CUMBERLAND, sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ — British Columbia NDP Leader David Eby says his government would fast-track factory-built homes as part of its strategy to ease the province's housing crisis.
At an election campaign stop on Vancouver Island, Eby says pre-built homes cut waste, reduce emissions, and the advances in the industry mean the homes are "beautiful and high-quality."
A statement issued by the NDP says its government would work with the industry, municipalities and First Nations to create a provincewide framework so builders know what's required in every community.
It says there would also be a pre-approved set of construction designs to reduce the permitting process, and it would also work with the industry to develop the skills training needed to support pre-fabricated home construction.
It says Scandinavian countries have embraced factory-built homes, which "offer an alternative to the much slower, more costly process of building on-site."
The statement says legislation passed by the NDP government last year was a "game changer" for the factory-built home construction industry in the province, where there are currently 10 certified manufacturing plants.
"By growing sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½'s own factory-built home construction industry, everyone from multi-generational families to municipalities will be able to quickly build single homes, duplexes and triplexes on land they already own," Eby says.
Eby and his rivals, sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ Conservative Leader John Rustad and Green Leader Sonia Furstenau, have all been rallying for support as the first week of the provincial election campaign draws to a close.
Rustad held a rally in Prince George Thursday night, while Furstenau was in southeastern sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ to make a promise for mental health under a Green government. She stayed for a rally with Kootenay-Central candidate Nicole Charlwood in Creston.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 27, 2024.
The Canadian Press