New measures are coming to B.C. that will help create more housing as the Province speeds up permitting and helps build more secondary suites for rent.

Selina Robinson, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills, and Kelli Paddon, Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equity, have released the following joint statement on Consent Awareness Week:

To help ensure kids and families feel safe in their communities, the Province has received approval from the federal government to prohibit the possession of illegal drugs at playgrounds, spray pools, wading pools and skate parks.

People in Burnaby and throughout the region will have access to additional health-care services as a business plan has been approved for a new inpatient tower and integrated cancer centre, as part of Phase 2 of the Burnaby Hospital redevelopment.

People in Surrey are a significant step closer to better access to health care as the Province is breaking ground on a new second hospital in Surrey and new cancer centre.

Seniors in Vancouver now have access to increased housing in their community with 58 new affordable rental homes opening on the Fraser Street corridor.

For the second consecutive year, B.C.’s maximum allowable rent increase is being set below the inflation rate. The maximum increase for 2024 will be 3.5%.

The Kicking Horse Canyon Phase 4 project is nearing completion and the final construction push this fall requires the full extended closure of Highway 1 for two periods totalling 17 days.

Young people struggling with housing instability, mental and physical-health challenges in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (DTES) will have access to more and improved mental-health and substance-use supports with the launch of the first DTES Youth Outreach Centre.