BC NDP plan includes extending rent freeze, $400 annual rebate

VANCOUVER — While Andrew Wilkinson continues to stand up for wealthy real estate speculators and multi-million dollar home owners, John Horgan detailed his plan to build on the BC NDP’s progress by helping to make life easier and more affordable for renters.

“Even before the pandemic, people were struggling to rent and live here in BC. We’ve made real progress, but there’s a lot more we have to do,” said Horgan. “That’s why our plan helps renters while we get through the pandemic and puts more money back in their pockets as we build an economic recovery that works for everyone.”

Horgan promised that a re-elected BC NDP government will freeze rents to the end of 2021. His plan also includes providing a renter’s rebate of $400 a year for households earning up to $80,000 a year. In his first term, Horgan capped rent increases at inflation each year, saving renters an average of $333 every year. A re-elected BC NDP government would pass legislation to make that cap permanent.

“Mr. Wilkinson has called renting a ‘wacky time of life’ and his candidate in this riding wants to get rid of rent increase limits entirely,” said Brenda Bailey, the BC NDP candidate for Vancouver-False Creek. “They just don’t get it. If the BC Liberals were in power, they would let rents go through the roof and speculation would go unchecked - turning 11,000 homes back into empty condos.”

Andrew Wilkinson and his BC Liberal caucus opposed the BC NDP capping rent hikes to inflation and the successful speculation tax. Now they want to give a $200 million tax break to people with homes worth more than $3 million.

“We can’t afford Mr. Wilkinson and his plan to put speculators and multi-millionaires before renters, especially right now when so many are already struggling with loss of income or reduced hours of work,” said Horgan.