B.C. Court Rules Provincial Law on Kitsilano Housing Project Unconstitutional

The court found the law bypassed judicial oversight, halting a controversial low-income housing development in Vancouver.

The B.C. Court of Appeal ruled that the Municipal Enabling and Validating Act, passed to expedite a 12-storey supportive housing project in Vancouver's Kitsilano neighborhood, is unconstitutional.
The legislation was introduced in 2023 by the provincial government at the request of the City of Vancouver to override local opposition and potential legal delays.
The court determined that the law infringed on the judiciary's role by deeming a contested public hearing compliant with legal standards, bypassing the courts' authority to review the matter.
The Kitsilano Coalition for Children & Family Safety Society, which opposed the project, argued the law violated constitutional principles and sought changes to better integrate the development into the community.
Both the City of Vancouver and the provincial government are reviewing the decision, with Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon reaffirming the province's commitment to addressing the housing crisis.