BC Political Discussion: Election 2024 & 43rd Parliament

[NetMapel]

I think this is one of the more dangerous elections for the BC NDP due to a strong anti-incumbency sentiment, united right with the BC Conservative party, confusion with party names between provincial and federal parties, and general anti-Trudeau sentiment. So there is something to be said that they survived with the slimmest majority still. BC NDP certainly needs to lick their wounds because they almost lost the majority. However, I think there should be some soul searching as well for BC Conservative due to their failure to gain a majority despite all the previously stated advantages.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Yeah, this is definitely not a province where ranting about vax conspiracies gets you elected (hence why they shut up for most of the campaign). We'll see how many of them survive past 2028.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by NetMapel

I think this is one of the more dangerous elections for the BC NDP due to a strong anti-incumbency sentiment, united right with the BC Conservative party, confusion with party names between provincial and federal parties, and general anti-Trudeau sentiment. So there is something to be said that they survived with the slimmest majority still. BC NDP certainly needs to lick their wounds because they almost lost the majority. However, I think there should be some soul searching as well for BC Conservative due to their failure to gain a majority despite all the previously stated advantages.

The "confused voter" trope is a creation of those trying to explain away the BC NDPs seat loss. Did anyone confuse Eby with Jagmeet Singh? The BC Con attack ads featured images of Eby and Trudeau together - don't ya think think voters might have asked themselves "Who's that guy with Trudeau Jr?"

Anyway, sounds like those "confused voters" might get a chance to vote for the real thing sooner rather than later:

Bloc leader to push for early election after government doesn't pass pension hike bill

[seamusmcduff]

It's not a trope when it literally happens:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GgXJ9eT2n8A

[BaddieB]

Considering a lot of speculation for SFHs around Skytrain stations has quelled pending the election results, I assume the true bonanza begins?

[Migrant_Coconut]

Yeah, NIMBYs in BC are going to have a bad four years.

[chowhou]

Originally Posted by BaddieB

Considering a lot of speculation for SFHs around Skytrain stations has quelled pending the election results, I assume the true bonanza begins?

The land still has to be assembled. It's not always trivial to buy out a contiguous block of SFHs.

[GenWhy?]

Originally Posted by chowhou

The land still has to be assembled. It's not always trivial to buy out a contiguous block of SFHs.

Agreed and the City of Vancouver has some very unfortunate frontage requirements. Not sure about the other cities.

The Vancouver TOA for tier 1 (12+ storeys) requires 150 ft of frontage, I assume 66-50' or under as you scale down from 8-storeys in tier 2 and 3 (in Vancouver proper).

[mcj]

Originally Posted by GenWhy?

Agreed and the City of Vancouver has some very unfortunate frontage requirements. Not sure about the other cities.

The Vancouver TOA for tier 1 (12+ storeys) requires 150 ft of frontage, I assume 66-50' or under as you scale down from 8-storeys in tier 2 and 3 (in Vancouver proper).

With standard lots having 33' of frontage, a minimum assembly of 4.5 to 5 standard lots for a 12+ storey tower doesn't seem that onerous considering there's also tower spacing requirements that'll likely necessitate that anyways as full blocks are redeveloped.

[chowhou]

Originally Posted by mcj

With standard lots having 33' of frontage, a minimum assembly of 4.5 to 5 standard lots for a 12+ storey tower doesn't seem that onerous considering there's also tower spacing requirements that'll likely necessitate that anyways as full blocks are redeveloped.

Requiring 5 lots minimum means that one holdout 5 houses from the end of a block kills the development opportunity of every single lot closer to the end of the block, not to mention impacting the lots on the other side. Around Joyce Station, a lot of the weirdo blocks are only 6-10 lots wide. One holdout kills the entire block.

[seamusmcduff]

I really hate that every TOD plan requires podium and tower vancouverism as the built form. Let developers be creative. If someone wants to developer a single lot with a development that's the prescribed density but looks more like the form you'd see in Chinatown or the DTES (or Brooklyn or hells kitchen or philly etc) I say let them. Kind of defeats the purpose of the province changing the single egress stairs requirements if we can't really take advantage of it.

[chowhou]

Originally Posted by seamusmcduff

I really hate that every TOD plan requires podium and tower vancouverism as the built form. Let developers be creative. If someone wants to developer a single lot with a development that's the prescribed density but looks more like the form you'd see in Chinatown or the DTES (or Brooklyn or hells kitchen or philly etc) I say let them. Kind of defeats the purpose of the province changing the single egress stairs requirements if we can't really take advantage of it.

FSR above 5 scares urban planners shitless for some godawful reason.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by chowhou

FSR above 5 scares urban planners shitless for some godawful reason.

I'm not sure what any of the recent discussion has to do with the provincial election?

In terms of density around Joyce station, while some buildings are coming in at 12 storeys and 5 FSR, 5055 Joyce (under construction) is 16.1 FSR. The approved rezoning for two towers at 3362-3384 Vanness Ave & 3347 Clive Ave are at 11.3 FSR. The rezoning for 4975 Joyce is proposing 18.9 FSR.

[seamusmcduff]

Should probably be moved to the provincial housing changes thread but yeah. I don't think planners really have an issue with the FSR but with the form. For example I quite like the built form around the intersection of main/kingsway/broadway, but this form isn't really possible in TOD areas. For example, The Duke is around 7 or 8 FSR and is 12 stories. A tower/podium form at that density would easily be twice as tall.

It would be interesting to see the built form that would arise around stations if we didn't worry about frontage length and allowed buildings to be built to the lot line

[MIPS]

Getting news over the ticker that Horgan just croaked.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by MIPS

Getting news over the ticker that Horgan just croaked.

RIP. He managed to get the NDP in gov't for two terms under his leadership. Not an easy feat.

[chowhou]

New cabinet is out:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-ndp-cabinet-swearing-in-2024-1.7386565

Some interesting highlights to me:

Ravi Kahlon remains in charge of housing but in the new ministry of housing and municipal affairs, which leads me to believe they're giving him freer reigns to crack the whip on municipalities to enforce housing goals. Christine Boyle didn't get the job, but she did get the indigenous relations and reconciliation ministry.

The ministry of infrastructure and transportation is split into the new ministry of infrastructure and ministry of transportation, and Bowinn Ma is taking over one of them, but it's not the one you'd expect. She's heading infrastructure and Farnsworth has been given transportation.

With Farnsworth out as the minister of public safety and solicitor general, Garry Begg (former RCMP) has taken over the role, and on top of that Terry Yung (former VPD) is going to be the newly created minister of state for community safety and integrated services. Seems to me like a more crime enforcement focused cabinet there. However, Niki Sharma remains attorney general.

[Tysonbrown]

Ok..now quit pissin around and solve the homeless/fentanyl plague. Build the Massey Tunnel.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by chowhou

New cabinet is out:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-ndp-cabinet-swearing-in-2024-1.7386565

Some interesting highlights to me:

Ravi Kahlon remains in charge of housing but in the new ministry of housing and municipal affairs, which leads me to believe they're giving him freer reigns to crack the whip on municipalities to enforce housing goals. Christine Boyle didn't get the job, but she did get the indigenous relations and reconciliation ministry.

The ministry of infrastructure and transportation is split into the new ministry of infrastructure and ministry of transportation, and Bowinn Ma is taking over one of them, but it's not the one you'd expect. She's heading infrastructure and Farnsworth has been given transportation.

With Farnsworth out as the minister of public safety and solicitor general, Garry Begg (former RCMP) has taken over the role, and on top of that Terry Yung (former VPD) is going to be the newly created minister of state for community safety and integrated services. Seems to me like a more crime enforcement focused cabinet there. However, Niki Sharma remains attorney general.

Twenty three new ministers? So basically half the caucus gets a ministry top up.

[chowhou]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Twenty three new ministers? So basically half the caucus gets a ministry top up.

Not sure how many ministers you'd expect there to be, there were 23 in the last cabinet. It appears they're merging the housing and municipal affairs ministries, and eliminating the mental health and addictions ministry.