CORRECTION: Initiative proposed to address housing costs in Fort St. John

It was previously reported that representatives of the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) presented the initiative to the council. this is not true, Arjun Singh is the former president of UBCM but was not representing the organization at the council meeting. 

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — During the July 8th Committee of the Whole meeting, representatives for the ACE Card Housing project presented to council its objectives to address B.C.’s housing supply constraints. 

The Fort St. John Housing ACE Card Offsite Construction Early Adopter Program Is a voluntary local government initiative to solve labour force limitations. 

The program will make it easier and more cost-effective to deliver locally and province-wide on Affordability, Climate Action and Economic Development (ACE). 

The Offsite Wood Housing Construction Local Government Driving Market Transformation on Affordability, Climate & the Economy (ACE) is an independent project that receives grant money from the Zero Emissions Innovation Centre (ZEIC), and the Real estate market of BC. 

The project’s central strategy is to address labour force constraints by changing the way companies approach construction to drive productivity changes.

According to Alex Boston, manager of the Housing ACE Card Offsite Construction Market Transformation Project, government policies fail to address the largest housing supply constraints and the labour force, which is a growing cost driver. 

“Everything the federal and provincial governments coast to coast is doing don’t address the single biggest priority around housing supply, and a growing driver of rising construction costs,” said Boston.

Project consultant Arjun Singh presented the program saying it has many different benefits for local communities across the province. 

Singh asked if city staff would participate in the program and asked for “modest” financial support, roughly a minimum of $1,000 or $2,000.

Boston says Canada needs to methodically grow the demand for housing by creating a policy environment that grows the housing sector. 

“The biggest barrier to offsite construction manufacturing capacity in B.C. and Canada is not enough demand.”

Boston goes on to say local governments across BC are approving far more projects than are ever completed. 

“Our construction labour force is being shadowed by housing completion,” said Boston. 

Boston says a big result of COVID-19 was that it kicked a bunch of people out of the workforce. 

“Older workers that had their homes and decent pensions were quite well off, they just threw in the towel,” said Boston. 

Councillor Gord Klassen asked why Fort St. John should be involved in the project. 

Singh says the city is ideal because the community and council are willing to participate, and public land is available. 

“I noticed there is a lot of innovation up here, if you’re paying attention to what’s happening in local governments across the province FSJ would be one of the leading communities,” said Singh.

Mayor Lilia Hansen asked what taxpayers get from the city’s participation in the project.

Boston says the taxpayers would get more cost-effective housing delivery and support around meeting climate targets. 

The presentation can be viewed below: