Why is local MLA no longer contemplating mayoral run?

• Home prices have soared over 30 per cent
• Letnick remaining in provincial politics, not running for mayor
• Yeye housing society pitching 20-unit townhouse to council

According to a local politician, more needs to be done to address the housing crisis happening in Kelowna and across British Columbia. That’s why he’s not changing political office.

“I would say [the housing crisis] is the number one issue, next of course, to COVID-19,” Kelowna-Lake Country MLA, Norm Letnick told Kelowna10, following his announcement he would not be seeking the mayor’s chair.

In October, Letnick said he was contemplating running for mayor. He no longer plans on running for local office. Instead, he’s planning on remaining in provincial politics and address the housing crisis.

He explained how many affluent people are moving here and driving up home costs.

“There are some exceptions, but for the most part developers will cater to those people who are asking for those higher end units, Letnick said. “So, who’s taking care of entry level housing?”

Kelowna City Council recently looked at a report addressing the dire state of housing. It was titled: Housing unaffordability: crisis or crossroads? The report looked at how local governments play a part.

He told Kelowna10 he now leads Yeye Housing Society which is a non-profit organization with a goal to build homes costing approximately 25 per cent under market value.

As president of this group, he said their goal is to make a 20-unit townhouse complex in Kelowna. In the coming weeks they plan to submit that project to city council for consideration.

Kelowna is considered the fourth most expensive city to live in Canada and is regarded as unaffordable to live in as London, England.

Median home prices have soared over 30 per cent year-over-year. The median price of a single-family home in Kelowna is now over a million dollars

Renters also face immense difficulties. 47 per cent of renters are spending more than 30 per cent of their gross income on rent – higher than both Vancouver and Toronto.

In his time on the town council of Banff, Letnick said they faced similar issues of lacking living spaces for residents. People unable to find housing there would look elsewhere in neighboring towns like Canmore.

At that point there’s issues with commuting and congestion. Letnick explained a similar thing is happening here with residents looking at neighboring communities like Lake Country, Vernon, and others to live.

That increases the pressure for those communities and now it becomes a regional problem. Solving this issue will take all levels of government, Letnick said.