NEW PERSPECTIVES AND PRIORITIES

Call for partnerships to get the economy back on track and build more housing BY HESAM DEIHIMI

For most of us, preoccupation with the human tragedy and social upheaval brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic has left little time to look beyond the daily health briefings and concern for the welfare of our families and friends. But as we start to slowly emerge from this crisis in the months ahead, we will need to examine the challenges – and opportunities – of a “new normal.”

We should expect significant changes in both our macro and micro economies. Migration, nationally and internationally, is likely to change as people who are able to choose where to live move to countries and regions that are politically stable and perceived to have managed the COVID-19 crisis well on both health and social levels. With its world-class health-care system and robust social security net, Canada – and especially British Columbia – stands out.

On the micro level, we can expect far more people to work from home, shop online, have groceries and other purchases delivered to their door and – at least at first – look for entertainment that doesn’t involve large crowds.

What does that mean for Canada and B.C.? The Canadians Abroad project of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada estimates that there are as many as 2.8 million Canadians living abroad, but many are now coming home. Having lived in an immigrant community for the past 24 years, I have witnessed an inflow of Canadians over the past few months. Most, if not all, are planning to stay here permanently.

The pandemic has given people a new perspective on their lives and reoriented their priorities. They want to live in a country that looks after its people, has a stable political system and provides a social safety net for its citizens. Many returnees include people in their 20s and 30s who may have been living with their parents but who will now require their own accommodation.

And with the prospect of B.C.’s economy resuming its robust growth based on a global resumption in demand for natural resources and the continued expansion of the tech sector, it’s not hard to imagine a substantial net increase in interprovincial migration as Canadians from elsewhere seek job opportunities in the province.

We have all seen firsthand how the Apples, Amazons and Microsofts of the world have been establishing footholds in our region. Enrico Moretti writes in his book, The New Geography of Jobs, that for each new high-tech job in a city, five additional jobs are ultimately created outside of that sector – lawyers, teachers, nurses, servers, hairdressers, carpenters … the list goes on.

While this would appear to be good news for B.C.’s economy, any growth in the provincial population will undoubtedly place even more pressure on our region’s rental housing market, which is already grappling with a 1.1 per cent vacancy rate (according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s 2020 Rental Market report), and it’s almost impossible to predict how that will be resolved in the short-term.

According to 2019 British Columbia Financial and Economic Review (79th Edition), construction, real estate, rental and leasing comprise 27 per cent of B.C.’s gross domestic product. The post-pandemic economic downturn combined with significant delays and uncertainty in the permitting phase of any development project could

become major obstacles to meeting housing demand and contributing to the region’s economic recovery.

But it needn’t be so if we are prepared to consider innovative solutions to the challenge. We need local governments to work with community builders, BC Housing, non-profit housing providers, other provincial bodies and CMHC to create the partnerships needed to help put our economy back on track and get more housing built in the province. For example, we should consider the following: n Waive public hearings and readings: This would apply to projects that fit existing zoning, design guidelines, OCP designations and other existing policies in place in many municipalities. Specifically, those that do not result in displacement of existing tenants. n Use certified professionals: Using certified professionals with adequate insurance coverage could help municipalities address their backlogs and speed up the review process. n Provide local workforce housing: The pandemic has highlighted our reliance on essential workers in health care, emergency

The post-pandemic economic downturn combined with significant delays and uncertainty in the permitting phase of any development project could become major obstacles to meeting housing demand and contributing to the region’s economic recovery.

response, grocery stores, delivery services, etc. Many have risked their own health to travel long distances to work and stay on the job to serve our needs. We need to immediately address the provision of workforce housing in our communities as part of an inclusionary housing framework.

These are unprecedented times that require unprecedented measures. While we are confident that human ingenuity and science will help us overcome this crisis, we need to be prepared to deal with the aftermath that will impact us all for years to come.

Hesam Deihimi is an award-winning community developer who serves as the president and principal at Milori Communities and Placemaker Group of companies. He currently serves as the representative of the development community on the District of North Vancouver Rental and Affordable Housing taskforce.