Housing in Vancouver is the topic that never goes away. There's an array of reasons Vancouver is by far the most expensive city in Canada to buy or rent a home. Basically they come down to:
a) Lots of people want to be living in Vancouver
b) There aren't enough homes to house them all
c) This drives up property prices
Mayor Robertson has struck a new panel to attack the issues involved in housing Vancouver affordably.
But the people who build housing say that the City of Vancouver and other levels of government actually contribute to the low supply/high demand situation by putting up roadblocks that cost developers money, and those costs are passed on to home buyers.
Mayor's housing initiative blazes no trails
Peter E. Simpson, President & CEO, Greater Vancouver Home Builders' Association
During his inaugural speech two weeks ago, Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson announced he planned to create a blue-ribbon panel that will examine the impediments to housing affordability, then recommend steps to develop workable solutions. He said the process will not happen overnight.
Although I applaud the mayor's commitment to addressing this critical issue, I can't help but reflect on the 1993 movie, Groundhog Day,in which comedian Bill Murray's character, a frustrated weatherman, wakes up each morning to find he is repeating the same day over and over again.
For decades, housing affordability has been studied over and over again. Eminently qualified commentators - brilliant scholars, industry leaders, respected think-tank organizations - have all contributed thought-provoking data. And, Lord help us, even clueless nitwits chime in occasionally.
The people who served on previous housing affordability panels, task forces, forums, workshops, etc., would occupy all available seats in Rogers Arena, maybe BC Place Stadium.
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