Saanich Pushes for Cheaper, European-Style Elevators to Improve Housing Accessibility

A Vancouver Island municipality is leading a push to legalize compact, European-style elevators in British Columbia — a move it says could dramatically improve housing accessibility and affordability.

The District of Saanich recently passed a resolution urging the province to allow smaller and more cost-effective elevators in low- and mid-rise apartment buildings, where full-size elevators are often not installed due to cost.

Coun. Teale Phelps Bondaroff, who brought the motion forward, said the idea was sparked by a casual coffee shop conversation.
“It’s one of those rare instances where a conversation might lead to real change,” he said.

A report by the Center for Building in North America found elevator prices in Canada and the U.S. are three times higher than in similar buildings in Europe. Canada also trails badly in availability, with just four elevators per 1,000 people, compared to 15 in South Korea and over 20 in Spain or Greece.

Oversized Standards, Underserved Residents

Under current B.C. building codes, elevators must be large enough to accommodate a stretcher, following CSA B44 standards. In smaller buildings not required to install elevators, developers often skip them altogether due to high costs.

“In practice, it’s not a choice between a big elevator or a small one — it’s a choice between a small elevator or none at all,” Phelps Bondaroff said. “And that shuts out seniors, parents with strollers, and anyone with mobility challenges.”

Accessibility advocate Susan Bains agrees, saying elevator access in small buildings is too often unreliable or missing altogether.

“I’ve lived in a building with just one elevator,” Bains said. “When it was down, you were basically stranded.”

CBC has reported that across Canada, people have been stuck inside buildings for weeks or even months due to elevator failures — with some crawling down stairs or needing to be carried by others.

Lower Costs, Simpler Maintenance

European elevators, which are more compact and use globally standardized parts, are also cheaper to maintain, says Sam Holland of Homes for Living.

Former Canadian Home Builders Association B.C. president Mark Bernhardt says one elevator alone can cost $135,000 in a small apartment project — one of the biggest line items in the entire budget.

“If we can cut those costs, that’s a win for builders and renters alike,” Bernhardt said.

Province Open to Change

B.C. Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon said the government is open to reviewing the idea, especially if it can reduce costs and reduce reliance on U.S. elevator suppliers.

“This may be one of those rare proposals that helps on both affordability and supply chain independence,” Kahlon said. “If it makes sense in B.C., we’re ready to move forward — even if it’s alone.”

If adopted by the Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM) this September, the resolution would become part of the group’s formal lobbying efforts.

The 2024 UBCM convention runs Sept. 22–26 in Victoria.