The BC government has reaffirmed its directives for the District of West Vancouver to meet housing targets set under the Housing Supply Act, following concerns raised by Mayor Mark Sager.
In a letter dated October 9, 2025, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs Christine Boyle responded to Mayor Sager’s correspondence questioning the province’s authority to issue housing directives. Boyle said the measures are necessary due to “chronic housing supply shortages” across the province.
“The severity of B.C.’s housing crisis has required the implementation of several initiatives under the Homes for People Plan,” Boyle wrote. She added that the province’s intervention ensures municipalities “are taking action to meet housing targets.”
Boyle noted that West Vancouver had 30 days to provide written comment before the directives were issued. She said earlier correspondence from the District sought technical clarification but did not raise concerns about local authority.
The minister acknowledged that West Vancouver has made progress, including rezoning land, approving an area plan for Cypress Village, and updating its Official Community Plan. However, Boyle cited an advisor’s report that found only one out of 15 development applications moved to formal decision in the previous three years. She said she expects the District to adopt zoning amendments and its Official Community Plan by December 31, 2025.
If the District fails to meet the deadline, she intends to recommend that the Lieutenant Governor in Council enact or amend the relevant bylaw on the District’s behalf. The minister also addressed concerns about transportation funding, noting that over $3 billion in federal funding through the Canada Community Building Fund will flow to B.C. local governments between 2024 and 2034.
She said that implementing the housing directives “is not dependent on increased investment in public transportation.”
Boyle said she looks forward to receiving West Vancouver’s Year 2 Housing Targets Progress Report in mid-November, which will outline progress toward “net-new units” and implementation of the directives.
$300m/yr across BC does not even begin to cover the $600m/yr Translink shortfall.
We have more than 700 housing ‘units’ for sale in West Vancouver currently. So where is the shortage, where is the crisis and why would developers build additional units when sales are stagnant, costs to build are high, and in-migration is at a standstill. A reminder to the NDP and Comrade Eby: ideology is not leadership.
A positive for the North Shore when Mayors such as Sager stand up for their municipalities wishes!
WE have enough housing on the North Shore now.
In my view the provincial government should be working with the municipalities views on what is best for their residents.