(Vancouver), Green Party of Vancouver City Council
candidate Adriane Carr joined with Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of
Canada and MP for Saanich-Gulf Islands, to announce a new petition calling for
immediate changes in Canadian tax law to support the growth of affordable
rental housing options. The new tax law would encourage the building as well as
the maintenance of such options. Vancouver’s
skyrocketing rental and real estate prices have become a central issue in the Vancouver civic election.
"Vancouver’s
other political parties have failed to significantly address this
problem," said Adriane Carr. "The NPA’s eco-density program, and
Vision Vancouver’s STIR (Short-Term Incentives for Rental housing) program have
both failed to achieve meaningful results. In fact, the STIR program has
created huge controversy by allowing spot rezoning for high rise developments
that don't respect neighbourhood character, zoning, or citizen wishes,"
Carr continued.
Vancouver has one of the lowest vacancy rates in Canada (between
0.6% and 2.2%, depending upon neighbourhood) and with real estate prices rising
much faster than inflation, affordable housing options are shrinking. More and
more Vancouverites are struggling to find reasonable rental options.
“Reinstating federal tax incentives to support the
creation of affordable rental housing in Vancouver
is a smart, achievable strategy,“ said Carr, “We can grow Vancouver in a way that enhances everyone’s
quality of life.”
Petition Attached.
The full platform is on the Green Party of Vancouver website at
vangreens.ca/platform/.
To volunteer or for more information on the Green
Party’s campaign, please visit vangreens.ca or call 604-689-9233.
On November 19, add some Green to your vote.
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Media Contact:
Rebecca Harrison
media@greenparty.ca
613-614-4916
