Healthcare Workforce Housing Amendment (Kirby-Yung)
Motion 19 · Standing Committee of Council on City Finance and Services, May 20, 2026
Summary
- Amendment by Councillor Kirby-Yung replacing the specific clauses on healthcare workforce housing with a broader direction to report on affordable rental opportunities for healthcare workers and other moderate- and low-income residents, and an explicit call on both provincial and federal governments to invest capital funding in affordable housing.
- Kirby-Yung noted that the city is already providing land and nominal-cost leases; the missing piece is capital investment from senior governments.
- Passed; Councillor Fry did not vote (outstanding).
Vote
Public comments
Read all 1 statements
Transcript
15 segments
Thank you. And in recognition of how broad the need is for healthcare workers and beyond, and all of the work and what the real crux of the problem is, which is quite frankly, because a lot of this has already been done, is quite frankly just getting the funding. And so what it really does, I think, speaks to getting to the heart of the issue. It's a strike and replace for clauses A and B. A is reporting back on opportunities to further support the delivery of affordable rental housing for both health care workers and other moderate and low-income residents through policy tools and partnerships. And then it retains the clause calling upon not just the province, but also very explicitly The government of Canada, as council already identified, and that be a vociferous call from all of mayor and council to deliver the housing necessary, because that is really where, I think I used this phrase earlier, but that's the crux of it, is we need funding to deliver on the affordability. The city can provide land for free, as we do. The city can provide non-profit leases at almost no cost, which we do. But the affordability piece with a high cost of construction, financing, et cetera, comes down to having the other levels of government step up. And it was actually noteworthy that at the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade breakfast this morning, Prime Minister Carney actually said, he referenced Gregor Robertson, who was in the room, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and the Canada Builds Program. through the six months into that. And he said one of our challenges with affordability is that we have not been building enough and we have not been investing in affordable housing. And he said that very explicitly. So I say let's seize the moment and really focus on the laser into the heart of the issue. Thank you.
Thanks. Yeah, thanks for the reminder that all workers need affordable housing. I'm acutely aware. I chose healthcare because of the previous rezoning that we approved. I thought it was... specific enough that we could sort of target just that one, just healthcare workers.
But I, and I also thought I had in there a call to write a letter to the provincial minister of housing. along with her federal counterparts in support of a workforce housing scheme for early career and low-wage healthcare workers. But I'm just trying to figure out how this is different. Clause B is different from my Clause B, but I suppose the spirit is there. I do think we need to call upon those federal and provincial partners to step up. So I probably will support the amendment. Thanks.
Thanks, Clerk. I mean, thanks, Counselor. So, Clerk, we need to clear the timer. I think the timer is not right for all the counselors. We need to reset all the timers, except for Councillor Kerbion, who just will. Okay, perfect. Councillor Kerbion.
Yeah, I mean, to Councillor Orr's comment, there's just a bit more of an explicit reference in B to really underscoring capital, like in terms of really needing putting money, like actual dollars and putting money in, not necessarily just schemes that sometimes are interpreted as financing or otherwise, but actually just putting up some money.
So I just wanted to clarify. Thank you.
Okay, thanks. All right, seeing no one else on the queue, I'm going to take everyone to the voting screen. Please register your vote on the Councillor Kerbion's amendment.
Mayor's in.
Do you need a vote assistant, Miracine?
No, on the amendment. Councillor, can we have some amendment?
Okay. Noted. Councillor Donato? Okay.
Chair, I'm not able to use my X panel.
Yes, I'll, yeah, I am having technical issues with the X panel here. I'll get a vote assist in favor, please.
Thank you. Thank you. All right, the motion, the amendment passed with Councillor Frye upstanding. Thank you. Going back to the main queue, Councillor Kerbion? That's all, thanks. Thanks. All right, so seeing no one else on the queue, I'm going to take everyone to the voting screen. We will be voting on the main motion as amended. Councillor, please register.
Sorry, Chair, just the point of procedure. Is that not a strike from our place? Can we not just move on?
Oh, okay, yeah, that's right.
We still need to vote? Okay, so Councillor Montague, so clerk, just inform us. We still need to vote.
Okay.
Let's just go to the vote for these main motions amended.
Okay, the main motion passed unanimously.
Statement Watch
All right, is anyone else cold in here? Because I definitely am. But good morning, everyone. Good morning, council members and our mayor. My name is Samaya Adam. I am a black Muslim woman, and I'm grateful to be here with you all today. I'm a community builder. However, I am here on behalf of Foundation for a Path Forward. So on foundation, I serve as their board member. And, you know, sometimes you got to do dutiful, do the full things and come and support your community. So that's why I'm here today. However, the foundation's work is really focused on strengthening communities and advancing anti-racism work across local, national, and global contexts. It is in partnership with Resilience BC under the Attorney General's office. Our work is really grounded in collaboration and practical community-led solutions to build stronger, safer, and healthier communities. And so with that, we are here today for a proclamation recognizing Eid al-Hadha. Eid al-Hadha, also known as the Festival of Sacrifice, which you also graciously shared, it is one of the most significant holidays and celebrations in the Muslim faith. It is rooted in generosity and sacrifice, and it is deeply connected to the values our community cares. So our community really values community care. It is rooted in service. and support. And so when we think about sacrifice, there has to be this willingness to do that. And so at the same time, we cannot ignore the sober context of next month. So this June actually marks five years since the devastating attacks on the Afzal family in London, Ontario, where three generations of Muslim families were taken from us in an act of Islamophobic violence. Even today, we continue to see that rise in Islamophobia. However, moments like today should remind us that while Muslim communities are celebrating, many of us are also navigating anxiety and grief from our day-to-day experiences. So while today is a very symbolic day and a recognition that is so needed, it is an opportunity to deepen our understanding of one another, as well as to build solidarity. And so, thank you for... convening us today because the importance of coming together across differences is what really builds healthier, stronger communities. And so I'm really grateful for the city of Vancouver for creating the space for its residents, opening seats at the table, and really instilling a sense of dignity, shared responsibility through power, shifts, dynamics, all of that. And so this is a place we all call home. And so again, I'm just going to say thank you for giving us the space.
All right. Thanks, everyone. Thanks for... Alright, so this is the plan for the day. We're going to break at noon for lunch and return at 1pm to continue to deal with the remainder of the agenda. If needed, we need to recess at 5pm for a dinner break and reconvene at 6pm to complete the agenda. Okay, so now the committee member will consider the matter adopted on consent. We have report number one on the consent agenda for the committee's consideration. We will hold report two and three to hear from the speakers.