A letter from the Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs, Christine Boyle, to Mayor Armand Hurford provides further details about the housing targets the province has set for Squamish.
The letter was included in the public council agenda for Sept. 2 and is in response to a letter from the mayor to the minister on July 15.
The province has issued a five-year Housing Target Order to Squamish for 1,069 units, which is the total minimum number of net new completed housing units required to be built by 2030.
The province says this is 75% of the total provincial housing needs estimate for the District.
The letter states that the province anticipates this number to play out as:
•Year 1: 160 units built
•Year 2: 331
•Year 3: 529
•Year 4: 770
•Year 5: 1,069
Boyle wrote that this “is the minimum number of net-new units measured cumulatively each year for the five-year period of the order. The District of Squamish should strive to achieve 100% of the estimated housing need over the duration of the order.”
The letter includes what Boyle calls “guidance” on how the number of units should break down.
The suggestion is for 747 of the total units to be rental units and 322 to be owned.
Of the rental units, the suggestion is for 154 to be below market, and 591 non-market.
Of the below market, the guidance is for 23 to have on-site supports, meaning supports to provide permanent housing for people to transition out of homelessness.
Of all the units, 615 should be studio or one-bedroom (with a suggested 251-minimum for one-bedroom units), 195 two-bedroom units, and 257 three or more bedroom units.
The District has to submit progress reports to the ministry at intervals throughout the five-year period; two reports in 2026 and one every year thereafter. The reports must also be published on the District’s website.
Last month, Hurford told The Squamish Chief about some of his concerns where the housing targets were concerned.
“One of the challenges with the targets is, I understand what the province is trying to accomplish here; however, where they're measured is really challenging because, yes, we have control over rezoning areas and all these types of things, but we don't have control over individual landowners’ finances or the actual piece that triggers a building permit, like to actually build it,” he said.
“So, I see some challenges with being sort of held to account, to something where we don't have all the control, but at the same time, I think it's entirely possible. I also think you could argue that we've been meeting our virtual housing targets for quite some time. And I don't know that anyone in Squamish thinks that developments are happening too slowly.”
The minister writes in her letter that she heard these concerns and that they are addressed through the target review process.
“I understand that the District can facilitate but not compel development and that housing delivery is dependent on external factors outside the District’s control,” she wrote. “Annual progress reporting provides the opportunity to report on the policy actions the District has put forward to help create the conditions to meet targets, as well as outline any factors constraining the District’s ability to meet targets. This information will be taken into consideration when assessing progress to achieve targets.”
In regard to having enough transit to match the increase in population, the minister pointed to recent expansions of local BC Transit service.
“The province is adding frequency to '1 Brackendale' and '2 Highlands' routes with improvements to service on Route 3 and weekend service on frequent transit networks,” she said. “There will also be improvements to oceanfront service and new service to areas of South Squamish. A total of 6,800 hours of service will also be added annually, starting in September 2025 into early 2026.”
Regarding other transportation projects in Squamish, the minister said the Ministry of Transportation and Transit staff have been in discussions with District of Squamish staff about the intersection of Mamquam Road and Highway 99, as well as the Pemberton Bridge.
She said these discussions will continue “on future transportation needs and improvements.”
The minister also praised the District for its work thus far in addressing the housing crunch.
“I appreciate the District of Squamish’s substantial efforts to enable housing development in the District and recognize the significant work completed toward enabling 10,000 dwelling units at various stages of the development pipeline,” she wrote. “I am encouraged by the policies, initiatives, and programs the District has initiated to speed up and support housing development, including the important work to enable much-needed affordable housing.”
