Interim BC Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson would bring back the old red tape that blocked housing construction and caused the housing crisis in the first place.

At the debate on Wednesday night, Lorne Doerkson doubled down on the BC Conservatives’ longstanding opposition to a signature plank of David Eby and the BC NDP’s housing plan that is bringing rents down across the province:

“...the reality is, we have to improve the relationship with our municipalities. There is no way that David Eby or anybody else in Victoria should be demanding what municipalities build where and how.” (Leaders debate, Oct 14 2026)

Doerkson is referring to Bill 44 - David Eby’s 2023 legislation that cut red tape for building duplexes, triplexes and townhomes to deliver more middle income homes for families and speed up construction timelines for builders.

Experts have estimated that these BC NDP measures unlock construction for roughly 300,000 new middle income homes in the next decade.

The BC Conservatives have long opposed these changes. Trevor Halford described Bill 44 is "one of the worst pieces of legislation that's come through our house in a very, very long time." (Peace Arch News, April 2025). Former Leader John Rustad said: “ "We are going to get rid of Bill 44.” (Vic News, September 2024)

With David Eby’s Housing Plan, starting rents are down more than 10% across B.C. and have fallen for 27 months in a row.