Category Archives: Economy
“Inappropriate” Chinatown development designs drive gentrification
By Lisa Tanh Newly proposed developments in Chinatown are using inappropriate designs to further gentrify the neighbourhood, says a neighbourhood advocate. Melody Ma, a Chinese Canadian, said many of the newly proposed developments do not respect the neighborhood’s history and
Court orders Vancouver developer Ian Gillespie’s firm to pay $200,000 in unpaid bills to contractor
By ThinkPol Staff A BC Supreme Court judge has ordered Vancouver developer Ian Gillespie’s firm to pay more than $200,000 in unpaid bills to the contractor who painted the Telus Garden building. Atlas Painting & Restorations Ltd had sued 501
Realtor who deceived buyer into displaying New Coast Realty “sold” sign for a year fined $2,000
By ThinkPol Staff A realtor who deceived a buyer into displaying her brokerage’s “sold” sign has been fined $2,000 by British Columbia’s real estate watchdog. Real Estate Council of British Columbia’s disciplinary panel found that Richmond realtor Xinwei (Sylvie) Zhao,
“Scrap the Speculation Tax” coalition turns to big tobacco and asbestos PR firm
By ThinkPol Staff The umbrella group campaigning to repeal the Speculation Tax introduced by British Columbia’s NDP government has enlisted the help of a controversial global public relations firm that gained notoriety for promoting big tobacco and asbestos industry interests.
Shadow flipping realtor fails to get case thrown out
By ThinkPol Staff A lawsuit launched by a West Vancouver man after discovering that his house had been shadow flipped twice by his realtor for a much higher price will proceed to full trial, after a judge dismissed an application
City of Surrey ignoring illegal Airbnb complaints
By Lisa Tanh The City of Surrey isn’t enforcing bylaws against illegal Airbnbs while not publicly announcing that such short-term rentals are unlawful despite years of complaints. Bruce, a Surrey resident who asked to not use his legal name for
Burnaby resident frets about Kinder Morgan expansion
By Drew Penner Aaron Keogh, a 39-year-old Burnaby resident is troubled by the risks associated with the Westridge Terminal. While Kinder Morgan Canada Limited announced on Sunday that it is putting on hold all non-essential activities and related spending on
UBC prof behind Speculation Tax says it doesn’t actually target speculation
By Drew Penner Ask University of British Columbia professor Tom Davidoff where the provincial NDP’s new housing tax came from, and he’s quick to take credit. Just don’t try to pin the “speculation” angle on him. “I was like the
Metro Vancouver housing sales slump 30% in March
By ThinkPol Staff Home sales slumped 30 percent last month in Metro Vancouver as BC budget measures aimed at making housing affordable began to cool down the region’s once red hot real estate market. Residential home sales in the region
Most Vancouver houses sold below assessment in March
By ThinkPol Staff Well over half of all Vancouver detached houses sold below assessment in March, with some going as low as 22% below, making it the second month in row that a majority of Vancouver single family homes sold
