Author and developer Howard Rotberg’s new book Exploring Vancouverism: The Political Culture of Canada’s Lotus Land
(Mantua Books) offers 11 key steps in creating affordable housing. Many of these strategies have been employed to great success in other provinces, most notable Ontario. Some of the key steps include: levying a business tax on unoccupied condo units that are being held as "speculative investments," charging a conversion fee of $20,000 on affordable rental units that are being converted to expensive housing – these funds would then be directed into a "community housing trust," and "expediated processing," pushing affordable housing development applications to the front of the permit line. More recommendations listed in this article.