NDP MLAs Parmar and Dean say funding will help local governments to deliver housing faster in Esquimalt and the Westshore
COLWOOD – New Democrat MLAs Ravi Parmar and Mitzi Dean say local governments are receiving funding that will help them implement new provincial legislation to build more homes for people faster.
“From conversations I’ve had with Mayors and Councillors, I know that this support is appreciated by municipalities as they work hard to ensure that we can build more homes for people faster,” said Ravi Parmar, MLA for Langford-Juan de Fuca.
In Esquimalt and the Westshore, the following local governments are receiving funding:
- Capital Regional District, $252,492
- Colwood, $244,842
- Esquimalt, $235,583
- Highlands, $161,726
- Langford, $379,457
- Metchosin, $172,854
- Sooke, $223,089
- View Royal, $207,254
“People in our region know how important it is for us to build more housing, faster,” said Mitzi Dean, MLA for Esquimalt-Metchosin. “Communities will have more support to do this work, thanks to this funding.”
In response to the new provincial housing legislation passed in 2023, the New Democratic government is providing $51 million to 188 local governments to help them meet the new requirements.
This money will be used to improve planning, development and reporting processes, hire new staff and consultants and help governing bodies become more efficient at approving housing. Smaller communities will especially benefit from this funding as they have fewer resources to make changes.
This funding is part of a historic $19 billion housing investment by the provincial government. Since 2017, more than 77,000 homes have been delivered or are underway across B.C.
Learn More: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2024HOUS0006-000051