Housing Platform Announcements BC NDP: Election 2020

 

To see the BC NDP’s full election platform, click here. 

TAXATION

• A temporary 100% PST rebate on select machinery and equipment.
• A 15% refundable tax credit based on eligible new payroll for businesses.

 

RENTAL

• Rent freeze until the end of 2021, afterwards annual rent increases will be permanently limited to inflation.
• Income-tested renter’s rebate of $400/year for HH earning up to $80K/year and not receiving any other rental support.

 

PROCESS AND APPROVALS 

• Eliminate “outdated” parking minimums near transit.
• Develop a “single-window” provincial permitting process.
• Work with municipalities to streamline their development approval processes (DAPR).

 

INCREASING THE SUPPLY OF NEW HOMES

• Recommitment to 114K new affordable homes in 10 years.
• Continuation of Homes for BC Plan.
• Recommitment to Housing Hub funding program offering low interest loans for projects constructing homes for middle-income households. 

 

BELOW-MARKET AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING 

• Recommitment to 114K new affordable homes in 10 years.
• Expand the Housing Hub to partner with non-profit and co-op housing providers to acquire and preserve existing rental housing.
• Through the Housing Hub, explore new affordable home ownership models include rent-to-own and equity building programs.
• Recommitment to build 2,200 more supportive housing units through the 10-year Homes for BC Plan to address encampments.
• Provide new rent supplements for residents of supportive housing to support their transition to independent living.
• Recommitment to delivering 1,750 new homes both on and off reserve.
• Lobby the Federal government to provide urgent housing for Indigenous people.

 

STRATA INSURANCE 

• Further to the work of the BCFSA, if rates have not corrected by the end of 2021, develop a public strata insurance option, similar to Saskatchewan.

 

TRANSIT, TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE

• Increased connections within the TransLink network for people living in the Fraser Valley and the Sea-to-Sky region and expanded West Coast Express service.
• Widen the Highway 1 to ease congestion by 2026.
• Work with communities to complete the SkyTrain connection to Surrey and Langley and add new rail and rapid bus lines.
• Support planning and development for other projects include high-speed transit to the North Shore and expansion of the rail network in the Fraser Valley.
• Invest an addition 1% of annual GDP ($3bn) in new capital commitments including schools, hospitals, childcare spaces, roads, and transit. This includes Hwy. 1 widening.

 

ENVIRONMENT 

• Recommitment to and legislating of CleanBC and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
• Empower local governments to set their own carbon pollution performance standards for new buildings.
• Expand CleanBC and zero emissions vehicle program to industrial vehicles.
• Require realtors to provide energy efficiency information on listed homes to incent energy-saving upgrades
• Spur more energy-efficiency upgrades with programs and incentives for both residential and commercial buildings including the use of the PACE program.
• Continue to prioritize the use of mass timber in public sector construction.
• Develop and engineered wood and clean tech innovation cluster.
• Create a watershed security strategy to plan, manage and protect local watersheds for the public good and step up protection of fish habitat through their biodiversity strategy.
• Identify holes in existing emergency response procedures and resources, with the goal of updating and futureproofing our province-wide ability to respond to crises.

 

LABOUR

• Promote industrial and manufacturing in resource communities though a number of measures including offering training, which could assist with tall timber prefabrication.
• Develop employment standards targeted to precarious and gig economy workers.
• Create a government-backed collective benefit fund for independent contractors, the self-employed, and part-time workers – and expand access to a voluntary pooled-capital pension plan for workers who do not otherwise have coverage.
• Attaching Community Benefits Agreement (CBAs) to projects launched through the Recovery Investment Fund.
• Address skilled worker shortage through training programs, apprenticeships and support for re-certification for new immigrants.
• Restore the compulsory trades system and give more workers access to apprenticeships that develop their skills.
• Ensure every worker has the right to join a union and bargain for fair working conditions.

 

CHILDCARE

• Exceed the current target of 22,000 new childcare spaces by expanding the childcare capital program and modular strategy for childcare. When government builds a new school, housing complex or other projects the government will work to ensure childcare is included in their capital plans.
• Partnering with the federal government, we will expand the number of $10-a-day childcare spaces while enhancing our other affordability measures. 

 

MISCELLANEOUS

• A one-time $1,000 direct deposit to families whose household income is under $125,000 annually – with a sliding scale up to $175,000.
• A one-time $500 direct deposit to single people earning less than $62,000 annually – with a sliding scale up to $87,000.
• Recommitment to new Accessibility legislation.
• Strengthen local communities’ ability to respond to crises, including new community safety fund, local governments can apply for funding to help them tackle street disorder, cleanliness, and public safety.  This would include strengthening their ability to respond to challenges posed to businesses and neighbourhoods by increased visible homelessness as a result of the pandemic.
• Help BC restaurants and hospitality businesses through COVID-19 and beyond by making permanent several measures from the spring (patios, allowing restaurants sell beer).
• Partner with Indigenous peoples through evolving shared decision making.