Conservative MLA Linda Hepner Slams BC NDP Over 15% BC Housing Vacancy Rates in Fort St. John
FORT ST. JOHN, BC: The revelation that 24 provincially owned housing units in Fort St. John are sitting empty while families languish on waitlists has prompted strong criticism from Official Opposition Housing Critic and Surrey-Serpentine River MLA Linda Hepner, who is calling out the BC NDP government’s mismanagement and lack of transparency.
According to recently released FOI documents, nearly 15% of BC Housing-managed units in the northern city were vacant as of June 30, three times the vacancy rate of the private rental market in the same region.
“This is a very direct example of ‘do as I say, not as I do,’” said Hepner. “If a private developer left 15% of their units empty during a housing crisis, it would be headline news, provoking outrage. Yet here we are with the provincial government shrugging it off as routine.”
The data was only released after Fort St. John council was forced to file a Freedom of Information request, after six months of stonewalling from BC Housing.
“Why did a city council have to go through a formal FOI just to get vacancy numbers?” asked Hepner. “This government constantly preaches transparency, but when it comes to their own operations, they hide behind bureaucracy and delay.”
BC Housing claims the vacancies are temporary due to maintenance and turnover, but according to its own data, many units have been sitting empty for months, while demand for social and below-market housing continues to climb, particularly for seniors and people with disabilities.
“Either BC Housing is incapable of planning regular maintenance and tenant turnover, or they simply don’t want anyone asking questions,” said Hepner. “Both scenarios are unacceptable.”
The Fort St. John housing needs assessment confirms hundreds are waiting for housing, including more than 100 seniors. Meanwhile, the NDP government’s flagship housing agency is letting units sit idle.
“This government is obsessed with headlines and announcements, but on the ground, they can’t even keep basic social housing units filled,” Hepner said. “People deserve better. Communities deserve answers. And the
Minister of Housing should appear before the Legislature to explain what’s going on in Fort St. John, and likely many other communities across the province.”
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