BC Political Discussion: Election 2020 and Beyond

[CanSpice]

Originally Posted by fredinno

Not sure why they're targeting Abbotsford here.
They've been fairly pro-development.

Mission is far stupider in terms of its policies (and in general- see the Silverdale disaster), though part of that is trying to redevelop the industrial waterfront during an industrial lands crisis.

New Westminster too, though that's not in the Valley.

What about New Westminster? Are you saying they're developing industrial waterfront land?

[fredinno]

Originally Posted by CanSpice

What about New Westminster? Are you saying they're developing industrial waterfront land?

I'd rather they kept Queensbrough as industrial, but it's a bit late for that.

No, it's more that New West is really slow in actually getting anything built compared to the other municipalities.
Not Port Moody levels of bad, but still.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by fredinno

I'd rather they kept Queensbrough as industrial, but it's a bit late for that.

No, it's more that New West is really slow in actually getting anything built compared to the other municipalities.
Not Port Moody levels of bad, but still.

That's a weird (and inaccurate) take on New Westminster. They've doubled their population over 35 years, and have the second highest population density in the region (after the City of Vancouver).

They have four times the population density of Port Moody, and added 8,000 people in the last census period (while Port Moody had 16 fewer residents). New Westminster has nearly double the population density of Langley City, and over ten times denser than Langley Township, for example.

[CanSpice]

Originally Posted by fredinno

I'd rather they kept Queensbrough as industrial, but it's a bit late for that.

No, it's more that New West is really slow in actually getting anything built compared to the other municipalities.
Not Port Moody levels of bad, but still.

Do you have stats on this? Because everything I've seen suggests New Westminster is punching above its weight when you look at per capita stats.

[mcj]

Originally Posted by fredinno

I'd rather they kept Queensbrough as industrial, but it's a bit late for that.

No, it's more that New West is really slow in actually getting anything built compared to the other municipalities.
Not Port Moody levels of bad, but still.

Yeah densifying Queensborough without alternatives to driving has been a huge mistake. Absolutely the most car dependent place in New West, it should have stayed industrial.

New West is slow at large projects, but tends to keep the pipeline full and smaller redevelopments don't have the same trouble.

Originally Posted by CanSpice

Do you have stats on this? Because everything I've seen suggests New Westminster is punching above its weight when you look at per capita stats.

New West punches above its' weight because the weight is already such a low bar, but yes census data does show our housing growth is above average for the region (and redeveloping Queensborough was a large portion of that growth).

Here's census mapper's population change from 2016 to 2021 map:

https://censusmapper.ca/maps/3054#14/49.2104/-122.9198

Queensborough's Eastern Block has the highest % change in New West at 41.7%. With the largest net population gain in the city being Queensborough's Western Block with an increase of 1,420 people.

Outside of Downtown, Victoria Heights, Sapperton and Queensborough, growth in New West has been well below the regional average. If it weren't for the large and mostly former industrial sites driving this growth New West would indeed be a laggard.

[Sheba]

B.C. government documents reveal all 47 municipalities on housing 'naughty list'

While B.C.’s housing minister this past week announced the first 10 municipalities that must meet future housing targets, a government order-in-council reveals all 47 municipalities that will likely have to ramp up their housing production.

By being on what some have called “the naughty list,” municipalities will have to approve a mix of housing, including townhomes, multi-family buildings, condos and below-market housing.

The expanded list of municipalities includes fast-growing large cities like Burnaby, Surrey and Langford, and smaller communities like White Rock, Pitt Meadows and North Cowichan. (See below for a full list of cities.)

The Housing Ministry said in a statement the order-in-council includes 47 municipalities in “areas of the province with the greatest housing need and highest projected growth where targets may be set.”

“These municipalities were simply included in the order-in-council for expediency to not have to amend the regulation every time a new cohort is selected,” a ministry spokesperson said by email Sunday. “While these are areas with the highest need and projected growth, it is not a guarantee that targets will be set in each of those municipalities.”

The housing targets will be set later this summer and municipalities will have six months to show progress. Municipalities were selected using a weighted index based on factors that include urgency of housing need, projected population growth, land availability and housing affordability.

Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon said during last week’s announcement that 10 more municipalities will be selected and notified later this year. It’s unclear which of the municipalities on the order-in-council will be next.

...

If communities don’t meet the targets within six months, the province will appoint an independent adviser to help them make progress. If that doesn’t work, the province will wield a bigger stick and overrule the municipality with the power to rezone entire neighbourhoods to create more density.

...

When Premier David Eby first announced the housing targets through the Housing Supply Act, he promised that communities that build the required housing will be rewarded with cash for amenities such as bike lanes, recreation centres and infrastructure to support growing populations.

District of North Vancouver Mayor Mike Little and West Van Mayor Mark Sager told Postmedia News earlier this week they want to see federal and provincial cash for badly needed infrastructure like improved highways and bridges in order to address congestion in and out of their growing communities.

...

Here are all the municipalities mentioned in the order-in-council, listed alphabetically:

• Abbotsford*
• Anmore (village)
• Belcarra (village)
• Burnaby
• Central Saanich (district)
• Chilliwack
• Colwood
• Coquitlam
• Delta*
• Duncan
• Esquimalt (township)
• Highlands (district)
• Kamloops*
• Kelowna
• Ladysmith (town)
• Lake Cowichan (town)
• Langford
• Lantzville (district)
• Langley
• Langley (township)
• Lions Bay (village)
• Maple Ridge
• Metchosin (district)
• Mission
• Nanaimo
• New Westminster
• North Cowichan (district)
• North Saanich (district)
• North Vancouver (city)
• North Vancouver (district)*
• Oak Bay (district)*
• Pitt Meadows
• Port Coquitlam
• Port Moody*
• Prince George
• Richmond
• Saanich (district)*
• Sidney (town)
• Sooke (district)
• Squamish (district)
• Surrey
• Vancouver*
• Victoria*
• View Royal (town)
• West Kelowna
• West Vancouver (district municipality)*
• White Rock*

*Previously announced

[madog222]

That's not really a naughty list, it's everyone.

Should we start a new thread for Housing Supply Act discussion?

[fredinno]

Originally Posted by madog222

That's not really a naughty list, it's everyone.

I'm trying to find a single municipality in Metro Vancouver NOT on that list.

Oh, Bowen Island isn't on the list.

Somehow Lions Bay got on there, so dunno how they missed that.

Surprised they didn't somehow include Electoral Area A out of nowhere (not a municipality, but treated like one in many cases.)
Same thing with other Electoral Areas that are not incorporated. Salt Spring has a huge housing shortage, as does UEL/UBC.


How much money are they offering?
This could get seriously expensive.

Should we start a new thread for Housing Supply Act discussion?

Yes.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Just for posterity:

Who's running in the Vancouver-Mount Pleasant byelection?

... The byelections for Vancouver-Mount Pleasant and Langford-Juan de Fuca are scheduled for Saturday, June 24.

Vancouver-Mount Pleasant was vacated by former BC NDP cabinet minister Melanie Mark after she resigned earlier this year citing personal matters. Langford-Juan de Fuca was previously held by John Horgan, who stepped down as premier in October 2022 and left his position as MLA in March of this year.

Here’s who’s running in the Vancouver-Mount Pleasant riding:

Jackie Lee
BC United is running Jackie Lee, an entrepreneur, to try to win the Vancouver-Mount Pleasant seat.

The party says Lee is a “proud Canadian immigrant, and an active community leader who has made a significant impact in the Vancouver-Mount Pleasant area.” In addition to being a “dedicated local businessman,” BC United says Lee is “committed to supporting entrepreneurs” and reducing red tape.

Joan Phillip
The NDP has named Joan Phillip as its candidate. Phillip is a respected Indigenous leader and is married to Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, president of the BC Union of Indian Chiefs.

The New Democrats say Phillip has “dedicated her life to fighting for justice, human rights, and the environment.” She has been a youth counsellor and a lands manager for the Penticton First Nation.

Wendy Hayko
Wendy Hayko is running as the BC Green Party’s candidate. Described by the party as “an emergency management expert,” the Greens say Hayko has experience “bringing people and government agencies together for solutions.”

The Green Party says Hayko wants to change policy “to ensure housing is treated as a human right, available and accessible to all.” Health — both physical and mental — is also listed as one of Hayko’s priorities.

Karin Litzcke
The Conservative Party of B.C. has announced Karin Litzcke as its candidate. The Conservatives say Litzcke has lived in Strathcona for 30 years and has been a “long-time education advocate.” Education is a major platform for Litzcke, with the party saying she has “advocated for a greater focus on evidence-based teaching, and less teaching of divisive social-values, in British Columbia’s public schools.”

Kimball Cariou
Kimball Cariou is running in the byelection for the Communist Party of BC. Born in Saskatoon, the party says Cariou has lived in the Vancouver-Mount Pleasant riding for 15 years. According to the Communist Party, Cariou is “active in his housing cooperative, and is a strong advocate for demands to stop displacement and launch a massive program to build low-income housing.”

[chowhou]

Is there a requirement for the NDP to replace Melanie Mark with another prominent indigenous woman? Seems strange for the NDP to parachute into Vancouver-Mount Pleasant a candidate from the interior. It's not like they wouldn't be able to find someone to run in the safest NDP seat in the province.

Either way, congratulations to Joan Phillip on her future +40 victory, I guess.

[GenWhy?]

Originally Posted by chowhou

Is there a requirement for the NDP to replace Melanie Mark with another prominent indigenous woman? Seems strange for the NDP to parachute into Vancouver-Mount Pleasant a candidate from the interior. It's not like they wouldn't be able to find someone to run in the safest NDP seat in the province.

Either way, congratulations to Joan Phillip on her future +40 victory, I guess.

Honestly Joan on the radio this morning seemed a little uninformed and up-to-date on urban issues.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by chowhou

Is there a requirement for the NDP to replace Melanie Mark with another prominent indigenous woman? Seems strange for the NDP to parachute into Vancouver-Mount Pleasant a candidate from the interior. It's not like they wouldn't be able to find someone to run in the safest NDP seat in the province.

Either way, congratulations to Joan Phillip on her future +40 victory, I guess.

They do have equity and diversity requirements. So, basically yes, they need a non-man POC to fill that role. Whether it had to be indigenous, I don't know.

With their advantage in the area I'm sure they could have found somebody local though, they didn't need a "big name".

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by GenWhy?

Honestly Joan on the radio this morning seemed a little uninformed and up-to-date on urban issues.

Let's be honest, the NDP could have run a talking parrot in both ridings and won.

It's interesting that the Conservative candidate came second in Langford and BC United came a distant 4th. Obviously Falcon and Co have some work cut out for them in establishing in the public's mind what BC United actually is.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/briti...away-1.6888246

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Let's be honest, the NDP could have run a talking parrot in both ridings and won.

It's interesting that the Conservative candidate came second in Langford and BC United came a distant 4th. Obviously Falcon and Co have some work cut out for them in establishing in the public's mind what BC United actually is.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/briti...away-1.6888246

So you're suggesting that Falcon and Co have to work at making sure the public know that BC United are conservatives too?

[Migrant_Coconut]

Seems like an Island thing - the former SoCreds Libs actually jumped from third to second in Mount Pleasant.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Seems like an Island thing - the former SoCreds Libs actually jumped from third to second in Mount Pleasant.

I wonder if that's not a low turnout by-election thing? The Lib/United vote was very close as a % in the election and the by-election, but the Greens dropped a lot. In a normal election that could change.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by Changing City

I wonder if that's not a low turnout by-election thing? The Lib/United vote was very close as a % in the election and the by-election, but the Greens dropped a lot. In a normal election that could change.

Could be. Same reason Hector Bremner won, then got eviscerated a year later.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Could be. Same reason Hector Bremner won, then got eviscerated a year later.

You forgot to mention that Bremner ran as an NPA candidate the first time and but was denied their nomination the second time thanks to the NPA's continuing self-immolation. He had to create a new party, Yes Vancouver, to run in 2018 and understandably lost.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by whatnext

You forgot to mention that Bremner ran as an NPA candidate the first time and but was denied their nomination the second time thanks to the NPA's continuing self-immolation. He had to create a new party, Yes Vancouver, to run in 2018 and understandably lost.

Yeah, if the NPA leadership had a brain cell between them he'd probably be Mayor.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by whatnext

You forgot to mention that Bremner ran as an NPA candidate the first time and but was denied their nomination the second time thanks to the NPA's continuing self-immolation. He had to create a new party, Yes Vancouver, to run in 2018 and understandably lost.

The NPA also lost in 2018. Basically, byelections are a bad representation of general elections because only the special interest voters turn out.

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Yeah, if the NPA leadership had a brain cell between them he'd probably be Mayor.

Doubt it - Bremner was both literally and figuratively a used-car dealer, and many voters can smell that from 1.6 kilometres away.