Correspondence from Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training regarding Affordable Housing for Students

Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training Office of the Minister

Mailing Address: PO Box 9080 Stn Prov Govt Victoria BC V8W 9E2

Location: Parliament Buildings Victoria

November 1, 2022 Our Ref. 126724

Their Worship Mayor Ryan Windsor District of Central Saanich

Their Worship Mayor Barb Desjardins District of Esquimalt

Outgoing Mayor Fred Haynes District of Saanich

Outgoing Mayor Lisa Helps City of Victoria

Outgoing Mayor Rob Martin City of Colwood

Their Worship Mayor Cliff McNeil-Smith Town of Sidney

Their Worship Mayor Kevin Murdoch District of Oak Bay

Outgoing Mayor Geoff Orr District of North Saanich

Outgoing Mayor John Ranns District of Metchosin

Outgoing Mayor David Screech Town of View Royal

Their Worship Mayor Maja Tait District of Sooke

Their Worship Mayor Ken Williams District of Highlands

Outgoing Mayor Stew Young City of Langford

Email Address: c/o jcochrane@viewroyal.ca

Dear Current and Outgoing Mayors of the Capital Regional District:

Thank you for your letter regarding the Capital Regional District’s housing issues and your request for more student housing at the University of Victoria. I apologize for the delayed response.

The Government of British Columbia is committed to increasing affordable housing. Budget 2018 included a housing strategy entitled Homes for B.C.: A 30-point Plan for Housing Affordability in British Columbia. This housing strategy outlined government’s commitment to build 114,000 affordable housing units over 10 years.

Increasing affordable housing for students at public post-secondary institutions is a key part of this plan and government has committed to building 8,000 on-campus student housing beds by 2028. To date and under this government, 7,763 new beds are complete or underway.

This differs in the approach of the old government. As you know, between 2001 and 2016, the old government only built 130 student beds – an average of 8 student beds per year. Our government is making different choices and is working to make post-secondary education more affordable for students and provide relief for local renters.

There is still work to do and my Ministry will continue to work closely with the public post-secondary sector to expand student housing throughout British Columbia.

I encourage each institution to develop housing proposals for consideration by the Ministry. If the Board of the University of Victoria has an interest in further developing student housing, my Ministry will work with them.

Thank you again for writing to me.

Sincerely,

Honourable Anne Kang Minister