The BC government has appointed a housing adviser to work with the District of North Saanich after the municipality fell well short of its first-year housing targets under the Province’s Housing Supply Act.
The adviser, who began work on January 19th, will review North Saanich’s policies, planning processes and actions related to housing delivery and provide recommendations aimed at increasing the pace of new home construction.
The appointment follows the district’s Year 1 progress report, which showed only 12 net-new homes were delivered toward a target of 60 units.
According to the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs, North Saanich also lacks a sufficient development pipeline to meet its housing targets in future years, raising concerns about its ability to address ongoing housing demand without changes to existing processes or policies.
“The housing crisis is hurting people,” said Christine Boyle, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs. She said the adviser will work with the municipality to identify barriers and help “open the door for more homes for seniors, young adults and growing families.”
The advisory role is expected to last approximately two months and carries a contract value of up to $49,850. The adviser will deliver a solution-focused report to the minister, who will then determine whether further compliance measures are required under provincial legislation.
The Housing Supply Act allows the Province to set mandatory housing targets in communities facing urgent housing pressures. Targets are calculated using a standardized methodology and are set at 75% of a municipality’s assessed housing need.
North Saanich Mayor Peter Jones said the district will cooperate with the review.
“The District of North Saanich recognizes the urgency of addressing housing supply challenges and remains committed to working collaboratively with the Province,” Jones said, adding the municipality is looking forward to recommendations that address structural constraints and support progress on housing delivery.
The Province says the appointment of an adviser is intended as a support measure and may be used in other municipalities that struggle to meet housing targets.
Since the housing targets program launched in September 2023, the Province reports that approximately 25,700 net-new homes have been delivered across 30 municipalities.
Over the next five years, more than 172,000 additional homes are expected through the program.
The Province has also committed $19 billion toward housing initiatives, resulting in more than 93,600 homes delivered or underway across British Columbia since 2017, including roughly 6,500 in Greater Victoria.
North Saanich is one of several communities under increased provincial scrutiny as the government pushes municipalities to accelerate housing construction amid ongoing affordability challenges across the region.
