Former Victoria mayor gets provincial appointment

Photo: Adrian Lam - Times Colonist

Former Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps is taking a job within the provincial government.

Helps, who also served as co-chair of the BC Urban Mayor's Caucus during her time in office, has been appointed as the premier's housing solutions advisor.

The appointment was announced Thursday by Premier David Eby.

"The current reality is that many people in our province struggle to find housing, even if they earn a good income," said Eby.

"I'm very pleased that Lisa Helps has agreed to use her years of leadership to help us work on innovative solutions, like BC Builds, to make it easier for people to find a good place to live in their communities."

Helps will work directly with Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon, stakeholders and partners to help design and develop the BC Builds program.

BC Builds is an initiative to build housing for middle-income families, individuals and seniors.

Her appointment comes on the heels of two similar appointments.

Dr. Penny Ballem was named the Premier's health systems specialist and Doug White was named the special counsel to the Premier on Indigenous reconciliation.