The leader of the Conservative Party of Canada addressed an audience about what he called growing concerns around affordability and crime on Vancouver Island during a town hall meeting at the Cowichan Exhibition Centre in Duncan. Housing and rent remain among the key factors affecting affordability on Vancouver Island, and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation said while some markets have seen higher vacancy rates and slower rent growth, affordability challenges persist. “Home prices since 1981 have quadrupled.”According to Canada Crime Report, which tracks police-reported crime data, some communities on Vancouver Island have crime severity indexes above the national average, although specific regional statistics vary. The report showed areas such as Campbell River and Duncan among communities with higher reported crime severity indexes, though trends differ by category and year. Poilievre also referenced an incident in Duncan involving pellet guns and homeless people, which he said illustrates a situation that is out of control.