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Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre has blasted David Eby, saying BC’s premier “has probably the worst housing record of any politician on Earth.”
He made the remarks while attacking Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s record on housing costs.
The leader of the opposition was in Kitchener, Ont., where he said the average two-bedroom home costs more than “a castle in Sweden on a lake.”
“Yesterday, [Trudeau] joined with NDP premier from BC, who has probably the worst housing record of any politician on Earth,” Poilievre said.
“Literally, look at the prices. Vancouver is now the third-most expensive housing market in the world, comparing median income to median house prices.”
He said the “Liberal socialists” and NDP had caused the price rises, claiming they had “printed cash to inflate costs” and prevented construction through regulations.
The prime minister was in Vancouver yesterday to announce an extra two billion dollars in funding for the BC Builds initiative.
That plan – which Trudeau called “transformative” – is designed to fast-track construction.
Trudeau said the extra cash would help create a minimum of 8,000 new homes.
The money comes on top of $2 billion in provincial funding for low−cost financing for developers to fast−track affordable rental housing on land that’s underused or owned by government, communities or non−profit organizations.
BC is also committing $950 million to ensure units are available at below−market rates.
Trudeau praised Eby for his leadership during his visit to Vancouver, explaining: “These are the things we need right across the country.”
The PM also said BC is the “canary in the coal mine” in relation to unaffordable housing.
Eby, meanwhile, said the federal cash will be “transformational for thousands of families in British Columbia that are desperate for housing.”
Later on Tuesday, Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin, who read out the BC government’s throne speech, said housing affordability was a central challenge for the province.
"If we work together, this will be a place where everyone can build a good life, whether you live in a city, town, rural or First Nations community," she said.
According to the Canadian Real Estate Association, the average home in BC cost $960,433 in January 2024.
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