Municipalities respond to 'blanket' housing policies

NEWS

Province releases plans for housing as municipal leaders gather in Vancouver

On Monday, Premier David Eby announced a slew of BC-wide policies aimed at tackling the housing crisis. Included are house flipping taxes, the complete legalization of secondary suites, as well as overhauling municipal zoning rules to allow for “missing middle” housing across the province.

The ability to build more units on single-family lots has been a prominently debated conversation on Victoria city council for years before it finally passed this January.

Speaking before council that night, Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto said that it was clear to her that the province would be moving to blanket the province with policies that will demand higher density across every municipality with Eby’s ascension to premiership.

Legislation to densify single-family lots up to four units—with more permitted in areas near transit hubs—are set to be introduced this fall, along with other housing policies such as the Housing Supply Act.

After Eby’s announcement, Oak Bay Mayor Kevin Murdoch told the Vancouver Sun that he has concerns that municipalities will lose land-use planning powers with these new changes from the province.

Hundreds of municipal officials from across BC are meeting in Vancouver today for the second day of a housing summit hosted by the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM). Alto spoke on a panel about accommodating rapid growth, along with the mayors of other large cities in BC.

The NDP government was elected in 2017 with a housing platform that promised the building of 114,000 housing units by 2027. On Monday, Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon indicated that the province was close to reaching those targets.

But critics in the BC Liberal party say that the government is now counting housing units first built in the 1980s in that number, and are accusing the government of creative accounting to meet their campaign promises.

Analysis from The Tyee shows that the NDP government appears to have expanded its original definition of what is considered built to include the 20,000-plus units that have come on the market due to the speculation and vacancy tax.

By Michael John Lo with files from Shannon Waters

FOOD

Tasting Victoria readers vote for their favourite burgers, views, new restaurants, and more

Tasting Victoria’s mission has always been to inspire you to try new and different places, and to be plugged into what’s going on in the food scene in the city.

This week, we’ve been sharing some of our favourite categories from the 2023 Tasting Victoria Restaurant Awards presented by Gordon Food Service. Here are the first place winners.

Best View | sponsored by Blue Grouse Estate Winery and Vineyard
With its perfect view of the Inner Harbour, Boom + Batten’s elevated casual dining offers guests an experience inspired by the Pacific Northwest surroundings. The stunning architecture and detailed décor are almost as impressive as their sweeping waterfront views. This is the only place you will be able to feast while gawking at some of the largest yachts moored at the Victoria International Marina. See the runner ups.

Best Burger Restaurant
Locally owned and operated, Bin 4 Burger Lounge specializes in gourmet burgers, appetizers, fresh salads, hand crafted cocktails, and local wine and beer. Bin 4 opened its first location on Yates Street in 2011, and two more Victoria locations since, as well as others in Vancouver’s South Granville, Kelowna, Nanaimo, and Burnaby. Its dedication to gourmet burgers has spanned BC, and now, has it atop Tasting Victoria’s Readers’ Choice Awards. See the runner ups

Best First Date Restaurant | sponsored by Brown’s the Florist
Inspired by Northern Italian cuisine with a Pacific Northwest twist, Il Terrazzo Ristorante has served Victoria for three decades in the heart of Old Town. Located in an old hotel and courtyard, this lively, unique dining experience offers a diverse, well-rounded menu and extensive wine program. It’s truly got something for everyone, as evidenced by its win for best First Date spot in our reader’s choice poll. Here’s who claimed second and third.

Best New Restaurant | sponsored by The Sidney Pier Hotel & Spa
Eva Schnitzelhaus was born out of the desire to serve German food in a fun and casual environment, while taking inspiration from the Pacific Northwest. The service is fast-paced and relaxed while the food is simple and made with great ingredients in a traditional manner. It clearly made an impression on our readers, who voted it as the best new restaurant in the city. Find out who else ranked.

See the full list of categories and winners for the 2023 Tasting Victoria Best Restaurants Awards presented by Gordon Food Service here.

TOGETHER WITH BELFRY THEATRE

Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story, the award-winning musical, returns

Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story is a tender and delicate tale woven inside a high-energy concert led by the boisterous international Klezmer sensation, Ben Caplan. This musical played for one week during the Belfry's 2019 SPARK Festival, and that was simply not enough for a show as astounding as this!

“Richly humorous, wildly entertaining, and deeply moving.” The Globe & Mail

A truly original, captivating, wise, and glorious exploration of human resilience and survival. Inspired by the true story of Hannah Moscovitch’s great-grandparents, this triumphant musical has toured internationally, garnering awards across Canada, Australia, and the UK.

Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story runs from Apr. 18 to May 14 with pay what you want tickets available for all performances.

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