While Eby changes the game on housing, Rustad sides with wealthy players who want to return to the old rules

SURREY - David Eby was back in the Lower Mainland to highlight the clear choice for British Columbians on housing: Between his plan to deliver new middle-class homes or John Rustad’s plan to cancel measures to open up more homes for people and to give tax breaks to those who got rich off the housing crisis

“After decades of wild speculation driving up costs and red tape blocking construction of new homes, our housing action plan is a game changer. We’re building middle-class homes, cracking down on speculation, and helping homebuyers avoid inflated prices by banning blind bidding,” said Eby. “Some people liked the old rules better – like billionaires who made big profits while families struggled to find a home they could afford. That’s why they’re putting up signs on their mansions, they want to return to the failed status quo with John Rustad.”

Experts say Eby’s plan will unlock the construction of 300,000 new middle-class homes over the next ten years. Even one of John Rustad’s handpicked candidates likes Eby’s plan. Last year, Bryan Breguet tweeted: “The BC NDP is by far the most serious on housing. They are attacking it on all fronts.”

Meanwhile, Rustad himself is planning to rip up B.C.’s country-leading housing action plan. He would bring back local red tape and bureaucracy and stop new townhomes and triplexes built by repealing Bill 44. He would cancel the speculation tax and turn rental homes back into empty units. And he would end Airbnb rules that are opening up new rental homes and bringing down rents.

“At a time when families are already struggling with high prices, John Rustad’s cuts and cancellations will cost you even more,” said Eby. “I’m hearing from a lot of people who are making up their minds – people who have voted for other parties in the past but know how much is on the line. They’re asking themselves: what would it feel like to wake up on Sunday morning and John Rustad is in charge of housing, helping speculators while everyone else pays the price? It’s a risk we can’t afford.”

A report out last week shows that asking rents in B.C. went down 3.2% in the last year and down 10% in Vancouver for 1 and 2 bedrooms. British Columbia is building rental homes four times faster than Ontario.