Thurs. June 15 - Saanich tenant rights

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning !

Starting this week, it will be much harder for landlords to “renovict” their tenants in Saanich. The new policy offers support aimed at easing the stress of tenants being evicted for renovations or repairs. We’ve reported a lot about the difficulties of finding a home in the CRD—and the immense stress that can come with a last-minute move (just ask any displaced RidgeView resident)—so it’s nice to see some positive policy changes on this front.

NEWS

Displaced tenants must now be compensated under new Saanich policy

Starting Monday, landlords planning to evict tenants for upcoming renovations or redevelopments will have to submit a Tenant Assistance Plan outlining support for residents in buildings with 5+ units. This policy was unanimously approved by Saanich council at a May 1 meeting.

This new policy will reduce the stressful nature of “renovictions,” ensuring that property owners offer assistance to tenants being asked to move out. The district has many aging rental buildings that are expected to need major restoration work in the future.

3+ months of rent as compensation

Support includes relocation assistance, with the expectation that the property owner helps displaced tenants find new housing, covering the cost of moving (such as hiring movers or renting a van) and rent compensation by either offering free rent for a period based on tenancy term or a lump sum payment of the equivalent. For those living at the residence for under five years, they will receive three months’ rent payments, with an increase for longer-term tenants.

This sets the policy apart from BC’s eviction policy, which was updated in July 2021 to require an application be submitted to the Residential Tenancy branch for approval of renovation evictions; if approved, landlords must provide four months notice and pay the tenant one month’s rent.

Not all tenants will be eligible for Saanich’s new policy—any rezoning applications that were received before June 12 will not be covered by this new policy. Tenants will also not be eligible if they plan to move outside of the CRD or buy their own property.

This policy comes into place after a year that saw rental housing costs in Greater Victoria increase in price by an average of 7.7% in 2022—the highest leap since 1991.

Capital Bulletin

🌤️ Today's weather: Mix of sun and cloud. High 19C / low 12C.

📃 BC Demographic Survey: The online survey aims to increase equality through the identification of systemic racism in government services.

🚢 Ceremonial navy gun salute for Japanese navy: Thirteen rounds will be fired to welcome two Japanese vessels, Kashima and Hatakaze, to CFB Esquimalt today, 9am.

NEWS

BC becomes first province to offer universal coverage for opioid agonist treatment

Residents with an active medical services plan (MSP) will be able to receive opioid agonist treatment (OAT) free of charge through Plan Z, the province’s universal coverage plan.

The policy, which came into effect on June 6, will provide coverage for “eligible medications used for the treatment of opioid-use disorder,” which the ministry specifies is different from safer supply services.

Eligible treatments include agonists like methadone and buprenorphine, which mitigate withdrawal symptoms and reduce opioid cravings.

This policy will ensure that those who were not able to access OAT through PharmaCare or had issues signing up to Plan G will not be restricted by costs to receive treatment. This will also cover the over 1,600 people who paid out of pocket for their treatment last year. In total, nearly 33,000 people accessed OAT through PharmaCare last year.

Jennifer Whiteside, minister of mental health and addictions, says it’s essential to remove cost barriers to medication-assisted treatment in order to “help more people stabilize their lives, prevent deaths and stay on their journey to wellness.”

In January, BC became the first jurisdiction in Canada to decriminalize illicit drugs, though the province has been criticized for making the legal-carry amount too small.

Since the beginning of 2023 until April, the Island has recorded 153 toxic drug deaths.

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NEWS

UVic golf teams win Canadian championship and second place

The Vikes men ended their golf season by finishing 14 under par (over multiple rounds) to comfortably win the Canadian University/College Championship by 13 strokes. The women were +57 at the Komoka, Ont. course, finishing behind only UBC. The men are national champs for a fourth time, having previously won in 2006, 2005, and in 2003 when current head coach Justin Clews was a college golfer.

This 1-2 finish is a familiar one for UVic, whose teams also took gold and silver, respectively, at last fall’s Canada West championship and May’s Continental Athletic Conference finals in Texas.

At this season-ender, Liam Mosher was the #2 men’s individual player (-9) and Zach Ryujin tied for #4 (-3) while Sukriti Harjai was #5 for women (+11) to cap off her career. All three were named both All-Canadians and NAIA All-Americans. Also Top-10 were #7 Robin Conran (-2), finishing his varsity career, and #9 Victoria-raised Cindy Koira, just starting hers.

The men finished tied for fourth in the championships of the NAIA, a US-based golf league of about 250 schools. UBC, which also competes in both Canadian and US college golf, was the NAIA’s overall winner this year, but its men couldn’t hold off UVic for the Canadian title.

Capital Picks

📚 Story Studio Storypath: Pages from 14 stories written by local youths have been hidden in store windows across Downtown. Participants who complete the scavenger hunt before June 24 will be entered into a prize draw.

🤤 Book your seats to Pacific Opera's 23/24 full-flavoured season: deliciously epic Die Walküre (Wagner), spicy flamenco-fusion Ainadamar (Golijov), and scrumptious The Marriage of Figaro (Mozart)—three shows for $72!*

⛳ Royal Beach Victoria Open: The golf tournament’s first round begins today at the Uplands Golf Club, 7:30am.

🎤 Pop-up concert: Wes Carroll Trio will perform at Fort Common today as a part of a series of Downtown pop-up concerts, noon-1pm.

🤝 Now hiring: Comfort Advisor (Outside Sales) at Sasquatch Heat Pumps.

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In Other News

🌱 Health of Island kelp threatened by bryozoans
An increase off the Island’s coast of the tiny white creatures that latch themselves onto kelp is possibly due to rising ocean temperatures. Bryozoans reduce kelp reproduction and can affect healthy Pacific salmon development as they can negatively impact the health of kelp beds.

🏠 Rising permit fees makes new construction unaffordable, says Victoria Residential Builders Association
The Victoria Residential Builders Association (VRBA) made the recommendation Tuesday that municipal fees and regulations should be limited by BC to allow new housing to be built and to prevent it from becoming unaffordable. VRBA cited Saanich’s Community Amenity Contributions and Victoria’s deconstruction fees as contributing to housing costs.

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Pride-friendly REALTOR^®: Dustin Miller delivers!

Introducing Dustin Miller, a dedicated REALTOR^® serving Greater Victoria for a decade. With a commitment to inclusivity, Dustin embraces the vibrant LGBTQ+ community. Celebrating Pride, he welcomes all to find their dream homes with open arms.

In Case You Missed It

📰 Wednesday’s newsletter: Highway 4 expected to reopen mid-July, Esquimalt apartments evacuated after excavation cave-in, Bryan Adams coming to Victoria, and more. [June 14]

🌲 Locals near Bear Mountain criticize access fees: Non-residents will receive a $45 charge to use Bear Mountain trails, angering those living nearby who regularly use the paths. [The Westshore]