Home games
Lot of talk recently about the federal governments lack of a federal housing strategy.
The chatter began July 25 after the feds, the provincial government and Mayor Gregor Robertson showed up in the Downtown Eastside to announce the official opening of the Sorella housing complex for women.
While the opening was big news for the women, particularly those who were formerly homeless and unable to care for their children, the sidebar to the event was the photo-op of federal cabinet minister James Moore and provincial Housing Minister Rich Coleman signing an agreement.
The deal is worth $180 million and will be used to create more affordable housing options for Vancouverites and other B.C. residents. Under the agreement, both governments will provide matching funds of $90 million each over the next three years.
The money can go towards new construction, renovation, rent supplements, shelter allowances, accommodations for victims of family violence and homeownership assistance.
The influx of cash may seem like a lot but when you consider the Sorellas price tag came in at $26.8 million, and an estimated 1,600 homeless people reside in the city, $180 million is not going to end the citys homelessness crisis.
Having attended numerous housing announcements in the city, Ive heard the mayor mention many times the need for a federal housing strategythat the city and provincial government cant end homelessness without the feds being on board.
So what did Robertson think of the $180 million deal?
Its a start and its important that theyre showing up and expressing commitment and willing to be flexible with how those dollars are applied, the mayor said. Wed like to see it expand and see the federal government step up on social housing and on rental housing with some money and some incentives to ensure that we can ramp up.
Interestingly, Coleman has never called for a federal housing strategy.
Ive always said that a national housing strategy would be virtually impossible to craft, he said. The reason is each jurisdiction is different. So if you go up to the Northwest Territories right now, they would tell you their biggest difficulty is getting housingat allat a price that they can make work for any form of affordable housing.
Added Coleman: If you go to Nova Scotia, they have a total different dynamic than we do here. So the criticism, Ive always thought, was unfair with regards to a national housing strategy.
Plausible denial
COPE Coun. David Cadman got back to me about why he signed a letter with eight other councillors urging Rocky Mountaineer to stop using replacement workers in the companys lockout.
Like the others I interviewed, Cadman said his motivation was tourism and concern over the use of replacement workers, which is illegal in British Columbia. Rocky Mountaineer, however, escapes the law because it is a federally registered company.
But what about the fact the head of Rocky Mountaineer, Peter Armstrong, is the chairperson of the NPAs 2011 election campaign and says the letter was simply an attempt by Vision and COPE to discredit his role with the NPA?
That definitely wasnt my motivation at all, Cadman said. He may see it that way, but I certainly dont.
Beer and pork rinds
A note to readers
Ill be off the grid for most of August. No stories, no blog posts, no tweets. Thanks for reading.
See you in three weeks.
Twitter: @Howellings
