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Purpose-Built Rentals via First Nations & Developer P3s

Published 9/19/2025
Updated 9/19/2025
Summary

We will accelerate purpose-built rentals (PBRs) by forming public-private partnerships with First Nations and private developers under the LTRB mandate. Projects pair faster approvals with paid apprenticeships that move people from recovery to work while adding the rental supply that cools rent pressure for everyone.

Why Now
  • Rent pressure is driven by years of under-building and slow approvals.
  • Trades shortages are a bottleneck; we can train while we build.
  • First Nations partners bring governance, cultural safety, and talent; we build with:not for:Indigenous communities.
Goals
  • Approve X units of PBRs in 12 months; start Y buildings.
  • Create Z paid apprenticeship placements tied to these sites.
  • Cut median time-to-permit for compliant PBRs to ≤ 28 days.
Actions & Implementation
Step 1

Fast-lane approvals for code-compliant PBRs near transit; standardized site plan templates; concurrent reviews; strict SLA.

Step 2

P3 framework: City/Province provide land/air rights/fees deferral where needed; developers provide equity; First Nations partners co-govern workforce and community benefits.

Step 3

Apprenticeships: Reserve on-site slots for recovery-to-work graduates; wage ladders with college micro-credentials.

Step 4

Quality & longevity: rental covenants ≥ 40 years; energy-efficient specs; family-sized units quota; accessible units.

Step 5

Transparency: publish pipeline by ward; monthly dashboard updates.

Timeline
0–90 days
3 months

Fast-lane SOP live; first three sites approved.

3–12 months
9 months

Cranes on Y sites; apprentices deployed.

12–24 months
12 months

First keys delivered; evaluation and scale.

Key Performance Indicators
  • PBR approvals (target vs actual)
  • Median days to permit (PBR)
  • Apprentices placed → 90-day retention
  • Share of family/accessible units
Accountability
  • Weekly delivery review; public pipeline; third-party quality audits; Indigenous oversight committee with veto on workforce standards.
Risks & Mitigations
Risk: Supply chain/financing
Mitigation: Use templated designs; staged fee deferrals.
Risk: Community concerns
Mitigation: Early design charrettes; publish shadow/traffic analyses; noise controls.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will this raise my taxes?

We focus on tools that crowd-in private capital; public dollars de-risk and are time-limited.

Is this only downtown?

No:transit-served corridors citywide.

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