Repealing B.C. housing legislation would be a mistake, says UBC expert

VICTORIA — A glut of empty condos in British Columbia should not be seen as evidence that the market is working, said a housing expert who warned against winding back policies of the outgoing NDP government designed to tame prices and rent.

Alexandra Flynn, who teaches housing policy at the University of B.C., said the province still needs a lot of homes for low-to very-low-income residents, despite the thousands of empty units.

“We do have a number of empty condos, but market housing for above-average income earners is not the housing we need,” she said. Left alone, the market cannot supply affordable and deeply affordable housing, she added.

“If you asked any developer, they would tell you, absent some kind of government intervention and granting and funding, they are not going to be able to do it.”

Premier-designate Lorne Doerkson has promised to repeal key aspects of the provincial housing legislation introduced by the outgoing government of Premier David Eby.

“We will return housing decisions to the people and the communities, who know their neighbourhoods so much better than Victoria,” Doerkson said during the inaugural meeting of the Conservative caucus.

Doerkson was referring to the proposed repeal of Bill 44, which New Democrats consider their signature piece of housing legislation.

The legislation legalized higher densities on single-lot properties in municipalities with populations above 5,000 people, but also came with housing targets, which have been heavily criticized by local governments.

Sarrah Storey, president of the Union of the British Columbia Municipalities, said Bill 44 was “highly problematic” and municipalities pushed back because the government imposed it as a “one-size-fits-all model” without getting input.

Storey said UBCM agrees with the idea that housing policy for Williams Lake should not be made in Victoria, but if government wants to make changes to Bill 44, it should give municipalities choice.

“There are some local governments that will want to remain with the policies that are in place, allowing multiple homes on single family lots, for example, and they should be able to do so,” she said.

Storey, who is the mayor for Fraser Lake, said any housing plan must also consider infrastructure needs.

“I say the best way to support developers is to ensure that the local governments can direct development to areas that are ready to support growth,” she said.

Flynn disagrees with the plan to repeal, saying the law can be a “powerful tool,” and while some of it needs to be fixed, it would be a mistake to just throw it away.

“If I was the new government, I would not be making any knee-jerk reactions right now,” she said.

Flynn said she understands criticism from municipalities, saying there was “no question” that the dialogue between municipalities and Victoria must be improved.

“The province should not be dictating what municipalities do without actually engaging and having the bilateral relationships that are appropriate,” Flynn said.

She said housing in British Columbia is in a better place now than it was in 2017 for lots of reasons.

They include the work of the non-profit housing sector, municipalities, the federal government, and the provincial government, she said.

“So, the NDP government introduced some of the most transformative housing reforms in Canada,” she said.

Changing circumstances over time do not negate the fact that municipalities need to ensure affordable housing can be built in their communities, she said.

“This is not the time to be thinking about what to repeal,” she said. “It’s a time to set the course for a new agenda moving forward.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 4, 2026.

Wolfgang Depner, The Canadian Press