Saanich\u2019s Murdock says that his recent experience as an instructor gave him insight into the challenges facing students today, which he says are not much different than when he was a student but are certainly more intense, especially relating to housing within the municipality and region.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think more recently having the opportunity to teach class at Camosun and hearing from students has been helpful in understanding and getting the benefit of their perspective on what are really some very challenging issues that students face,\u201d says Murdock, \u201cjust confronting the cost of living, studying, and working in this community and how difficult that can be for students.\u201d<\/p>\n Oak Bay\u2019s Murdoch says that issues relating to housing and affordability are most pressing for students right now.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the general issues of housing and affordability are the two biggest issues that I\u2019ve heard from students,\u201d he says, \u201crelated to rental and housing availability as well as the cost of them and the affordability of life in general in our high inflationary environment.\u201d<\/p>\n Murdoch admits that there\u2019s not much a municipality can do to address affordability as it\u2019s largely driven by provincial and federal policies. He says that a key part of the policy that was moved forward by the previous Oak Bay council that he would like to continue concerns infill housing, which would increase housing stock with an eye toward driving housing market prices down with more availability. This could help students access the market with rentals or purchases once they start their careers.<\/p>\n \u201cThe general affordability [issue] doesn\u2019t come under our bailiwick so we\u2019re really looking at the housing one,\u201d he says. \u201cFrom an outgoing council perspective the two big tackles were secondary suites and infill housing\u2014being other housing forms within single-family neighbourhoods like townhouses and garden suites.\u201d<\/p>\n While the entire region faces rising housing costs, Saanich\u2019s Murdock says the impact he sees for students is that they must accept living in undesirable locations, often far away from their campus or place of work.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is not something that students face alone, but I think students are more likely to be renters in the community and we know that the scarcity of available rentals has contributed to a significant rise in the cost of renting,\u201d says Murdock. \u201cBecause of that scarcity, it\u2019s students who are often having to live in places that are not ideal for their circumstances, but it\u2019s what\u2019s available or what they can afford… And I think this has been exacerbated over the course of the recent years and we\u2019re not keeping up with demand, and we\u2019re certainly not keeping up with purpose-built student rentals.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Murdock mentioned purpose-built student rentals several times during the election campaign when speaking about student issues, including using space in the McKenzie corridor that could facilitate purpose-built student housing in addition to amenities within walking distance. Both mayors also acknowledge the need for the schools to address on-campus housing alongside the private-housing market, with support from the provincial government, who has committed to helping to create 8,000 student beds on campuses throughout the province by 2028.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nexusnewspaper.com\/newsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/PXL_20221123_172835917.PORTRAIT.jpg\")
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