Chair John Henderson asked whether workforce housing support would be making an appearance in this year’s provincial budget. “It’s the single biggest priority for businesses, for our members. And I’m sure I speak for other chambers,” he said.
Simons replied “the government sees housing affordability as one of its key issues to address.”
“My anticipation is that there will be ongoing, multipronged efforts to make the building of housing easier, more streamlined,” he said. That includes moving beyond financing projects to “making it easier for local governments to address some of the challenges they have in development applications.”
Henderson asked whether the government would allow for immediate solutions for this year. Simons said, “nothing is off the table,” and that he would raise the “specific factors” impacting the Sunshine Coast with the ministry.
Highways
The perennial highway question was raised at the meeting, too, though Simons didn’t provide additional details on the rollout of a public consultation process planned for this year.
Last September, the NDP promised to study the feasibility of a Highway 101 bypass, including a public consultation process that would start in 2021.
Simons referenced a recent meeting between the Ministry of Transportation and local governments on the Sunshine Coast, acknowledging more “efficient communication between the parties” was needed.
One member asked what has to happen to get a new highway on the Sunshine Coast.
“Our highway does have places where accident statistics are significant, to require improvements, but there is no specific threshold,” he said.
Henderson also suggested tolling could be an option, telling Simons “businesses are prepared to help pay for a new highway. For a real highway.”
Simons replied his government “doesn’t seem to be in favour of tolling, but it’s worth mentioning.”
Board elected
At the March 29 meeting, Henderson, Debbie Hendsbee, Carolyn Minchin, Gaetan Royer and Derek Thebault were elected as directors for a one-year term. Nick Farrer, Rory Gowler, Jessica Hemingay, Graham Moore, Laurie Reid and Albert Trinh were elected for a two-year term.
“In 2020 and despite the impacts of COVID, the Chamber had perhaps its busiest year ever,” said Henderson, serving as chair, in a release after the meeting. He said the chamber was “proud to take the leadership role on the Coast in providing forums for our elected officials to keep our members and others in the community informed about their work, particularly relating to COVID.”
The chamber also advocated on issues including solutions to water supply, property taxes, workforce housing and short-term rentals, he said.
