Fall sitting begins at B.C. Legislature, with 4 official parties now in the chamber | CBC News
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MLAs are back in Victoria on Tuesday for the start of the fall sitting of the B.C. Legislature, with four official parties now participating.
The Conservative Party of B.C. now has official party status, complete with a nearly $400,000 annual budget, after former B.C. United MLA Bruce Banman crossed the floor last month to join party leader John Rustad.
The Office of the Clerk has said it appears to be the first time four parties will be represented in B.C.’s legislature with “official status,” but not the only time four parties have had MLAs in the legislature.
UBC political scientist Stewart Prest said having Conservative MLAs in the legislature could create a challenge for the province’s other right-of-centre party, B.C. United.
“They are now vulnerable on this right-wing flank to continue to bleed support to this upstart B.C. Conservative Party,” said Prest.
The governing NDP has 56 of the 87 seats in the legislature. B.C. United has 26, the B.C. Greens and Conservatives have two each, and there is one independent MLA.
Housing will be a key focus this session, with government house leader and Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon promising new legislation to address permitting and zoning challenges, to strengthen enforcement of short-term rentals, and to deliver more small-scale, multi-unit housing.
Ravi Kahlon says short-term rentals, like those on platforms such as Airbnb, are harming housing availability and affordability in the province.
Premier David Eby said last month that his NDP government would also bring in new rules this fall allowing secondary and basement suites in every community in the province.
The government says other legislation on the way will improve emergency management, support victims of crime and update rules that will allow professionals trained in other countries to more easily have their skills recognized in B.C.
Prest said that by focusing on B.C.’s housing crisis, where many residents struggle to afford or even find appropriate homes, the NDP is looking to build political support for the next general election, which is due to be held on Oct. 19, 2024.
“They’re starting to put their cards on the table, I think, in the run up to next year’s election … to say they’re doing as much as anyone can to deal with the housing affordability crisis,” Prest said.
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