The Comox Valley Regional Growth Strategy (RGS), adopted in 2011, promotes human settlement that is socially, economically, and environmentally healthy and makes efficient use of public facilities and services, land, and other resources. In addition, one of the intents of the RGS and Regional Sustainability priority is to provide a mechanism for regional collaboration.
The RGS includes eight goals related to: housing, ecosystems, natural areas and parks, local economic development, transportation, infrastructure, food systems, public health and safety, and climate change. Regional Sustainability and the RGS provide broad opportunity for data collection, monitoring and reporting to support regional district, municipal, and senior government decision-making and public awareness and education.
Key Service Outcomes
- Settlement that is socially, economically, environmentally healthy
- Housing supply for current and future needs
- Affordable housing
- Affordable servicing
- Collaborative governance with K’ómoks First Nation
- Continued implementation of UNDRIP and DRIPA.
- Improved air quality
- RGS monitoring and evaluation
- Planning and implementation for climate change
- Robust and resilient food system
- Transition to low-carbon region
Key 2023-2026 Initiatives/Directions:
- Review Regional Growth Strategy
- Develop RGS Action Plans
- Implement 2021 Poverty Reduction Strategy
- Develop a Regional Parks Strategy to define the service
- Develop a response to the housing crisis that focusses on:
- Establishing a vehicle for regional housing collaboration, coordination, advocacy and development focused on non-market rental housing (staff will bring forward an interim report on a housing function(s) in September 2023 that includes consideration for a housing corporation to be worked on through the fall and winter)
- Advocating to the Province for emergency shelter housing
- Continue to support the Comox Valley Coalition to End Homelessness