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GET BC BUILDING – John Rustad Unveils Bold Plan to End Housing Shortage and Bring Housing Costs Under Control
“Our plan is about real accountability and real solutions to the housing crisis. We will get BC building again, restore affordability, and make sure that all British Columbians have the chance to own a home and thrive.” - John Rustad, Leader of the Conservative Party of British Columbia
September 27th, Surrey, BC: John Rustad, Leader of the Conservative Party of British Columbia, today announced a comprehensive plan to tackle BC’s housing crisis and restore affordability for British Columbians. The “Get BC Building” plan promises to end the housing shortage, streamline approval processes, and deliver the largest tax cut on housing in BC’s history, dubbed the “Rustad Rebate.”
“If you work hard, you should be able to get ahead, but in David Eby’s BC, that’s no longer the case,” said Rustad. “The NDP’s policies have sent rents and home prices soaring, while piling on income taxes that make it impossible for British Columbians to keep up. It’s time for immediate relief.”
The Rustad Rebate: The Largest Housing Tax Cut in BC’s History
The Conservative Party’s plan includes immediate tax relief, starting in Budget 2026, with the Rustad Rebate (BC Rent and Mortgage Rebate). The rebate will remove BC income taxes from $3,000 per month of housing costs, including rent, mortgage interest, and strata fees, offering significant relief to both renters and homeowners.
“We’re in a housing crisis, and it’s time to act with urgency,” Rustad emphasized. “The Rustad Rebate will give people immediate financial relief and help them stay in the homes they love.”
Speeding Up Housing Approvals
Under the NDP, housing starts are collapsing, and bureaucratic delays are preventing necessary development. The Conservative Party’s plan will:
- Approve homes in months, not years: Rezoning and development permits will be approved within 6 months, and building permits within 3 months. If cities fail to issue permits within these timelines, the provincial government will step in and issue them.
- Proactive planning: Rustad committed to working with cities to “pre-zone” areas in advance, eliminating delays caused by rezoning for each individual project.
- Trust BC professionals: The plan includes a Presumption of Compliance policy, requiring cities to trust certified and regulated professionals like engineers and architects to do their jobs without unnecessary bureaucratic interference, speeding up housing approvals.
“The NDP talks about building homes, but their policies have made it impossible,” said Rustad. “We will cut the red tape, streamline approvals, and get BC building again.”
Repealing Hidden Taxes on Housing
Rustad criticized the NDP for increasing construction costs by 30-40% through the radical Step Code policy and Net-Zero mandate, which he said also result in cookie-cutter homes with fewer windows and reduced livability.
“These hidden taxes are driving up costs and making homes unaffordable,” Rustad said. “We will immediately repeal these hidden taxes that make it so expensive to build in BC while doing nothing for safety or livability.”.”
Supporting Transit-Oriented Communities
The Conservative Party is committed to building complete communities near transit, not just high-density dormitories. The party will amend Bill 47 (Transit Oriented Areas) to ensure new communities have space for grocery stores, small businesses, and services within walking distance of homes.
“Building homes isn’t enough—we need to build communities that people can live in, work in, and enjoy,” Rustad added.
Ending Over-Regulation and Defending Property Rights
Rustad vowed to end over-regulation by activist city planners, who have inflated housing costs through endless design reviews and micromanagement that kills projects. The Conservative Party will:
- Amend the Local Government Act to stop unnecessary red tape that kills housing projects.
- Establish the BC Development Tribunal to hold regulators and politicians accountable to fair processes and the rule of law.
A Rental Construction Boom and Fair Taxation
To ensure fairness in taxation, the Conservative Party will work with BC Assessment to prevent current homeowners from being hit with higher tax bills due to future potential zoning changes.
The Conservative Party will also introduce real tax incentives for purpose-built rental housing, bringing back a modern version of the successful Multi-Unit Residential Building (MURB) program to encourage long-term rental development.
Building New Towns and Unlocking Land
The Conservative Party of BC will identify land outside the Agricultural Land Reserve with potential to support new communities, addressing the housing shortage with smart, sustainable development.
“BC has the land, but the NDP refuses to use it,” said Rustad. “We will unlock this potential and build beautiful new towns to end the housing shortage.”
Working With Cities, Not Against Them
Rustad pledged to give cities the flexibility to build housing in ways that work for their communities. The Conservative Party will also create a Civic Infrastructure Renewal Fund to provide $1 billion per year to municipalities that allow viable small-scale multi-unit housing on at least 2/3rds of their residential land.
“Eby’s plan to ram ‘low-barrier’ facilities into unwilling communities has created backlash, but we will work with cities to build housing that fits their needs,” Rustad said.
A New Vision for Housing Accountability
Rustad also promised a forensic audit of BC Housing to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent on genuinely low-income housing, not wasted on politically connected non-profits. The Conservative Party will also provide professional training to non-profits receiving government funds for housing projects to ensure cost-effective and timely construction.
“Our plan is about real accountability and real solutions to the housing crisis,” Rustad concluded. “We will get BC building again, restore affordability, and make sure that all British Columbians have the chance to own a home and thrive.”
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For more information, please contact [email protected].
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