B.C. premier to make announcement about housing, speculation
CTV
B.C.'s premier is expected to make an announcement Monday morning about housing and speculation in the province.
B.C.'s premier is expected to make an announcement Monday morning about housing and speculation in the province.
Premier David Eby is scheduled to speak at a news conference alongside provincial Minister of Housing Ravi Kahlon.
Few details were given ahead of Eby's announcement, but he's expected to "discuss measures to ensure homes are for people, and not speculators," according to an advisory about the briefing.
Last November, B.C. added 13 municipalities to the province's speculation and vacancy tax, bringing the total to 59. Eight of the newest spots are in the Okanagan and southern Interior, including Penticton, Vernon and Kamloops. The other five added to the list last fall are on Vancouver Island, including Courtenay, Qualicum Beach and Parksville.
Some of those communities said they weren't consulted before the province expanded the tax.
Penticton Mayor Julius Bloomfield said in a statement in November that it was "extremely disappointing that this action has been taken with zero consultation."
"That this unilateral decision to expand the speculation tax to our community has come at the same time we’re still trying to understand the consequences of the changes to the short-term (rental) regulations is especially concerning," Bloomfield's statement said. "We are very worried about the unintended consequences for our local economy by these actions."
