Richmond council candidates debate affordability problems

Richmond council candidates debate affordability problems

Almost 30 of the 55 council candidates showed up at the Thursday night debate

Richmond city council candidates had a shot at addressing cost-of-living concerns at a debate organized by the Richmond Poverty Reduction Coalition on Thursday night.

Affordability has been a hot topic throughout the Lower Mainland, and Richmond is no exception.

A municipal report published this summer found residents felt rising prices were a key contributor to the doubling of the community's unhoused population between 2020 and 2025.

The debate arrives amid a busy election year — 55 people are running for the eight council seats, more than double the amount of people who ran for city office last time.

The most current data from the municipality shows that, as of Friday afternoon, there's been over double the advanced voter turnout compared with the previous election.

Incumbent councillor Laura Gillanders says relying on the private sector to create affordable housing isn't working. (Steven Chua/ CBC)

Incumbent councillor Laura Gillanders with RITE Richmond said the affordable housing model has to change.

"We need to move away from requiring the private sector to deliver this, and have it [be] city-run," said Gillanders.

"A proper affordable housing strategy is using city-owned land, working with partnerships through B.C. Housing, through provincial and federal housing funding, so that you can provide a whole spectrum of housing options from deeply subsidized units."

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Former MP Kenny Chiu, who is running with Common Sense Alliance, said people should temper expectations as to what a municipality can do about affordable housing.

"I'm not going to say yes to everything," said Chiu. "I'm not going to be the sun, the moon and the stars for everybody."

Michael Lok of We Are Richmond said he envisioned a mixed commercial and residential building for a proposed affordable housing site in Steveston.

Vincent Li of the Richmond Citizens' Association says his party would support the programs at the Aster Place transitional housing project. (Steven Chua/CBC)

Controversial modular housing facility

Candidates also touched on the controversial 40-unit Aster Place facility, a B.C. Housing modular housing facility for the unhoused.

At a testy public hearing this summer that packed city hall with demonstrators and speakers, council voted 6-2 in favour of extending its operating permit until 2030, with councillors Alexa Loo and Kash Heed opposed.

Both Heed and Loo are now taking a shot at the mayor's seat.

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Karen Novorr-Pezzuto, who is running with Loo's Richmond Strong slate, said renewing the lease of Aster Place was a "huge mistake."

Novorr-Pezzuto said council could've instead bargained with B.C. Housing to use the building to house vulnerable seniors.

"[Council] could have redone the contracts and actually gotten some more housing for our vulnerable population that needs it," she said. "I think we missed out on a good opportunity."

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Vincent Li with the Richmond Citizens' Association said his party would support strengthening the programs offered at the facility.

"Aster Place provides more than just shelter," said Li. "It provides programs to allow individuals to deal with any sort of physical, or perhaps mental, challenges they may be facing, any sort of employment issues they may also be facing."

The event was organized by the Richmond Poverty Reduction Coalition and moderated by Maria Rantanen of the Richmond News. (Steven Chua/CBC)

Nearly 30 of Richmond's 55 council candidates attended the debate.

Most local parties had candidates at the event.

However, two groups which have been campaigning heavily in the city — Conservative Richmond and Advance Richmond — were not represented.

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