Emily Lowan, the newly elected leader of the BC Green Party, has unveiled a bold housing agenda focused on safeguarding renters and significantly expanding non-market housing options across British Columbia. Lowan's platform emphasizes innovative taxation strategies and policy reforms to address the province's escalating housing crisis.
Key Takeaways
- Focus on renter protection through vacancy control.
- Expansion of non-market housing supply via taxation of wealth.
- Critique of current government housing policies as insufficient.
Protecting Renters with Vacancy Control
Lowan, a renter herself, is a strong advocate for vacancy control, a policy that would cap rent increases not only during a tenancy but also between tenants. She argues that the current system, which allows landlords to raise rents significantly when a unit becomes vacant, incentivizes tenant turnover and drives up housing costs. "Right now when a tenant moves out, their landlord can raise the rent as much as they would like, which of course incentivizes landlords to end tenancies prematurely and oftentimes pushes rents far higher between tenants," Lowan stated.
Expanding Non-Market Housing Through Taxation
A cornerstone of Lowan's strategy is to fund non-market housing by tapping into untaxed wealth. She proposes taxing the wealthiest one percent and large corporations that she believes are not contributing their fair share. Lowan specifically targets the property tax deferral system, calling it an "antiquated" loophole benefiting wealthy homeowners on high-value properties. She estimates that the province spends billions on this deferral program, which could be redirected to affordable housing initiatives.
Alternative Funding and Policy Proposals
Beyond reforming the property tax deferral, Lowan's proposals for non-market housing include:
- A buy-back program for vacant commercial and residential properties to convert them into affordable housing.
- Implementing a land value tax on high-bracket residential and corporate properties, as well as undeveloped land.
- Making more public land available for housing development.
- Aggressive land-banking near transit hubs and green spaces to ensure affordable housing is well-located.
Critiquing Current Housing Policies
Lowan expressed skepticism about the BC NDP government's focus on ending exclusionary zoning, arguing that it represents a "trickle-down-economics version of housing policy" that may not yield the necessary scale of affordable housing. She believes government intervention, similar to federal programs like the Build Canada Homes initiative, is crucial for increasing the speed and scale of housing development.
The BC Greens' Role in Government
The BC Greens are currently in a co-operation and responsible government accord with the BC NDP, providing confidence to the minority government. With a two-member caucus, Lowan intends to leverage this position to push the NDP towards considering housing solutions they might otherwise overlook. Lowan also expressed her intention to seek a seat in the legislature, potentially through a byelection or in the next general election.
