Premier-designate Lorne Doerkson says he will end BC housing targets and the multiplex law
CTV News reports that Lorne Doerkson will get rid of the housing targets the province sets for cities and the 2023 law that allows multiplexes without a rezoning.
Reported. A news outlet found this. voche.me names the outlet and links its report. Read the original report on ctvnews.ca.
Premier-designate Lorne Doerkson says he will get rid of the housing targets the province sets for cities, and the 2023 law that lets multiplexes be built without a rezoning, CTV News reported on October 28, 2026.
CTV News published the report as a video. Its written summary reads: "Lorne Doerkson says he will get rid of municipal housing targets and legislation allowing multiplexes to be built without rezoning." The summary gives no date for either change.
The two laws
Since May 31, 2023, the Housing Supply Act has let the province set housing targets for the municipalities with the greatest need and highest expected growth, according to the province's housing targets page. When a municipality falls short, the housing minister can appoint an adviser and order it to pass or change a bylaw.
The multiplex law, enacted in 2023 as Bill 44, makes cities of more than 5,000 people allow 3 to 6 homes on most lots that used to hold one house or a duplex, the province's policy manual says. Six homes are allowed on lots over 281 square metres within 400 metres of a bus stop with frequent service. The law also stops a city from holding a public hearing on a bylaw passed only to follow it.
What Doerkson and his party said before
On October 7, Doerkson told the Surrey Now-Leader that the province should leave it to a city such as Terrace to decide where its housing goes. His party's platform says on page 6 that where density goes "needs to be a decision of local government and local residents." The platform does not name Bill 44. On October 26, the Union of BC Municipalities listed repealing Bill 44 among the party's commitments.
In December 2025, 16 of 20 Metro Vancouver mayors asked the province to repeal the multiplex rules and drop the targets, the Hope Standard reported. Then-housing minister Christine Boyle said the province would keep both, because the policies were working.
What stays in force
Both laws stay in force until the legislature changes them, and Doerkson has not yet been sworn in. Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto told Business in Vancouver her city will continue on its current path until told otherwise.
A homeowner or builder with a multiplex plan can still apply under the current rules, and readers can follow this promise on the promise tracker.
Questions this story answers
What did Lorne Doerkson say about BC housing targets and Bill 44?
CTV News reported on October 28, 2026 that premier-designate Lorne Doerkson says he will get rid of municipal housing targets and the legislation that allows multiplexes to be built without a rezoning. That legislation is the 2023 small-scale multi-unit housing law, known as Bill 44.
What are BC's housing targets?
BC's housing targets come from the Housing Supply Act. Since May 31, 2023, it has let the province set a number of new homes for municipalities with the greatest need and highest expected growth. A municipality that falls short can be given an adviser and ordered to pass or change a bylaw.
What does Bill 44 do?
Bill 44, the 2023 small-scale multi-unit housing law, requires cities of more than 5,000 people to allow 3 to 6 homes on most lots that used to hold one house or a duplex, without a rezoning. It also stops cities from holding a public hearing on a bylaw passed only to follow the law.
Are the housing targets and the multiplex rules still in force after the 2026 election?
Yes. Both the Housing Supply Act targets and the Bill 44 multiplex rules stay in force until the BC legislature passes a law that changes them. On October 28, 2026, CTV News still called Lorne Doerkson the premier-designate, so his government had not yet been sworn in.
Does the Conservative platform promise to repeal Bill 44?
The Conservative Party of BC platform, Lorne Doerkson's Plan for a Stronger BC, does not name Bill 44. On page 6 it says where density goes needs to be a decision of local government and local residents. The Union of BC Municipalities listed repealing Bill 44 among the party's commitments on October 26.
What did Lorne Doerkson say about housing during the campaign?
During the campaign, Lorne Doerkson told the Surrey Now-Leader on October 7, 2026 that the relationship between the province and cities is strained. He said the province should leave it to a city such as Terrace to decide where its housing goes, and that some provincial bills had forced rules on cities that pushed back hard.
Have BC mayors asked for the housing targets and multiplex rules to end?
Yes. The Hope Standard reported in December 2025 that 16 of 20 Metro Vancouver mayors asked the province in a letter to repeal the small-scale multi-unit housing rules and drop its housing targets. Then-housing minister Christine Boyle said the province would keep both laws because they were working.
Can a homeowner still build a multiplex in BC under the current rules?
Yes. Until the legislature changes the law, cities must still allow 3 to 6 homes on most former single-family and duplex lots, according to the province's policy manual for the small-scale multi-unit housing law. Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto told Business in Vancouver her city will keep to its current path until told otherwise.
Sources
The pages this story draws on. Open one to check a claim yourself.
- CTV News: Premier-designate says he'll scrap B.C.'s housing targets, video, October 28, 2026ctvnews.ca
- Province of BC: Housing targetswww2.gov.bc.ca
- Province of BC: Small-Scale, Multi-Unit Housing Provincial Policy Manual and Site Standards (PDF)www2.gov.bc.ca
- Conservative Party of BC: Lorne Doerkson's Plan for a Stronger BC, page 6 (PDF)conservativebc.ca
- Surrey Now-Leader: Doerkson says relationship between Province, cities needs fixing, October 7, 2026surreynowleader.com
- Union of BC Municipalities: UBCM is ready to work with B.C.'s new government, October 26, 2026ubcm.ca
- Business in Vancouver: Local governments ready for a potential Bill 44 reversalbiv.com
- Hope Standard: B.C. rejects Metro Vancouver call to scrap housing legislation, December 11, 2025hopestandard.com
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