The BC Conservatives have accused the BC NDP of "betraying" Richmond residents by green-lighting a controversial supportive housing development at 3780 Sexsmith Rd.
Local MLAs Steve Kooner, Teresa Wat, and Hon Chan joined concerned community members to voice their opposition to the project, which had been halted just before the election amid backlash from the public.
"David Eby's Expired NDP are betraying Richmond residents," Kooner wrote in a post on X. "Before the election, the NDP paused the Richmond Drug Den after neighbours protested. Now they're ramming it through, claiming they'll consult after fixing the location."
He labelled the move "insulting and dishonest."
His sentiments were shared by Chan, who lamented that, "Despite public outcry, the BC NDP is forcing it through, breaking promises & ignoring community safety."
Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon explained in a statement that the original pause had been put in place so other potential sites could be explored, but that after months of trying, no other suitable location had been found.
"After careful consideration and exploring all viable options within the community, we have determined the Sexsmith site remains the best option for a supportive housing site in Richmond," he said. "This project is crucial to helping address the urgent need for long-term, supportive housing to deal with the growing number of people facing homelessness in Richmond, which has increased 91% since the pandemic to more than 160 people at last count."
Kahlon went on to note that the province would be organizing "dialogue sessions" to engage with community members beginning in March, adding that there had been a "significant amount of misinformation about this project."
This news was met with pushback from Wat, who said, "What's the point of conducting a consultation when you've already decided on the site?"
Members of the public have voiced concerns over potential drug use and crime that may come to their community as a result of the project. Kahlon assured them measures would be taken to mitigate that, including 24/7 security, "clean-up teams," and a dedicated phone line for complaints.
The project still has to be approved by Richmond City Council before ground can be broken.
