Andrew Weaver housing proposals

"Speculation in Vancouver's housing market is not a new issue," says Weaver. "However, there are a number of steps the provincial government could take right now to clamp down on this out-of-control problem."

At a policy level what Weaver is proposing is

The first step is to close a loophole which allows individuals to avoid paying B.C.'s Property Transfer Tax. The second is a tax on vacant properties. And the third is a requirement for buyers to provide residency on the land title.

"It is important to know who is buying houses," says Weaver. "We have no idea. It is really just making stuff up as we go along without any real information."

Normally, opposition member's bill pitches head straight for the dustbin of legislative history. But the fact de Jong is listening signifies more than just a government's willingness to learn from others.

It points to the fact that the Green Party is gaining traction. Earlier this week, Weaver introduced a petition to abolish MSP with 65,712 names on it. The public pressure from that petition led to Premier Christy Clark acknowledging, "It's antiquated, it's old, the way people pay for it doesn't make a lot of sense."

It also opened the door for the Liberals to adopt a policy the Greens have already called their own, which is to change the way the tax is paid entirely.

"The government does not respond directly to a political party," says Weaver. "The government responds directly to public pressure.

"It is in the interests of opposition parties to actually offer solutions."

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