---
title: "Developer warns full repeal of BC housing law could add red tape, as Oak Bay mayor backs Doerkson's plan"
description: "Oak Bay mayor supports the premier-designate's plan to end provincial housing targets and repeal Bill 44, while a Victoria developer warns the law covers more than multiplexes."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/bc/provincial-2026/news/bill-44-housing-developer-mayor-reactions-november-2026"
last_updated: "2026-11-04T19:20:24.149Z"
---

A Victoria developer is warning that fully repealing BC's housing legislation could add red tape for homebuilders, while Oak Bay's mayor says he welcomes premier-designate [Lorne Doerkson](/bc/provincial-2026/candidates/lorne-doerkson)'s plan to end provincial housing targets and scrap the law.

Doerkson has said the incoming Conservative government will end the housing unit targets the NDP set for municipalities and repeal Bill 44, the law that allowed multi-unit homes to be built in residential zones without individual rezoning approvals. He said the province should not be dictating to local governments what to build or where, CTV News reported on November 3.

## Oak Bay's experience with the directive

Oak Bay Mayor Kevin Murdoch said Tuesday he supports the new approach. He told CTV News that while increasing density is a goal his community shares, the NDP's method of setting and enforcing targets left residents feeling powerless.

Oak Bay received a formal provincial directive after the city delivered 16 of 56 net-new housing units set by the provincial targets. That directive required the city to change its local bylaws to comply.

"Because the province imposed a top-down model, we've actually had a lot more negative feedback to housing since then," Murdoch said, according to CTV News.

He said the tone from Doerkson's team suggests the new government wants to work with municipalities rather than issue directives to them.

## Developer's warning about Bill 44's scope

Luk Mari, who heads Victoria-based Aryze Developments, says the government should be careful about how it handles the repeal. He told CTV News that Bill 44 is broader than the multiplex rules that have drawn the most attention. The law also contains other provisions that homebuilders rely on to get projects approved.

"Bill 44 is much more than just multiplexes. If you want to get rid of multiplexes, get rid of multiplexes but there's lots of other legislation that's incredibly valuable to homebuilders," Mari said, according to CTV News.

He warned that removing all of it could have the opposite effect from what Doerkson has promised: more red tape for builders, not less. "By peeling back some of these policies we're doing the complete opposite of what this incoming government has said they would like to do," he said.

## What the platform promises

The Conservative platform promises to let local governments decide where new density goes, tracked at [/bc/provincial-2026/tracker#gov-promise-local-say-on-density](/bc/provincial-2026/tracker#gov-promise-local-say-on-density), and to work with municipalities so their zoning bylaws match their own community plans rather than provincial targets, tracked at [/bc/provincial-2026/tracker#gov-promise-zoning-match-community-plans](/bc/provincial-2026/tracker#gov-promise-zoning-match-community-plans).

No specific bill or timeline for the changes has been announced. Doerkson and his cabinet will be sworn in on November 20, 2026, after which the government can begin introducing legislation. BC residents who want to follow the housing commitments as they are acted on can track them at [/bc/provincial-2026/tracker](/bc/provincial-2026/tracker).

## Sitemap

See the full [sitemap](/bc/provincial-2026/sitemap.md) for all pages.