The city of Prince George is adding its name to the long list of communities asking for a room at the housing conversation inn.
City council unanimously approved a motion brought forward by Coun. Garth Frizzell to endorse the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' campaign urging meaningful consultation between the Ministry of Employment and Social Development and municipalities over long-term housing investment plans. Frizzell sits on the FCM board of directors.
Nearly 200 communities across the country have also signed on to FCM's housing crunch campaign.
According to FCM, rental construction has accounted for 10 per cent of new residential construction over the past 15 years and that for more than a decade, the national vacancy rate has remained below three per cent - the rate that is considered balanced.
Planning director Ian Wells confirmed that the vacancy rate in Prince George sites at less than two per cent.
Communities already facing imminent housing shortages, such as Terrace, Kitimat and Prince Rupert, will see people leaving and coming east to cities such as Prince George, putting more pressure on local housing stock, acknowledged councillors Murry Krause and Lyn Hall.
The matter of housing has been championed the loudest by the Big City Mayors' Caucus, said Frizzell, but it's an issue for communities of all sizes.
That was clear last Thursday during the council tribunal that suspended the business licence at the Willows Inn (previously the Ranch Motel and the Homeland Inn), said Coun. Dave Wilbur. "We saw some graphic photos of what people were pay for - paying $500 to go into hell," he said. "That's just an example of something that's right here in Prince George."
