B.C. Fraser Institute urges province not to give cities more power to block housing
A think tank that advocates free-market policies says a promised rollback would reduce housing options and raise prices.
Sources · Fraser Institute
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The Fraser Institute, a free-market think tank, is urging B.C.'s incoming government not to give municipalities more power to restrict homebuilding.
In a commentary, the institute says the rollback would be a mistake, arguing it would mean fewer housing options and higher prices for homebuyers and renters. It calls the 2023 provincial legislation "not Victoria dictating which homes got built."
The commentary says restrictions in one city raise costs elsewhere, citing Vancouver restrictions affecting a Kelowna family. It notes that Burnaby changed its zoning in July 2024 to meet provincial requirements, and that roughly 40 per cent of building permits issued in affected residential areas through early 2026 were for multi-unit homes.
The B.C. Conservatives' 2024 platform pledged to "make a new home cheaper to build and buy." Premier-designate Lorne Doerkson has promised to roll back provincial rules requiring most municipalities to allow up to four homes on many residential lots. Doerkson and the BC Conservatives have not responded to the commentary.
