Municipal Election Survey

What is the NTU Election Survey?

The purpose of this survey, first launched during the 2022 election, is to help our community understand the platforms of all municipal election candidates who wish to participate. We sent each candidate the 6 questions below and ranked their responses so that our members, other tenants, and the voting public can make an informed decision that supports housing affordability and tenants’ rights at the ballot box.

All responses were reviewed by housing advocates with the identity of the candidate concealed to mitigate biases. Each answer was scored from 1 to 5 based on its perceived alignment with the mandate of the Nelson Tenants Union and those scores turned into our Municipal Election Scorecard. To read our mandate and learn more about how to get involved with our union and local decolonization efforts, please visit our Solidarity and Values.

    • Nelson’s 2024 Municipal Housing Needs Report and 2026 Housing Dashboard note:

      • Since 2014, Nelson’s rental vacancy rate has been between 0%-0.5%, while a “healthy” vacancy rate is generally considered to be between 3%-5%. 

      • 139 affordable and 56 deeply subsidized housing units are required by 2029, expanding to 439 units and 133 units, respectively, over the next 20 years.

      • Renter households are 4x more likely to be in core housing need than owners. 

      • The city met 46% of its construction goals for housing built between 2020-2025:

        • 0 units of affordable housing (rental or ownership units that are subsidized to below market prices) were given permits, failing the goal of 303 units.

        • 71 rental units in the category of deeply affordable housing (for people on social assistance or who need housing that offers additional supports) were given building permits, exceeding the goal of 56 units. 

    • The 2025 Nelson Committee on Homelessness report identified the following:

      • 122 homeless individuals were identified during their Point In Time survey, representing a 45% increase from the 2022 survey and 33% increase from the average of the 2016, 2018, and 2022 surveys.

      • 56% of those currently experiencing homelessness have been without stable, long-term housing for a year or longer, compared to just 24% in 2018.

      • The median cost of rent increasing by $100 is associated with a 9% increase in the homelessness rate.

    • The provincial government’s 2026 budget cut the Community Housing Fund, resulting in the cancellation of the 50 unit building being developed by Nelson CARES Society at the corner of Front and Cedar Streets. The project would have provided:

      • 15 units priced at near-market rent ($750-$1,300 monthly depending on  household income and unit size).

      • 25 units would be priced based on 30% of a renter's income.

      • 10 units would be for people earning less than $30,000 annually.

    • During the 2021 heat dome event, 619 people in B.C. died from extreme heat due to a lack of residential air conditioning, with 99% of these deaths occurring inside residences. To help address this, the B.C. government introduced a regulation for mandatory air conditioning, but which only applies to newly built homes.

    • UBC’s Balanced Supply of Housing group notes that no-fault evictions (caused by the landlord wanting to sell, renovate, demolish, or use the unit for themselves) in B.C. account for 85% of evictions, compared to 65% nationally. No-fault evictions and predatory practices such as AI-powered rental pricing are a prevalent issue with Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and other multi-unit landlords.

 

Candidate Responses

  • “How will you work to end homelessness in Nelson and provide full-spectrum social supports?”

    Ainsleah Hastings - City Council Candidate
    Blah blah blah.

  • “How will you increase investment in social housing, including barrier-free and supportive options? (e.g. creating a city-owned public housing developer, advocating for a public housing developer at the Union of BC Municipalities, raising affordable unit minimums above 30% per development, etc.)”

    Ainsleah Hastings - City Council Candidate
    Blah blah blah.

  • “How would you support collective bargaining rights for tenants in this city? (e.g. passing local protections, defending tenants who are organizing, investing in a strike fund etc.)”

    Ainsleah Hastings - City Council Candidate
    Blah blah blah.

  • “How will you hold landlords in Nelson accountable?”

    Ainsleah Hastings - City Council Candidate
    Blah blah blah.

  • “How will you prevent corporate commodification of housing? Will you support a ban on Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITS) within the municipality?”

    Ainsleah Hastings - City Council Candidate
    Blah blah blah.

  • “How will you improve affordability and living conditions for tenants living in Nelson? Will you implement rent control and mandatory air conditioning regulations which apply to all homes?”

    Ainsleah Hastings - City Council Candidate
    Blah blah blah.