Ex-Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson named federal housing minister as Carney unveils cabinet. Critics cite past record; Ottawa eyes housing reform.
Gregor Robertson, former mayor of Vancouver, is back in public office—this time at the federal level. As part of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s newly unveiled cabinet, Robertson has been named Minister of Housing and Infrastructure, placing him at the centre of Canada’s national strategy to tackle its growing housing crisis.
A Familiar Face With a Mixed Track Record
Robertson, recently elected to represent Vancouver Fraserview–South Burnaby, is no stranger to public service, having served as an MLA with the B.C. NDP and later as mayor of Vancouver from 2008 to 2018. His appointment brings both hope and skepticism.
While Prime Minister Carney praised Robertson’s experience, noting he brings “the type of expertise needed” to address Canada’s housing challenges, critics quickly resurfaced concerns over Vancouver’s skyrocketing home prices during his mayoralty.
Opposition Points to Soaring Prices Under Robertson
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre was quick to criticize the appointment, stating that Robertson’s tenure coincided with housing prices ballooning to the highest levels in North America. Data from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation show that single-family and semi-detached home prices rose by 179% across Metro Vancouver during his time in office.
Robertson: Past Limits, Present Opportunities
In a national interview, Robertson acknowledged that local governments can only do so much. He blamed a lack of support from the former federal Harper government and the B.C. Liberals for restricting housing progress during his time as mayor.
“We’ve got a prime minister and a new government… saying we need to double the rate of construction,” Robertson told CBC’s Power & Politics. “We need to work across all levels of government.”
Carney Eyes National Construction Surge
Prime Minister Carney has made housing a core pillar of his platform, promising to double Canada’s residential construction output to 500,000 homes per year over the next decade. He emphasized the importance of British Columbia’s innovation in construction, signaling a pan-Canadian strategy built on regional expertise.
Allies Defend Robertson, Urge Accountability
Geoff Meggs, who served on Vancouver’s city council under Robertson, argued that the former mayor “did everything he could” within the limits of municipal authority. However, he acknowledged that the city struggled to communicate its constraints to the public.
“Now… Gregor Robertson is the housing minister. He doesn’t have that excuse,” Meggs said. “Give us hard deadlines and achieve them.”
Additional B.C. Appointments in Carney’s Cabinet
Alongside Robertson, other British Columbians have joined the cabinet:
- Jill McKnight (Delta) – Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence
- Randeep Sarai (Surrey Centre) – Secretary of State for International Development
- Stephanie McLean (Esquimalt–Saanich–Sooke) – Secretary of State for Seniors
- Stephen Fuhr (Kelowna) – Secretary of State for Defence Procurement
Stay tuned to Maple News Wire for continued coverage on Canada’s housing policy, political developments, and infrastructure priorities.
