The site of the RCMP E Division headquarters in Vancouver—bigger than the Little Mountain Housing complex—is an ideal location for affordable housing, according to Don Davies, federal NDP candidate for Vancouver Kingsway.

The RCMP administrative headquarters for British Columbia is moving to Surrey. This will free up 8.5 hectares of federally owned land on Heather Street on the west side of Vancouver, which is part of Davies’s riding.

Davies recalled that in 1993, the then-Liberal government removed from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation the mandate to build affordable housing. Since then, he noted, the federal government has ceased to become a supplier of low-cost shelter.

“Ninety percent of Vancouver is market housing,” Davies told the Straight. “We have very, very little land available. The entire site should be dedicated to affordable housing.”

Vision Vancouver councillor George Chow is suggesting that city council appeal to the federal government to give priority to housing in its future plans for the property. Chow told the Straight that he is preparing such a motion for council’s consideration.