Lorne Again

Lorne Mayencourt is worried about rapidly disappearing rental housing in Vancouver's West End. He just realized this week that this was happening?

For those of you just joining us, Mayencourt is the B.C. Liberal MLA for Vancouver-Burrard, the constituency which includes the West End. Mayencourt has been their representative in Victoria since the 2001 election. Mayencourt did nothing when his government colleagues passed changes to the Residential Tenancy Act which allowed landlords to to save up rent increases over five years, and drive tenants out with cumulative rent increases of up to 20%. If that didn't work, Landlords could also use the new legislation to evict tenants for renovations, the purpose of renovations being to jack rents even higher when the tenants move back in.

Why would Mayencourt be worried? The more well-to-do condo owners that move into the riding and squeeze out struggling renters, the more likely it is that Burrard stays in Liberal hands. The more likely it is that any sense of community disappears as selfish NIMBYs start screaming for strict enforcement of Mayencourt's fascist pet project, the Safe Streets Act, and insist that the neighbourhood be remade in their selfish image. Anyone else notice how the Davie Village Business 'Improvement' Area ripped down the rainbow Pride banners from the lampposts along Davie Street? Anyone else wonder how that can happen on the watch of an openly Gay Member of the Legislative Assembly?

Of course, Mayencourt expects the City of Vancouver, which will more than likely be administered by a Vision Vancouver Council after November, to penalize property owners who convert rentals to condos, while the Liberals continue to wash their hands of the potential for an even greater housing crisis in the Lower Mainland. Is Mayencourt just trying to save face, or is he worried about another punch in the face?