Candidates on homelessness

With the Oct. 19 provincial election approaching, Castanet caught up with candidates in the Salmon Arm-Shuswap riding after the Sicamous All Candidates Forum to discuss homelessness in the region.

Candidates were asked what they and their party would do to address the growing issue.

“What we need to do is we need to build more housing,” said David Williams, BC Conservative candidate. "We need affordable housing for families, but we also need to have more investment going into just purpose-built rental buildings as well as low income.”

Williams also noted he was opposed to Bill 44, created to try and address the housing crisis in B.C. He said he believes municipalities should be in charge of their own zoning, including where to build affordable housing.

Jed Wiebe, BC Green Party candidate, said his party’s plan to invest in non-market housing would help to reduce poverty and homelessness in the Shuswap.

“We don't have to have a shortage of low income places for people to live,” Wiebe said.

“We are the only party that is talking about ending poverty,” he added. “The other two parties are talking about reducing poverty.”

Weibe said B.C. residents on social assistance and disability support are kept below the poverty line, and the BC Greens' plan to raise those payments would help lift many people out of poverty.

“Poverty reduction strategies are costing British Columbians $14 billion a year, and fixing the problem would only cost $2 billion,” he said.

Sylvia Lindgren, BC NDP candidate, said her party is already taking steps to alleviate homelessness.

“The party's already doing a lot to address it,” she said. “Shelter housing to get people off the streets immediately, supported housing where people can go for treatment, and long term housing.”

Lindgren added there is “more work to be done,” noting poverty reduction is another important piece of the puzzle to ensure people have enough money to continue to afford housing.

Greg McCune, independent candidate, said B.C.'s growing population is estimated to need 400,000 new houses in the coming years. He said in his opinion, the other parties' housing plans would not build enough new homes.

“We have to build homes, honestly, as fast as we can,” McCune said.

He said he believes the province could be building 150,000 to 200,000 new homes by prioritizing the construction of housing.

“Everyone deserves a roof over their heads,” he said. “This needs to change, I think we can get at it right away and it'll happen, because we need it — we can't turn a blind eye anymore.”

Castanet reached out to independent candidate Sherry Roy for comment, but did not hear back by deadline.