2617 replies to this topic

[VicHockeyFan]

Edmonton's bid team estimated a cost of $35-55 million to each host city, depending on the number of cities splitting the 10 games. One of the big expenses might be converting all of the pitches to grass instead of artificial turf. We had permission from FIFA to use artificial turf for the Women's cup in 2015, but the complaints from players were loud and many, so FIFA may reconsider.

 

Oh ya, for sure.  I think now the way to do it is grow the grass outside roll it in a day or two before the match.  Maybe that does not have to be done at BC Place.

Edited by VicHockeyFan, 13 March 2018 - 02:33 PM.

[VicHockeyFan]

^ ^ True.

[jonny]

Apparently the NDP have pulled or are going to pull Vancouver out of the 2026 World Cup bid. 

 

So less than a year in and we have two new taxes, an increase in income taxes and now they're against fun. 

 

Vancouver is now officially out of the bid package. Lame. A once in a lifetime opportunity totally squandered. 

[VicHockeyFan]

Bah, we can do without.

[jonny]

Sure we can, but it's one of those things that doesn't come along often. 

[VicHockeyFan]

You can fly cheap to Edmonton and make a trip of it.

[Mike K.]

BC sure looks foolish with its speculation tax on real-estate that will punish hard working Canadians in the name of housing when a private group says they can build $14 billion worth of housing to help ease the supply crunch.

It’s all about supply, NDP, not taxation.

[jonny]

You can fly cheap to Edmonton and make a trip of it.

 

There's just something about a big event in downtown Vancouver. It's called fun. 

[VicHockeyFan]

There's just something about a big event in downtown Vancouver. It's called fun. 

 

For $20 million Vancouver can have a super awesome free or cheap concert every summer long weekend, no real extra security involved.  

 

• Rolling Stones for Canada Day
• U2 for BC Day
• Sarah McLachlan with Michael Buble on Labour Day

Edited by VicHockeyFan, 14 March 2018 - 01:51 PM.

[jonny]

We have concerts all the time. The point is this is something unique. 

[Kungsberg]

West Kelowna councillors demand exemption from B.C.'s speculation tax

Council votes to lobby B.C. government on what one councillor deems 'unconstitutional' tax

 

March 14, 2018

http://www.cbc.ca/ne...xempt-1.4575103

 

Councillors in West Kelowna. B.C., are irate about the speculation tax announced by the B.C. government in the 2018 budget and demand that the Okanagan city be exempt.

West Kelowna Mayor Doug Findlater says homeowners and developers are so concerned about the tax, they are sending letters to city hall at a rate of one an hour.

"The letters are very compelling reading ... some of them, their lives are being altered by this," said Findlater.  "Their lives are going in a different direction. Their retirement plans are going up in smoke."

…

…staff in the Okanagan city say the tax could do more harm than good to the local economy.

 

"I can see that there will be some foreclosures if this continues." (chief administrative officer)

 

"Just the news that this may happen or is going to happen has scared off a lot of developers," he said.

He said the recently announced tax — which is still short on details — could lead to increased rental costs, property tax increases, reduced property values and a loss of tourism revenue and job opportunities.

The concern echoes that of nearby Kelowna where Mayor Colin Basran has said the tax could have "dire unintended consequences."

"If you're a resident in West Kelowna or Kelowna and don't think this is going to have a negative impact on you, I beg to disagree. It will."

Staff said the proposed tax penalizes British Columbians and Canadians. 

Councillors in West Kelowna voted unanimously to seek exemption. 

….

 

 

Speculation tax a $10 million hit for West Kelowna property owners The tax will not only hurt property owners, it will harm the city’s economy in several ways says CAO

 

March 13, 2018

https://www.kelownac...roperty-owners/

 

There is “also [shock] that the tax is retroactive, as this does not even let owners have the opportunity of making a decision to buy a property with the knowledge of the tax they would have to pay.”

[Mike K.]

Honest, hard working Canadians like you or I are now faced with foreclosing on their purchases or being forced to sell their holdings because they cannot afford to pay $10,000 or $20,000 a year for a sudden overnight tax on property they may have owned for years if not passed on over generations. This has class action lawsuit written all over it and not only will the BC economy suffer, BC tax payers will be on the hook financially from this shortsighted and perhaps unconstitutional tax.

[jonny]

This speculation tax is a joke. From concept to execution it's mean spirited, punitive and extremely poorly orchestrated. 

 

A joke is putting it too lightly. It's a horror story for some people.

 

Imagine being from Ontario and owning a home in Kelowna for vacations and expecting to retire there in a few years. Over 5 years, you could easily be on the hook for speculation taxes totaling well into six figures. That's just disgusting. Like it's a crime now to have had a successful life which has afforded you the ability to own more than one property?

 

Socialism sucks! 

Edited by jonny, 14 March 2018 - 02:34 PM.

[VicHockeyFan]

Honest, hard working Canadians like you or I are now faced with foreclosing on their purchases or being forced to sell their holdings because they cannot afford to pay $10,000 or $20,000 a year for a sudden overnight tax on property they may have owned for years if not passed on over generations. 

 

Don't be so dramatic.  Very few will face foreclosure, and most will either pay the tax with their earnings or re-mortgage to get some cash.

 

It still sucks.

[lanforod]

Don't be so dramatic.  Very few will face foreclosure, and most will either pay the tax with their earnings or re-mortgage to get some cash.

 

It still sucks.

Most will take a look at ROI and just sell instead. Which may be what you want chinese investors to do. It shouldn't be what you want Canadian investors to do.

[VicHockeyFan]

Socialism sucks! 

 

Socialism is all about taking your earned money and giving it to someone else.

Edited by VicHockeyFan, 14 March 2018 - 02:39 PM.

[Mike K.]

Sure is being painted that way. If you own a vacation home, which you purchased 20 years ago for $150,000, and which has spiralled in value to $1.2 million by virtue of simply being in a market that we all knew would be flooded by retirees since, oh I dunno, the early 1990's, you're now on the hook to the tune of $24,000 per year in additional taxes just because municipal governments and provincial governments have created too much bureaucracy to allow for enough housing to meet demand? That's pure insanity.

 

Here's what I suspect will happen. The NDP came out with this 2018 0.5% and 2019+ 2.0% tax threat but will settle on a 0.25% tax once the dust settles, and they'll expect to be flowered with gifts and praise for listening to concerns. Event at a quarter of one percent the damage will be immediate and long lasting.

[jonny]

If we're really upset about Chinese investors, why don't we have a Canadian passport exemption? If you hold a Canadian passport, you are exempt from the dumb speculation tax.

 

Or how about your secondary property is exempt, but any further properties would be taxable (i.e. your 3rd, 4th, 5th...etc.). 

Edited by jonny, 14 March 2018 - 02:53 PM.

[Mike K.]

That makes a lot more sense.

 

Did I ever tell you guys that I met a senior NDP government official a little while back who said that while in Victoria she resides ...in an AirBnB? She said she loved the flexibility and having the place furnished, plus the view and location were amazing.

 

D'oh!

[jonny]

This just in - the Regional District of Nanaimo (prime NDP country, FWIW) has written in to the Province saying they want out. Both West Kelowna and the Regional District of Nanaimo want out of this unfair tax. Who's next? 

Edited by jonny, 14 March 2018 - 03:31 PM.