COURTENAY – BC NDP MLA Ronna-Rae Leonard says that new homes will be approved faster in Courtenay and Comox thanks to a grant for the local government to create a more efficient development approvals process.

“People need local and stable housing options that they can afford,” said Ronna-Rae Leonard, MLA for Courtenay-Comox. “This funding for Courtenay and Comox will give our local government leaders and staff more resources and supports to make the development approval process easier and more efficient so we can get more homes built for people who need them.”

Courtenay and Comox both received grants of $150,000 each as part of the Local Government Development Approvals Program (LGPAD).

The program encourages local governments to explore innovative approaches to improve development approval processes, from the pre-application phase to the issuance of the building permit.

This year the New Democrat government is providing approximately $4.4 million for 38 local governments around B.C. to participate in this program through UBCM.

This is the second intake for LGPAD, an application-based grant fund administered by the Union of British Columbia Municipalities. To date, this program has provided approximately $19 million to help local governments implement best practices and test innovative approaches to improve development approval processes while meeting planning and policy objectives.

The program will support the government’s Homes for People action plan to unlock more homes, faster.

Learn More: https://news.gov.bc.ca/31091