Access to affordable housing dominated the conversation in British Columbia in 2018, with residents aged 18 to 34 beginning to doubt the ability of elected officials to get a grip on the problem.

According to a recent report by local BC media outlet Burnaby Now, BC residents favoured increasing the availability of rental units, but took on a more subdued view when it came to new construction projects. The report indicated that it was vital for the provincial government to show where the funds from new housing taxes were going, and how these actions will benefit residents.

Burnaby Now also reported that transportation and traffic gridlock were also issues that BC residents were concerned with in 2018. In a survey conducted in November, two-thirds of residents in the Greater Vancouver Area favoured a cap on drivers to ensure that congestion does not increase, and that a majority wanted ride-hailing services to employ drivers who hold a commercial Class 4 licence, instead of the standard Class 5 licence that most motorists rely on.

According to Burnaby Now, signs indicate that BC is heading towards a made-in-BC solution, which would not mean a blanket opportunity for existing firms to charge people by taking them from Point A to Point B.

Housing Issues Dominate 2018 BC Conversation by Duffie Osental | Canadian Real Estate Wealth