues to rise. The BC Greens have advocated for a threshold of $45,000 for individuals and $50,000 for couples, significantly higher than today’s increase.
Further reading:
How do British Columbia’s three main parties compare on these election issues? (CBC News)
Go straight to the source — here are links to the party platforms:
- Conservative Party of BC (party platform)
- BC Green Party (party platform)
- BC New Democratic Party (party platform)
- BC United (campaign currently suspended)
How do I vote?
Voting day is Saturday, Oct. 19, with advance polls Oct. 10 through 16. Visit The Wren’s voting guide for more information on where to go and what to bring.
Editor’s Note Oct. 15, 2024: The story was updated to include the Conservative Party’s costed plan and platform as it became available.
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