New Brunswick went to the polls today and elected a minority government with the New Brunswick Greens and the People’s Alliance holding the balance of responsibility. The final result was 21 seats for the Liberals, 22 seats for the progressive conservatives, 3 seats for the NB Greens and 3 seats for the People’s Alliance. 25 seats are needed for a majority government.

This is an exciting time for New Brunswick as their electorate sent a clear message that they wanted their representative to work together.

Below is the media release I issued congratulating David Coon, Kevin Arseneau and Megan Mitton on their success.

Media Release

Weaver congratulates New Brunswick Greens on electing first caucus
For immediate release
September 24, 2018

VICTORIA B.C. – Andrew Weaver, leader of the B.C. Green Party, is extending his congratulations to David Coon, leader of the New Brunswick Green Party, on the election of his first caucus. The New Brunswick Greens join the B.C. Greens and the P.EI. Greens as the first provincial Green Party caucuses in Canada.

“I extend my sincere congratulations to David and his team on the incredible growth they achieved tonight,” said Weaver.

“I also commend David and his Party for running on a positive campaign based on hope, not fear.

“Last year, there were three provincial Green representatives in office across the country. Now there are nine elected in B.C., Ontario, New Brunswick and P.E.I. This is a testament to the hard work of provincial Green Parties and the increasing resonance of our message as voters look for sensible, evidence-based policies that consider the impact of our decisions on future generations.

“The Greens and the People’s Alliance are now faced with the same balance of responsibility that our Caucus was in when the results came in in May 2017. While this burden will weigh heavily on them, minority governments are good news for voters. When political parties are forced to work together, they make better decisions. I wish them both well as they move towards establishing the agreement that will form the next government of New Brunswick.”

Weaver was the first Green politician elected at the provincial level in Canada in 2013. He was joined by B.C. Green MLAs Sonia Furstenau and Adam Olsen in 2017 when the Party doubled its popular vote share to 17%.

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Media contact
Jillian Oliver, Press Secretary
+1 778-650-0597 | jillian.oliver@bcgreens.ca

Today the BC government announced that it was injecting another $10 million into the Clean Energy Vehicle Program (CEVP). The program has been so successful, that it was in danger of running out of funds later this month. As noted in our media release (reproduced below) I am very pleased that the program received the additional funding.

This file is one on which I have spent a good deal of time. Ensuring the stability of this flagship program was essential in advance of the upcoming announcement of British Columbia’s clean growth strategy later this fall.

Media Release

Weaver welcomes additional funding for electric vehicles
For immediate release
September 24, 2018

VICTORIA, B.C. – Andrew Weaver, leader of the B.C. Green Party, praised the BC government’s efforts to find more funding to support vehicle adoption. Weaver says the higher-than-forecasted demand shows that British Columbians are on board with the transition to the low-carbon economy.

“British Columbians clearly want electric vehicles and I am pleased the government has found more funding to support their choices,” said Weaver.

“Over the past several months, we heard concerns from British Columbians that this funding was running out. We communicated these concerns to government and I am delighted that they acted quickly and decisively on this essential priority.

Due to higher-than-expected demand for EVs, the government added an additional $10 million to support the adoption of EVs, hybrids and fuel cell vehicles while it looks for more stable funding.

“As with any new technology, the cost of research and development is baked into the price of electric vehicles, driving up prices,” Weaver continued. “Transportation makes up 40% of B.C.’s emissions. We should ensure that stable, long-term funding is available to help support British Columbians to make the shift towards zero-emission vehicles.

“Our office has been working closely with the government to develop the Clean Growth Strategy that will position B.C. to be a leader in the low-carbon economy while enabling us to meet our targets. It will be essential that this plan be backed up with adequate funding and implementation. As the New Zealand Productivity Commission found last month, early action is almost always a winning economic strategy, even if other jurisdictions are slow to act. B.C. has all the strategic advantages we need to seize the economic opportunities arising as the world transitions to low-carbon economy, and the demand for EVs shows that British Columbians are on board. I look forward to making this vision a reality.”

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Media contact
Jillian Oliver, Press Secretary
+1 778-650-0597 | jillian.oliver@leg.bc.ca

Today the BC Rental Housing Task Force released an interim recommendation concerning the formula used to calculate maximum allowable rent increases in BC. In particular, the task force recommended:

• changing the maximum rent increase formula, from the current formula of inflation plus 2%, to inflation only (2.5% for 2019), which would remove the automatic 2% yearly increase.
• giving landlords the ability to apply for an additional increase if they can show the formula would not cover maintenance and other costs incurred.

As I noted earlier, BC was to allow a maximum rent increase starting January 1, 2019 of 4.5%. This would have been the largest allowable increase since 2004 and follows on the heels of a 4% increase in 2018. In fact, during the four years under the BC Liberals, the compounded maximum allowable rental increase was 11.8%. In just two years, the BC NDP would have allowed an 8.7% compounded increase.

As pointed out by my colleague Adam Olsen:

“Providing relief for British Columbians struggling amidst the affordability crisis is a key shared commitment between our two caucuses. This task force exemplifies how minority governments lead to sensible policies that will make a real difference in peoples’ lives“

Below I reproduce the statement my office released in support of the task force recommendation. We look forward to government adopting this recommendation and to the task force releasing their full report later this fall.

Media Release

Weaver responds to Rental Task Force Recommendation
For immediate release
September 24, 2018

VICTORIA, B.C. – Andrew Weaver, leader of the B.C. Green party, responded to the Rental Housing Task Force recommendation that the provincial government amend the annual allowable rent increase formula, to restrict increases to the rate of inflation:

“I want to commend the Task Force for their work on an issue of critical importance to British Columbians, and I urge the provincial government to adopt the recommendation. Today’s announcement is a strong step in addressing both current and ongoing rental affordability.

“The rental task force represents the best of minority government. We have two different parties that have come together on an issue of shared interest and have developed solutions for government to consider. This is exactly the type of collaboration that we need more of in our political system.

“I look forward to reviewing the other recommendations this committee brings forward and working with the government to ensure good policy is implemented that will improve fairness for both landlords and renters in our province.”

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Media contact
Jillian Oliver, Press Secretary
+1 778-650-0597 | jillian.oliver@leg.bc.ca

Today the Federal government announced its path forward on the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion project. In response, my office issued the media release reproduced below.

Media Release

Weaver: Terms of new environmental review of Trans Mountain a concern
For immediate release
September 21, 2018

VICTORIA, B.C. – Andrew Weaver, leader of the B.C. Green party, is raising concerns about the federal government’s approach to reviewing the Trans Mountain pipeline project. Earlier this month, the Federal Court of Appeal quashed the federal government’s approval due to the flawed NEB process.

“This process must be clear from political control and therefore needs to be free from a politically-imposed timeline,” said Weaver.

“Any process that is about getting to ‘yes’ will inevitably fail to protect the public interest. Environmental assessments must be objective and evidence-based. And meaningful consultation with Indigenous people must ensure they are approached as partners, not as barriers to be overcome on the way to a predetermined approval.

“The federal approval of this project was always political. The Prime Minister campaigned to subject all new projects to a revised NEB process, yet pushed Trans Mountain through the old broken one. Meanwhile, additional conditions were imposed on Energy East to ensure the project was assessed through the critical lense of climate change. Why would those same considerations not matter in the case of a pipeline through B.C.? There is no reason for B.C. to shoulder such significant risk simply to fulfill political agendas.

“Both colleague Adam Olsen and I were interveners in the original NEB hearings, focusing on the consequences of a marine spill and on Indigenous rights. We are exploring whether we have rights to intervene in the new hearings.

“We are also sitting down with the provincial government to ensure that they are using all legally available means, including terminating the equivalency agreement signed by the previous administration, to protect our coast from a catastrophic diluted bitumen spill.”

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Media contact
Jillian Oliver, Press Secretary
+1 778-650-0597 | jillian.oliver@leg.bc.ca

Many constituents and other residents of British Columbia have contacted me about the September 7 announcement that this year, BC would allow a maximum rent increase starting January 1, 2019 of 4.5%. This is the largest allowable increase since 2004 and follows on the heels of a 4% increase in 2018. In fact, during the four years under the BC Liberals, the compounded maximum allowable rental increase was 11.8%. In just two years, the BC NDP have allowed an 8.7% compounded increase.

As renters struggle amidst the affordability crisis, this has raised renewed calls regarding why our caucus does not support giving all renters, regardless of their income, a $400 annual rebate. In this piece I provide more insight.

1. Where we are today

British Columbia already has two very successful rental subsidy programs targeting low-income residents:

1. Shelter aid for elderly renters (SAFER) which “helps make rents affordable for BC seniors with low to moderate incomes. “
2. Rental assistance program which “provides eligible low-income, working families with cash assistance to help with their monthly rent payments.”

The BC Greens argued that these critical programs needed to be better funded and were pleased that we were listened to when Budget 2018 was announced and increased funding was delivered. Nevertheless, these programs still require additional support.

The NDP’s campaign promise of a $400 renter’s rebate would cost $200 million and would flow through renters into the pockets of landlords. It is our position that there are cheaper, more effective ways to support renters while also enabling government to put that $200 million into other affordable housing initiatives that won’t simply be absorbed by the market.

Affordability was the number one issue we heard from voters and alleviating some of the pressure British Columbians are feeling is a key shared commitment of our Confidence and Supply Agreement with the BC NDP. We have already implemented a number of policies that we both agree on, and in this case we simply have a disagreement about the effectiveness of giving a blanket rebate to all renters. Our Caucuses continue to work closely every day to develop policies to address the affordability crisis that we can both support.

In our view, the most obvious is the formula that is used to calculate the maximum allowable rental increase: 2% plus the rate of inflation.

So while BC will allow a 4.5% rent increase in 2019, Ontario (which has faced its own housing crisis in Toronto) has only allowed 1.8%. This is the same as what is allowed in Quebéc for 2019. Manitoba permitted a 1.3% increase in 2018, compared to BC’s 4.0% (the 2019 rate for Manitoba was not available at the time of writing, but based on the way it is calculated, it’s pretty obvious it will be well below BC’s).

My colleague Adam Olsen is working hard on the Rental Housing Task Force with NDP MLAs Spencer Chandra-Herbert and Ronna-Rae Leonard. They have completed their province-wide consultations and are preparing their recommendations. Their report will include a review of the allowable rental increase. I have expressed to government that the report should be released as soon as possible so we can implement a comprehensive suite of measures to support renters, ideally before the 90 days’ notice required for a January 1 rent increase kicks in.

This Task Force is an example of the unique benefits of a minority government: MLAs from different parties and perspectives are listening to British Columbians and bring forth collaborative, evidence-based recommendations. I believe this will lead to better policies that get the most out of our provincial budget and I am looking very forward to their report.

2. Delving into the numbers

Let me give a specific example as to why we have been pushing government to take a good hard look at this formula.

Let’s suppose that in December 2017 you were paying 1,500$ a month rent and that you had been given notice that your rent was going up the maximum allowable amount in January 2018. The same thing happens in December 2018.

Well we know that the maximum allowable amount is 2% plus the rate of inflation: in 2018 that was 4% and in 2019 it is (as of today) 4.5%.

So in 2018 your rent would be $1,560 per month. In 2019 your rent would be $1,630 per month.

In 2018 you would pay in total $720 more than you did in 2017. In 2019 you would pay in total $840 more than you did 2018. In just two years, you are now paying $1,560 more a year for rent.

Let’s be quite clear: 100% of the rent increase goes to the landlord (a portion of which flows through to their increasing expenses).

Let’s suppose the government gave every renter $400 a year whether they need it or not. In the example above, you would now only be paying $320 more in 2018 than you did in 2017 and $440 more in 2019 than in 2018. Your net increase would only be $760 over two years. Obviously at first glance, this might look good.

The BC NDP promise to give renters $400 a year would cost the taxpayer $200 million per year and that money would essentially flow through renters to landlords. In essence, it is a landlord subsidy.

What the BC Greens have been pushing for is taking a hard look at the allowable rental increase formula. What if, for example, rate increases were only allowed to be 2% in each year (still above the Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba rates).

We can redo everything above.

Your rent would be $1,530 a month in 2018 and $1,561 a month in 2019. You would pay $360 more a year in 2018 compared to 2017 and $372 more in 2019 compared to 2018. That makes a $732 increase over the two years (compared to $760 under the NDP handout plan).

What’s more, this change costs the taxpayer nothing.

3. The way forward

The example above shows that compounding interest adds up quickly and that a renter is better off when government address annual allowable rent increases instead of handing out $400 cheques to every renter.

What’s more, $200 million has been saved. And that money could, and should, go into building affordable housing.

Finally, as I outlined above, there are other tools available to government. One I believe we need to give serious attention to is the fact that in BC, stratas are allowed to prohibit all or some fraction of their units from being rented out. This is not the case in Ontario, for example. There would certainly be substantive downward pressure on rental markets (and increased value in some cases for strata units) were this restriction to be lifted. But in doing so, one would have to be careful to ensure that Strata is given a copy of the lease and granted the power of eviction, that short term (vacation rental) restrictions would still be allowed,  and the unit owner retained liability for the tenant. Adam tells me there are additional measures that the task force is working on, and I am looking forward to seeing those recommendations. I’d be interested in reading any feedback readers wish to provide me on this topic.