qathet Regional District (qRD) will consider an update of its housing needs report to 2023 budget deliberations. Directors reviewed a recommendation at the July 28 board meeting.
A housing needs report involving qRD, City of Powell River and Tla’amin Nation was completed and adopted by the regional board in April 2021. According to a staff report, the Local Government Act was amended in 2018 to require local governments to complete housing needs assessments by April 2022, and then update the assessment every five years thereafter. However, the staff report recommended that the regional district promote an update of the housing needs report specific to electoral areas A, B, C and D.
Electoral Area B director Mark Gisborne said he was planning to vote against the recommendation.
“My understanding from the provincial requirements is that the next housing needs report needs to be completed by April of 2027,” said Gisborne. “2023 is a bit early. I do realize our projections for population growth are inconsistent with the numbers we got from the federal government versus what’s in the housing needs report. However, if memory serves me correctly, we voted down a regional growth strategy because we don’t have growth.”
Electoral Area D director Sandy McCormick said she was in favour of the motion to consider updating the report.
“Growth is a really dynamic thing,” said McCormick. “Yes, we have growth. That’s shown through the census. We don’t have enough growth to warrant a regional growth strategy, but I believe we do have enough to try to effectively address the housing situation, which is probably the biggest thing that is holding back growth on Texada Island.
“There are no places for people to live. The Texada message board constantly has people looking for a house to rent, a basement suite, anything.”
McCormick said housing needs are at the forefront of growth.
“Without housing, we can’t have growth, and I see that right here on the island. I want to see this updated.”
Gisborne said he believes there is growth, and significant growth, and that is why, previously, he was in favour of a regional growth strategy.
He said for a housing needs report, one of the main objectives is to help local governments plan out where it can help support housing growth and development.
“In the rural areas, we don’t have a lot of those local government restrictions and bylaws that are preventing some of the additional dwellings and housing coming in,” said Gisborne. “One of the challenges I see with this motion, though, is that any of these reports come with an expense, so, conducting another housing needs report so much earlier than what is required is going to increase the tax burden on the community. Are we really going to get a massive benefit from doing this report at this time?”
At the July 14 committee of the whole meeting, the staff estimate of the cost of hiring a consultant was $40,000.
The recommendation was carried, with Gisborne opposed.
Chief administrative officer Al Radke said the matter would be referred to a future finance committee or planning committee meeting for further review.
