Premier launches rental housing task force

Vancouver NDP MLA Spencer Chandra Herbert, a longtime advocate for renters, will head up a new task force looking at issues in the rental housing market.

Premier John Horgan, joined by Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Selina Robinson, announced Tuesday that Chandra, the MLA for Vancouver-West End, will be joined on the task force by Adam Olsen, the Green MLA for Saanich North and the Islands, and the NDP’s Ronna-Rae Leonard, MLA for Courtenay-Comox.

The group “will advise on how to improve security and fairness for renters and landlords,” the government said in an announcement.

Chandra Herbert will also serve as the premier’s adviser on residential tenancy.

“Our laws haven’t kept up with the changing housing market, and that has left both renters and landlords vulnerable,” Horgan said in the statement.

“This task force will connect with British Columbians, review laws in other jurisdictions and deliver the first full review of our residential tenancy laws in 16 years.”

“Everything is on the table,” Horgan told reporters in Victoria after making the announcement.

“There 1.5 million renters in B.C.,” Chandra Herbert said.

“This is work I’ve taken on since before I was an MLA.”

The task force will make recommendations in the fall.