Housing and homelessness displace economy as B.C. residents' top concern: poll
“Whoever can connect on that file is going to tap into a lot of dissatisfaction:” Mario Canseco, Insights West
By Jen St. Denis, Business In Vancouver
British Columbians now rank housing, poverty and homelessness higher than the economy on their list of concerns.
The previous instalment in the Business in Vancouver-Insights West B.C. government report card series showed the economy as B.C. residents’ No. 1 concern. Results in the updated report card represent the first time in three years that the province’s residents have picked housing, poverty and homelessness as their top issue of concern.
“I think it really speaks to the situation that we’ve had over the past few months, especially over the past few months: discussions about realtors, discussions about foreign ownership,” said Mario Canseco, vice-president of public affairs at Insights West. “Whoever can connect on that file is going to tap into a lot of dissatisfaction.”
The debate about the role of foreign investment in the Metro Vancouver housing market has been heated, with real estate economists saying capital outflows from China are landing in B.C. real estate and driving up prices, while the real estate industry and provincial government have pinned the problem on a lack of supply.
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