Delivering the homes needed by British Columbians requires integrating immigration policy within housing policy. One of the panels at Housing BC Together – UBCM’s housing summit – will discuss the significant housing needs facing B.C.’s communities in order to accommodate population growth. The panel for this session includes Dr. Dan Hiebert (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada); Chris Friesen (Chief Operating Officer of the Immigrant Services Society of BC); David van Hemmen (Vice President at the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade) and Anne Kang, Minister of Municipal Affairs, and will be chaired by Councillor Trish Mandewo, City of Coquitlam.
As noted by Dr. Hiebert, “First and foremost, immigration policy is, essentially, also a form of housing policy”. Panellists will be invited to explore how policymakers should address this linkage to ensure that Canadian residents – present and future - have access to the housing they need. The panel will also consider regional settlement trends, and highlight implications for all orders of government.
This session is one of eleven policy discussions that will be featured in the program for Housing BC Together, to be held April 4-5 at Sheraton Wall Centre in Vancouver. Delegates will also hear from Premier David Eby; Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing; Leader of the Opposition Kevin Falcon and B.C. Green Party leader Sonia Furstenau. Local governments, industry, Indigenous housing leaders and not-for-profit representatives are invited to register.