Category Archives: Policy

New analysis reveals why it’s so hard to catch a cab in Vancouver

By Marina Wang Almost anyone that’s been out for a late night in downtown Vancouver has found themselves in a predicament: calling a cab is pricey, not to mention difficult, while the bus journey, if possible, is long and grueling.

Toiletries containing microbeads no longer for sale

By Marina Wang On Canada Day Environment Minister Catherine McKenna announced that the “final step” in banning microbeads was in effect. McKenna tweeted that microbeads “would no longer be for sale in toiletries as of today”. Microbeads, also known as

Dilapidated homes, leaky condos and crumbling mansions: Skilled trades shortage paints a bleak picture in Vancouver

By Lisa Tanh A local tradesman is struggling to find help maintaining “normal family homes” because of Metro Vancouver’s extreme skilled trades shortage. Breton Crellin, who has been working in construction for over a decade, said he’s constantly being flagged

Guns stopping Canadian parent from moving to LA

By Drew Penner Vancouver resident Lorie Campbell and her husband have been back and forth from California over the past 14 years with work commitments. The Canadian and her husband are green-cards holders, but there’s a giant issue that keeps

Asking home prices fall by double digits in Metro Vancouver as BC budget begins to bite

By ThinkPol Staff Asking prices for homes in Metro Vancouver are falling ‒ in one case by as much as 73% ‒ suggesting that budget measures announced by the NDP government to promote affordable housing by tackling rampant crime, corruption

“Go after the money launderers, illegal real estate flippers, scammers, tax evaders” ‒ British Columbians respond to budget consultation

By ThinkPol Staff British Columbians want the government to go after money launderers, tax evaders, speculators and other fraudsters operating in the province’s real estate market, public responses to the governing NDP’s 2018 budget consultation show. Premier John Horgan’s government

Petition calls for housing speculation tax in BC budget and crackdown on money laundering, shady realtors

By ThinkPol Staff A petition has been launched to urge British Columbia’s NDP-led government to introduce a housing speculation tax along with a special taskforce to crackdown on money laundering and unethical practices by realtors in Metro Vancouver’s real estate

Ottawa vague on helping City of Vancouver curb housing speculation

By Lisa Tanh The Government of Canada is releasing few details about federal measures to help City of Vancouver monitor and curb speculation in the housing market. On Nov. 29, Vancouver City Council approved their planning, urban design and sustainability

Canada’s “rip it and ship it” economy ill-prepared to shift towards sustainability, report finds

By Will Young Canada’s “rip it and ship it” economy that emphasizes extraction over of value-added processing and manufacturing has left the national lagging badly in innovation, in materials efficiency and recycling, according to an OECD report released today. OECD’s

Wanted: Rusty RV to run Airbnb outside Vancouver Mayor’s house

By Lisa Tanh A Vancouverite has put up a Craigslist ad for an RV or trailer to rent outside of Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson’s house because they want him to understand how legalizing Airbnb hurts residents in the city. The