Last week, The Discourse shared Comox Valley provincial election candidates’ answers to health-care-related questions that came directly from readers through our election survey.
This week, we are sharing candidate responses to questions about housing.
Between Sept. 6 and Sept. 24, 2024, Comox Valley community members identified the top issues they are concerned about this election cycle. Of the Comox Valley responses, 70 per cent want to know what candidates are doing about homelessness and 66 per cent want to know the candidates’ plans to address the housing crisis.
What are the parties saying?
The Conservative Party of BC’s housing strategy focuses on building more homes and speeding up rezoning and building permits. John Rustad is touting a $1,500 rebate beginning in 2026 for renters and owners. The party also plans on enacting Presumption of Ccompliance laws in the interest of speeding up the work of engineers and architects. The laws, the party says, will make sure that municipal and provincial regulators “must presume that B.C.’s professionals can perform and peer-review their work in accordance with the rules.”
The BC NDP is allocating $1.29 billion to finance up to 40 per cent of home purchases for middle income households, CBC News reports, and the party’s platform includes encouraging municipalities to build more market rental housing, along with waiving property taxes for purpose-built rentals. The party also has plans to expand its speculation tax, crack down on home flipping and focus on priority builds for lower-income housing and rental construction.
The BC Greens platform includes providing $1.5 billion annually to construct 26,000 non-market housing units, 3,000 of which designated for Indigenous Peoples. The platform also includes preventing landlords from “dramatically increasing” rents after a tenancy ends, 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.
Here are the questions we asked:
Candidate responses have been lightly edited for grammar.
Note: Candidates Adam Hayduck Conservative Party of BC (Mid Island-Pacific Rim), John Hedican, Independent (Courtenay-Comox) and Ross Reid, Green Party of BC (Mid Island-Pacific Rim) did not respond to questions by publication date. The story will be adjusted accordingly if their responses come in.
Hayduk said in a Times Colonist article from Oct. 5, 2024 that the cost of housing is one of the biggest issues facing his community, and added that it is important to build more homes.
Hedican is running on a platform of a government regulated drug supply after losing his son and nephew to the toxic drug crisis. His website states that he is calling for a legal, government regulated drug system and that the revenues from legalization could go into supports, which include housing.
Reid has stated in a Times Colonist article that the housing crisis is one of the biggest issues currently facing his community. “Our coastal communities have seen unprecedented growth in the past four years, and currently struggle with an ongoing housing crisis, environmentally & culturally ethical development, and sustainable tourism.”
How are you going to make housing affordable for young people or those struggling to access it?
Click the arrows to read the candidate’s answers.
Mid Island-Pacific Rim
Josie Osborne, BC NDP, Incumbent
“People need secure affordable housing to build a good life. Through my work leading affordable development in Tofino, I’ve seen first hand the huge impact a good home has for people and families. I’m proud to be part of a provincial government taking unprecedented action in housing by taking on speculators, regulating short-term rentals, capping rent increases, establishing a rental protection fund to protect affordable rentals and building thousands of new homes across the province. We won’t stop tackling this crisis from all angles, including helping more first-time buyers into the market, streamlining the development of modular homes and more.”
Courtenay-Comox
Brennan Day, Conservative Party of BC (Courtenay-Comox)
“Conservatives will focus on making housing more affordable by streamlining development approvals, reducing regulatory barriers and ensuring developers deliver affordable units. We also support innovative housing solutions like secondary suites and laneway homes to create a broader mix of housing options. Additionally, the Conservative Party of BC plans to offer a $3,000 monthly provincial tax deduction for renters and homeowners, which will help ease the burden of rising shelter costs.”
Arzeena Hamir Green Party of BC (Courtenay-Comox)
“We’re committed to building 26,000 units of affordable rental housing annually and expanding rent controls and tenant protections. We will also implement a progressive property tax system to discourage speculation and vacant homes, offer incentives for purpose-built rental housing and increase funding for co-op and non-profit housing developments. These steps will create stability and long-term affordable options for families and renters.”
Devin Howell, Independent (Courtenay-Comox)
“We need to approach housing like we do commodities: when supply is low, prices rise. This applies to housing as well. I propose offering low-interest loans to families to add rental suites to their homes, providing a mortgage helper. By increasing the number of rental units, we can boost housing inventory in many areas. More available housing will help stabilize or lower rents, making it more affordable for tenants. This approach supports both homeowners and renters, addressing the housing crisis by tackling the supply issue directly and providing financial relief for families.”
Ronna-Rae Leonard, BC NDP, Incumbent (Courtenay-Comox)
“We have a number of new programs that will be available: Reduce the up-front costs of buying a home for first time buyers. With our plan, buyers pay only 60 per cent of the unit’s price initially. The remaining 40 per cent is due only when they sell — or after 25 years — and the equity in the house has grown.
Homes are for people, not for turning artificially inflated profits. That’s why we are expanding our speculation tax and clamping down on home flipping which leaves potential homebuyers out in the cold. Both of these actions would be cancelled by John Rustad.
We will never sell public land that is suitable for attainable housing to be built on.
Encourage municipalities to get more market rental housing built with an infrastructure fund tied to housing starts — waiving provincial property taxes for new purpose-built housing projects.”
Can you tell me a bit about your thoughts on supportive housing?
Mid Island-Pacific Rim
Josie Osborne BC NDP, incumbent
“High quality supportive housing plays a critical role in healthy communities, providing safe secure housing with on-site supports for single adults, seniors and people with disabilities at risk [of] or experiencing homelessness. Today, thousands more people in B.C. have a supportive home because of the action our BC NDP government has taken, with almost 6,000 new supportive homes opened since 2017 and a further 2,700 in development. Still, more are needed, and I will continue to work in collaboration with communities, like Port Alberni in my riding, to ensure the right housing is there for people where and when they need it.”
Courtenay-Comox
Brennan Day, Conservative Party of BC
“We believe supportive housing should provide stability for individuals with physical and mental health challengers. Public and nonprofit partnerships are essential, as seen with the We Can Shelter Society’s efforts to build affordable housing without government support. These partnerships offer a fiscally responsible way to address critical housing needs.”
Arzeena Hamir Green Party of BC (Courtenay-Comox)
“Supportive housing is essential for those facing complex needs. We’ll increase provincial funding for supportive housing units and partner with nonprofits to provide wraparound services like mental health care and addiction support. We also advocate for ‘housing first’ models that prioritize stable housing as the foundation for recovery and improved well-being. One model that we are missing here in the Comox Valley is the Tiny Home Village model, first trialed in Duncan. This is an extremely successful, cost-effective model of supportive housing that needs to be established here.”
Devin Howell, Independent I fully support the need for more supportive housing. However, we must also address the root of the problem: mental health. How can we help people with mental health challenges if we can’t even get them off the streets? The solution needs to be comprehensive. We need more supportive housing combined with accessible mental health services, including outreach programs that engage people where they are. By providing housing with integrated mental health support, we can create a pathway to stability for those struggling, helping them not only find shelter but also access the care they need to rebuild their lives.”
Ronna-Rae Leonard, BC NDP, Incumbent
“In the Comox Valley:
We have invested $150 million in diverse affordable housing in the last seven years.
We have invested $57.5 million in the opening of Providence Living at The Views, the first publicly funded dementia village in Canada.
We have secured 88 housing units for women and children as well as gender diverse people fleeing violence.
The Junction — rapid response modular supportive housing.
The provincial purchase of the Super 8 Hotel providing 67 units with on-site support.
Provincially, complex care and secure care response to meet the challenges we face with increasing mental health and addiction complexities. As these challenges grow, we are adapting to provide the services needed.”
What about unhoused people? What is the best way to support those with complex mental health or addiction issues?
Mid Island-Pacific Rim
Josie Osborne, Incumbent
“Supportive housing isn’t always able to meet the needs of some members of our community, whose complex mental health, addictions and acquired brain injury issues require a higher level of care. That’s why the BC NDP government developed complex care housing to provide a higher level of care for people living with concurrent disorders. With more than 400 complex care beds now open across B.C., a BC NDP government will develop hundreds more while also continuing to build appropriate housing with supports, improving the shelter system and investing billions to build up a comprehensive mental health and addictions system to support both housed and unhoused people.”
Courtenay-Comox
Brennan Day, Conservative Party of BC
“Supporting unhoused people, particularly those facing mental health and addiction challenges, requires a compassionate approach that includes better access to mental health care and services. The BC Conservatives support improving mental health care options and working towards safer, healthier communities by addressing the root causes of homelessness and public disorder.”
Arzeena Hamir Green Party of BC
“We need to expand access to mental health and addiction treatment programs, along with harm reduction services and safe consumption sites. By increasing funding for traditional housing with integrated support services, we can offer a stable environment that allows people to get the care they need while addressing the root causes of homelessness.”
Devin Howell, Independent
“The best program I’ve seen so far is the WeCan Shelter program, a charity that builds housing for the unhoused without relying on taxpayer money. It’s a practical solution that delivers real results. Honestly, I wouldn’t be upset if we redirected funds from bureaucratic programs to support initiatives like WeCan. Instead of wasting money on administrative overhead, we could invest in organizations that are actually making a difference on the ground. We need more of these efficient, community-driven solutions that focus on getting people housed quickly, rather than bogging things down in red tape and bureaucracy.”
Ronna-Rae Leonard, BC NDP, Incumbent
“We all know this is a complicated issue that is impacting every community at some level in Canada. As we consult with societal experts, communities and first responders we have and continue to learn what practices and policies will most benefit those who are living without a home, have mental health issues or an addiction.
We have bought land for a permanent safe shelter and supportive housing for about 100 people plus room for more rental housing in the future;
There are tools available for us under the Mental Health Act that we can use, but the most beneficial response from our community is to assist getting these people a home and treatment programs. We must remove the stigma society has created and ensure that supportive housing is available to them.”
