The Premier says the provincial government’s housing targets for the City of Kamloops will likely be set and released this fall.

While in Kamloops earlier this month, David Eby was asked if there was an update on the discussions with the City over the summer, that was set to take place before those targets were made public

“The Minster of Housing is working with local governments through his staff in setting those targets,” Eby said. “We want them to be achievable, we want them to be realistic, but we also want them to be ambitious, because this is a housing crisis and working together in partnership with cities is how we are going to get there and set those targets.”

“That work continues with local governments including Kamloops.”

Kamloops was the only Interior community subject to these provincial housing targets under B.C.’s Housing Supply Act that was passed last year.

“One of the realities that we’re seeing in the province is that many British Columbians looking for a place to live – whether to rent or buy – are finding that the housing is simply not there,” Eby said in Kamloops.

“That is because in many people in many places we’ve seen dramatic population growth and our housing growth has not kept pace with that. Kamloops and region is no exception.”

The Province said the ten communities were chosen “using an objective and data-based process” to encourage municipalities to address local barriers to construction so housing can get built faster, including updating zoning bylaws and streamlining local development approval processes.

“Huge population growth in this area and making sure that the City of Kamloops has both the information about what kind of housing they need but also incentives to make sure that they’re hitting those targets so that the housing is built in this community and the many others across the province is so critically important,” Eby said.

A second group of eight to 10 municipalities is also expected to be selected and notified later this year.