Whereas the retention of residential tenancy is having a critical impact on the security and stability of residents, seniors and families throughout the province of British Columbia; And whereas the retention of workers in all sectors of our local economy is visibly linked to shelter affordability; And whereas previous provincial government policies or lack thereof are clearly a contributing factor to the current situation of rental sustainability and home ownership affordability; And whereas many local governments struggling to address this crisis have limited resources or powers to be able to adequately develop sustainable solutions to this problem: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM seek support of the Provincial Government to create an Office of The Renters Advocate, to monitor and analyzes renters services and issues in BC, and make recommendations to government and service providers to address systemic issues caused by rental shortages, renovictions, demovictions and housing affordability.
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing The Province is committed to engaging with renters on issues of rental housing supply, evictions due to renovations or demolitions and housing affordability. In the spring of 2018, the Province established The Rental Housing Task Force to give British Columbians the opportunity to provide feedback, and to implement changes at the provincial level. The Task Force led a province-wide engagement throughout the spring and summer that involved 24 stakeholder meetings, 11 community meetings, and 1,431 comments received through the online forum. The Task Force final recommendations were approved by government and the full implementation of these initiatives is well underway. The Province is committed to ongoing consultations with stakeholders and has recently engaged the Task Force chair to create and announce a COVID-19 action plan to support renters and rental housing providers during these unprecedented times. The Ministry is committed to ensuring renters have safe, and secure housing and will continue to monitor and improve renter services in BC. The Province is not considering the establishment of an Office of The Renters Advocate at this time.