logo
B.C. slaps Oak Bay, West Vancouver with directives amid slow progress on housing

B.C. slaps Oak Bay, West Vancouver with directives amid slow progress on housing

Global News22-07-2025
The British Columbia government has ordered two of the province's most unaffordable cities to make changes to encourage housing construction.
On Monday, the province issued ministerial directives to Oak Bay, near Victoria on Vancouver Island, and West Vancouver to amend their zoning bylaws to reach their mandated housing targets.
The directive for West Vancouver includes amending the city's Official Community Plan bylaw to allow for more density in the Park Royal-Taylor Way area and adjacent to the Ambleside and Dundarave areas.
7:03
West Vancouver council passes bylaw to increase housing density
Oak Bay must make changes for minor development variances and parking bylaws to better accommodate multi-unit residential projects, the province says.
Story continues below advertisement
It must also update its official community plan with a focus on housing by the end of the year.
Get breaking National news
For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy
Both municipalities have failed to meet their year-one housing targets as set by the provincial government.
West Vancouver has delivered 58 of its 220 net new units target, while Oak Bay has delivered 16 of the 56 new units it was asked to build.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Saskatchewan employees face the future of AI
Saskatchewan employees face the future of AI

Global News

timean hour ago

  • Global News

Saskatchewan employees face the future of AI

At the Saskatoon city council Governance Committee meeting last week, businesses expressed their worries about rising property taxes. As a solution, several speakers spoke about the city utilizing AI to cut costs. The meeting ended with Saskatoon Mayor Cynthia block requesting a report on how AI can be used by city administration before official budget talks in November. The next day, tech company Vendasta launched their AI employee service. Through Vendasta, businesses can use AI to support their employees or bridge the gaps for services they can't afford — most notably their AI receptionist. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'A plumber who has never had someone answering their phones or a contractor who is under the sink, and they can't answer calls, that receptionist can get their calls… People are also using it to improve customer service, respond after hours, (and) respond in different languages.' said Vendasta brand and experience director Nykea Behiel. Story continues below advertisement Behiel shared that the AI service has helped companies retain customers by responding within 30 seconds compared to a typical 24-hour response time, adding that one franchise partner from the United States has seen a 372-per cent increase in turning potential customers into paying customers. But for some workers, the thought of AI employees has led to worries about job losses. University of Saskatchewan professor Devan Mescall says that AI should be used as a tool to help make life easier, not to replace the work of humans. 'When you go at an AI initiative thinking it is going to be about cost savings, which everyone sees as replacing jobs, those have not been effective. In fact, they pretty much all failed.' explained Mescall. Regardless of what safeguards are in place, Nathaniel Cole from the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour recommends that anyone worried about AI in the workplace make their voices heard. 'It would be helpful to unions as always as a trade unionist myself for members to be in touch with their unions about those impacts.' added Cole.

City of Edmonton incentivizing student housing builds
City of Edmonton incentivizing student housing builds

Global News

time2 hours ago

  • Global News

City of Edmonton incentivizing student housing builds

The City of Edmonton is hoping to encourage cheaper housing options for post-secondary students with a new program. The new Downtown Student Housing Incentive is offering a total of $15 million for designs that meet student housing needs and are built in the downtown area. Developers are eligible for up to $30,000 per unit built. 'Students make almost 47,000 of the population in the downtown core and we want to create opportunities in the downtown for them to have affordable places to live,' Mayor Amarjeet Sohi said. 1:34 Calls from post-secondary student unions for more funding Thousands of students will soon be returning to Edmonton's post-secondary campuses. Story continues below advertisement Student unions say rent is one of the biggest pressures on budgets. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'The campus food bank usage at the University of Alberta has increased by 600 per cent over the last five years and the number one reason why students are coming to campus food bank is housing increases,' said Adbul Abassi, the University of Alberta Students' Union's vice-president external. 2:01 High post-secondary expenses leave Edmonton students in a pinch The cost of rent is a concern for Andrea Velasco. Velasco is going into her fourth year of university and says she's always looking for better deals. 'I have moved three times,' Velasco said. 'Now I live closer to campus, so I live in a basement because it's more affordable for me to pay rent.' The city says the incentive is projected to create more than 500 new housing units. Story continues below advertisement 'This is a good step. Of course a lot more is needed,' Abbasi said. The first round of applications closes at the end of September. Construction to start next year.

Valérie Plante says she and Prime Minister Mark Carney share the same priorities
Valérie Plante says she and Prime Minister Mark Carney share the same priorities

Global News

time2 hours ago

  • Global News

Valérie Plante says she and Prime Minister Mark Carney share the same priorities

See more sharing options Send this page to someone via email Share this item on Twitter Share this item via WhatsApp Share this item on Facebook Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante says she and Prime Minister Mark Carney are aligned on priorities including public transportation and housing. Plante and Carney met at Montreal City Hall for the first time since Carney was elected in April. Montreal's mayor told reporters after the meeting that the two had productive discussions and formed a strong rapport. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Carney did not answer questions from reporters. The prime minister is spending the day in Quebec, where he is also scheduled to meet with business leaders and Premier François Legault. The federal government is confirming that Quebec will receive $557.5 million this year for infrastructure projects through the Canada community-building fund, with nearly $84 million allocated to Montreal. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 20, 2025.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store