David Eby: Two Chances, Broken Promises and a Housing Crisis That Won't Go Away
Housing, groceries and the promises British Columbians are still waiting to see fulfilled.
Dear David Eby,
How many chances does a premier get?
You became premier in 2022, and British Columbians gave your government another mandate in 2024. You had time to understand the housing crisis, the cost of groceries, the growing number of people living without homes, and the struggles of ordinary people just trying to survive.
Yet here we are, still asking the same questions.
Where are the results for the people who need help the most?
1. The $1,000 household relief promise
During the 2024 election campaign, you promised a household tax break worth more than $1,000 for an average family, with relief beginning in 2025. You connected that promise to the cost of groceries and everyday essentials.
The original plan for immediate relief was subsequently shelved. Families who were counting on that form of help did not receive the promised payment as originally advertised.
A campaign promise is not the same as money in people's pockets.
Source: BC NDP: David Eby announces household relief
2. 300,000 homes: Where are the affordable options?
In October 2024, Eby announced a plan to unlock 300,000 middle-class homes over the next decade.
But a target is not a completed home, and a completed home is not necessarily an affordable home.
People need to know how many homes have actually been completed, how many are available at rents ordinary people can afford, and how many are within reach of people living on pensions or very low incomes.
There have also been questions about the delivery timeline for the government's proposed first-time buyer financing program, which was intended to support 25,000 homes annually.
Where is the clear public accounting showing whether these promises are reaching the people who need help most?
Source: The Tyee: Eby made promises that connected. What happened to them?
3. Affordable housing put on hold
In July 2026, The Tyee reported that at least 3,500 affordable homes across 25 Metro Vancouver projects were affected by provincial funding decisions.
The reported breakdown included 486 homes cancelled, 1,484 paused and 1,533 left in limbo.
These categories matter. Not every affected home was cancelled, but thousands of homes faced uncertainty.
For someone who already has a home, a delayed development might sound like a bureaucratic problem.
For someone sleeping outside, couch-surfing or watching their last affordable rental disappear, it can mean another year of uncertainty.
How can we talk about solving homelessness while affordable housing projects are being cancelled, paused or left waiting for funding?
Source: The Tyee: BC set to lose 3,500 affordable homes because of budget cuts
4. Building homes is not enough
The province has introduced zoning reforms, supported housing construction and funded projects. Those actions should be acknowledged.
But the housing crisis cannot be measured only by how many homes are announced or how many developments are underway.
We also need to ask:
- How many homes are affordable to people living on disability assistance, pensions or very low incomes?
- How many supportive and non-market homes have actually opened?
- How many people remain homeless while waiting?
- What happens to people who cannot afford market rent and do not qualify for middle-income programs?
A new condo does not automatically become a home for someone living on a few hundred dollars a month.
People need housing they can actually afford, not simply assurances that more housing is coming.
5. Grocery relief: Promises versus reality
In 2024, Eby promised a household tax break to help with everyday expenses. The original plan for immediate relief was subsequently shelved.
Now the BC NDP is promoting proposed measures to tackle grocery prices through competition and limits on profits on basic food items.
Those are different approaches, but neither should be confused with a guaranteed $1,000 payment to every family.
Competition may help reduce prices over time, but people need affordable groceries today.
When a government makes a specific financial promise during an election, voters deserve a clear explanation of what happened to it.
6. What about the people falling through the cracks?
What about people who have been unhoused for years?
What about older people who have worked, raised children, contributed to their communities and now cannot afford a room of their own?
What about people living on small pensions who cannot afford today's rents, never mind save for a down payment?
What about those who need a safe, independent place to live rather than an overcrowded shelter or a housing arrangement that does not suit their needs?
Where is the urgency for them?
Housing policy must include people at the bottom of the income scale, not just first-time buyers, middle-income households and people who can afford market rentals.
A government cannot declare success while people are still being left behind.
7. Two chances. What happens now?
David Eby, you have had two opportunities to lead this province through a housing crisis that has been building for years. Your government has introduced policies and built housing, but important promises have been delayed, changed or left without clear delivery timelines.
British Columbians deserve a straightforward accounting of what was promised, what was delivered, what was cancelled and what remains unfinished.
Not another glossy announcement. Not another list of future intentions.
Actual results.
And this is not just about one premier or one political party. Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim and municipal leaders must also answer for the decisions within their own responsibilities. Housing is a shared responsibility, and passing the blame between levels of government does not give anyone a place to live.
I want to see politicians held accountable for their records, not simply rewarded for making new promises.
If two opportunities to deliver meaningful change have not been enough, voters are entitled to ask whether they want to give the same leadership another chance.
Because a home is not a luxury. Food is not a luxury. Dignity is not a luxury.
They are the foundations of a decent society.
People should not have to wait indefinitely for the basics of life.
Two chances. Now show us the results.
People need homes, food and dignity. Not another election promise.
#housingcrisis #affordablehousing #homelessness #costofliving #groceryprices #housingforall #accountability #britishcolumbia #vancouver #politics
A note about sources and accuracy: I have made every effort to keep the information in this article accurate and to link to sources where possible. Figures and policy details are based on published reports and public announcements available at the time of writing. Promises, proposals, funding decisions and completed projects are not the same thing, and I have tried to distinguish between them. Readers are encouraged to consult the original sources and check for updates, as government policies and housing figures can change. The purpose of this article is to encourage transparency, accountability and an honest conversation about housing affordability and the cost of living in British Columbia.
