Chants for affordable housing filled Downtown Vancouver Sunday afternoon as hundreds of people rallied for affordable housing in Jack Poole Plaza.
The protesters were there just two days ahead of Tuesday鈥檚 provincial budget, where the NDP government is expected to unveil action on the hot-rod issue. The rally was organized by the Affordable Action Hub and called on legislators to take action against speculation in B.C.鈥檚 housing market.
Hundreds of British Columbians came out to rally for affordable housing at Jack Poole plaza in
鈥� Kat Slepian (@katslepian)
鈥淲hat binds us together is that we are all just fed up. For years, government has just stood by and let housing prices escalate out of reach for locals,鈥� said said Raza Marzi of Housing Action of Local Taxpayers.
鈥淭he businesses we used to love are closing because they can鈥檛 find young workers to keep their business going.鈥�
Marzi called on government to crack down on out-of-province speculations.
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鈥淲e have seen global capital pricing our city out of reach for locals to buy,鈥� he said.
鈥淲e need to address this global demand and start collecting our fair share of taxes that we can then use to build affordable housing for locals.鈥�
It鈥檚 time for to fulfill their promises to voters, says Raza Miriam of Housing Action for Local Taxpayers at rally for affordable housing in Vancouver. 鈥淲e are why they got elected.鈥�
鈥� Kat Slepian (@katslepian)
Eliot Galan, cofounder of Pets Ok BC, spoke about the human cost of 鈥榥o pets鈥� policies in rental units.
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Galan took aim at housing minister Selina Robinson, saying she 鈥渂lew off鈥� a meeting with the advocacy group last year.
鈥淪tudies show that nearly half of women in abusive relationships stay up to seven times longer if they can鈥檛 find a place to go that will accepts their pets. Still, few shelters will accommodate them,鈥� said Galan.
He told the crowd that five pets were surrendered to the BC SPCA each day over the past two years 鈥� a total of approximately 3,600.
鈥淔or those to refuse their animal companions and best friends, that often meant homelessness 鈥� indefinitely,鈥� said Galan.
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