HOUSING – British Columbians ‘voting with their feet’ in face of rising housing costs
(Image: Mel Rothenburger file photo)
While the BC NDP play up a 0.7 per cent change in their annual allowable rent increase, Conservative MLA Peter Milobar says housing issues in B.C. are more systemic and entrenched.
Nearly 70,000 B.C. residents have left for other provinces – largely Alberta and Ontario – over the last few years, seeking lower housing costs and better wages.
“British Columbians are voting with their feet and leaving the province as costs escalate. Softwood manufactures are teetering on the edge of oblivion, and B.C. has historic levels of debt,” said Milobar, MLA for Kamloops Centre and Official Opposition Critic for Finance.
“While renters will be grateful to see only a 2.3 per cent increase versus a 3 per cent increase their rent, the state of our economy and our province have everyone nervous and afraid of what shoe could drop next.”
“The BC NDP brags about capping increases below inflation but conveniently ignores that housing costs in B.C. have substantially increased under their watch,” said Milobar.
ArmchairMayor.ca 
It’s worth noting that B.C.’s overall population has continued to grow due to international immigration, with over 178,000 new residents from other provinces and countries in 2024, offsetting interprovincial losses of 70,000.
B.C. struggles to compete with Alberta and Ontario due to its high cost of living, stagnant wage growth relative to expenses, and a less robust high-wage job market.
Structural issues, like a service-heavy economy and limited industrial investment, combine with policy challenges, such as high taxes and slow housing development, to drive young workers away.
Alberta’s resource-driven economy and lower taxes, and Ontario’s diverse, high-paying job market, offer more immediate financial and career opportunities. While B.C.’s government has introduced measures to address affordability, they’ve been insufficient to counter the economic pressures pushing young people out.
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It’s no wonder that we cannot afford housing in B.C. We had decades of union bashing governments and it is public record that the nonunion sector never paid its’ way in training and apprenticeships. Gordon Campbell despised unions and the province suffers for this arrogance today. Unions provide labour stability and phony unions like CLAC promote instability. Just look at the Transmountain pipeline cost overruns.
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Gone are the days of the Industrial Revolution. Nowadays people know all of their entitlements, privileges and rights but seem to come up short in knowing their obligations. Unions generally don’t have to make any of the tough decisions and take the risks required for business to “keep the doors open” and stay competitive in an increasingly tough marketplace.
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