BC Conservatives lay out housing platform [Video]

The leader of the BC Conservative Party laid out his strategy to solve the province’s housing crisis Friday, which includes slashing red tape and letting the private sector take the reins on boosting supply.

John Rustad unveiled his platform at a north Surrey construction site, promising quick timelines for zoning and other approvals, “presumption of compliance” by builders, and reiterating his promise to axe Bill 44.

“We just need to get government out of the way, stop this nonsense that government thinks that it should be running and doing everything,” he told construction workers and reporters, once again promoting his “Rustad Rebate” tax break program.

Rustad also pledged to launch a forensic audit of BC Housing, citing irregularities while making vague references to taking advantage of underutilized land in communities like Surrey to build more housing.

When CTV News pointed out that many of the campaign promises he was making …