The Cost of Living on the North Shore

I remember reading a quote, a commentary on city livability, affordability and wealth inequality;

“If you live within 15 minutes of a coffee shop, but the barista can’t afford to live within half an hour, then you don’t live in a city – you live in a theme park.”

For many young people raised on the North Shore, we are coming to a time where we are being priced out of the place we call home. To buy a condo, you need the small amount of at least 1 million dollars, and to buy a house, that becomes 1.5 million dollars. To rent on the North Shore, regardless of renting in an apartment or condo, the reality is to assume you have to expend at least half your monthly budget towards it

The cost of living on the North Shore isn’t just static to housing. Rising costs to transit passes, rising food prices are up 27% higher than they were 5 years ago, and even the volatile price of gas in this day and age. The cost of living on the North Shore will continue to rise unless we do something about it. 

I would promote policies that look to help those that have grown up here and want their kids to grow up here. To those that want to work to and from the North Shore. To those that want to continue living on the North Shore 

Policies should focus on how we, as municipal government, can look to influence and affect the current cost of living on the North Shore. 

For reducing costs in housing, you can read more on my housing page but it includes;

1. Streamlining our Inclusionary Housing Policy to be aligned to what is defined by BC Housing as what is considered to be Rental Affordable – For new secured market rental developments, I would push to adopt that units should be sold at 30% below average rents in the City calculated by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. I would like to expand the amount of units secured to 30% and for new stratified developments, at minimum 10% should be rented at deep discounts or supportive housing levels or equivalent cash-in-lieu.
2. As we continue to build our housing supply, I believe that a part of those units should be dedicated to providing working people with low to moderate incomes a place to live. It is time to create a detailed housing policy that aims towards keeping our workforce; from blue-collar workers, those in healthcare and childcare, to those in public service, local.

1. For Business Owners who have trouble convincing workers to travel to working parents and young people on the North Shore who are reliant on transit, I like to acknowledge the rising cost of Transit. I would like to take from Councilor Sean Orr from the City of Vancouver; to advocate and push for the creation of a 25$ low-income transit pass to help those that have to decide between groceries and bus fare. 
2. Council cannot ignore the reality that the rising cost of living also stems from the growth in prices for groceries. It is time that Council leads by example of being a city for all, advocating for the viability and implementation of a city-operated, not-for-profit grocery store on the North Shore. 

I understand that these policies are not a cure-all. That these are not sufficient in fully resolving both our housing crisis and our inflated cost of living on the North Shore. These policies are crucial first steps of working towards reducing the cost of living, increasing affordability on the North Shore, and stepping away from the attitude that “It is what it is” when it comes to wanting to live on the North Shore.

The City’s Mission Statement is a community based on vibrancy, diversity and liveability, balancing our social, economic and environmental needs. A welcoming city, an inspiring city and a city that invites people of all ages to live, work and play.

We should make sure our policies reflect that.