Housing affordability will be the 'only issue' in Vancouver municipal election

Housing affordability will be the No. 1 issue in the upcoming fallmunicipal elections in Vancouver and across the Lower Mainland. That was the message deliveredat a housing forumhostedby CBCin Richmond, B.C.

"I think it's going to be the only issue," said Vancouver real estate developer Jon Stovellon Wednesday, answering a question from the Facebook audience.

The lack of affordable housing in B.C. has created a lot of anger and divisionbetween economic classes and age groups.

The City of Vancouver has created the empty homes tax, the first of its kind in the country.

It's also cracked down on Airbnb rentalsto discourage property investors and speculators from keeping unoccupied homes or unavailable to locals.

• Tell us yourhousing woes byjoining ourCBCVancouverFacebookgroup

But Josh Gordon,an assistant professor at SFU's School of Public Policy, suggested that several politicians might not be running again because they are worried they might beturfed out.

"Incumbent politicians usually get re-elected but there are a lot of incumbent politicians that might be concerned ... as we saw, Mayor GregorRobertson didn't run again," Gordon said.

"And that's because of this anger over housing, and so clearly it's a central issue."

Stovelagreed, saying municipal politicians need support fromfederal and provincial governments to create more affordable housing.

"It's a tough one. The razor-thin margins and the low voter turnout in municipal elections mean that municipal politicians are very nervous to make bold moves, and I can hardly blame them," he said.

Defining housing

If you are interested in housing affordability, check out CBC's new podcast,SOLD!Host Stephen Quinn explores how foreign investment in real estate divides community, class and culture. Find itatCBC PodcastsorApple Podcasts.