The Courier, Business in 麻豆传媒映画and 麻豆传媒映画is Awesome co-hosted the first mayoral debate of the election campaign Monday night. Here鈥檚 a summary of what six of the candidates had to say on housing issues. (Due to the format of the debate, all of the candidates were not asked the same questions.)
YES Vancouver鈥檚 Hector Bremner takes his turn at the all-candidate 麻豆传媒映画mayoral debate September 17. Photo by Dan Toulgoet
When asked about what they would do to help renters in the city, YES Vancouver鈥檚 Hector Bremner said that his new party would implement a three-year action to approve 50,000 to 70,000 more rental units for 鈥渢hose that need it鈥� and aim to 鈥減rioritize and cut the red tape鈥� and cut the community amenity contributions that, he said, have triggered many rentals to be turned into condos.
Independent candidate Kennedy Stewart said he would commit to creating 85,000 new units in the city over the next 10 years, 50,000 of which would rentals with 25,000 units at non-market rental rates. He also said that in the meantime he would bring in a renters鈥� advocate.
鈥淲e鈥檝e got to look after current renters,鈥� he said.
Fred Harding, with 麻豆传媒映画1st, also targeted the city鈥檚 community amenity contributions (CACs), which are in-kind or cash contributions developers must pay when the city grants a rezoning permit.
Harding gave the example of one case where a developer had to pay $43 million in CACs.
鈥淭hat gets passed on to rent,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not sustainable. It鈥檚 untenable and we really have to do something about CACs.鈥� He said the party would reduce, if not eradicate, CACs.
In talking about what types of housing should be allowed in the city鈥檚 single-family neighbourhoods, Non-Partisan Association candidate Ken Sim criticized the current Vision 麻豆传媒映画council for 鈥渢rying to ram something through that will fundamentally change how our city looks鈥� 鈥� a public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday that will determine whether duplexes will be permitted in most single-family neighbourhoods, with staff looking at the possibility of allowing triplexes, fourplexes and four-storey apartments in low density neighbourhoods.
Sim said there needs to be a city-wide plan and promised consultation with all residents.
Independent candidate Shauna Sylvester said the policy is coming 鈥渧ery, very late鈥� and it fails to provide an affordable mechanism for upzoning. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the problem.鈥�
She said that the City needed to reduce permitting times, fast-track purpose-built rental housing, and re-examine CACs.
ProVancouver鈥檚 David Chen said the party has always advocated for a city-wide plan.
鈥淵ou can鈥檛 just open up the streets to development without a plan.鈥�
Check out the full debate video on Facebook .
- With files from Joannah Connolly
