March 21, 2025 – from Victoria Times Colonist Editorial Column


The Victoria Times Colonist newspaper is on sale throughout Vancouver Island. There is an online version. Today’s editorial sums up the issue with the provincial government’s Bill 7. See below:

March 21, 2025


Government’s Bill 7 is a disgraceful overreach

Editorial

If there were any doubt that ­Premier David Eby lacks respect for the ­provincial legislature, he has removed it.

His government has tabled legislation — Bill 7, the Economic Stabilization (Tariff Response) Act — that provides far-reaching emergency powers to
bypass the legislature.

The purpose of the statute, supposedly, is to address challenges arising out of Donald Trump’s tariff war.

But Bill 7, as drafted, basically gives Eby the power to do as he pleases, across almost the entire field of public policy, without any oversight or accountability.

For the next two years, the premier and his colleagues can change, rewrite or set aside any law or regulation behind closed doors.

Eby justifies this by asserting the need to act quickly, and he insisted that any actions he takes must be ratified by the legislature.

The latter statement is untrue. All the premier has promised is that he will inform the legislature, after the event, of what he has already done.

The longstanding principle, upon which parliamentary government rests, is advise and consent. That is to say, the government must advise the legislature of its intended actions, and the legislature must give its consent.

This legislation, if it passes unchanged, does away with that principle. There need be no consent.

To get a sense of how parliamentary due process is being overridden, a read of the act is illuminating.

  • First, the regulatory powers given to the premier and cabinet apply to “any laws of British Columbia respecting who may sell, purchase or use a good…(or ) a service that may be supplied in another province of Canada.” So an entire body of law, covering numerous statutes and a wide range of economic activity, is thus set aside.
  • Second, this power to regulate applies “despite any enactment or regulatory measure that applies to the supply of a service.” Does this nullify regulations designed to protect employees, create workplace safety, guarantee consumers fair treatment, and so on? It certainly appears to.
  • Third, the Financial Administration Act, which defines the appropriate management of public funds, is explicitly superseded. Here, as with his massive budget deficits, we see Eby’s disregard for fiscal probity.
  • Fourth, “No legal proceeding for damages lies or may be commenced or maintained against a protected person because of anything done or omitted in complying with … a directive issued under this (authority).”

So not only are the principles of sound financial management disregarded, but the government’s agents, including –presumably the premier and cabinet, are safeguarded against legal proceedings.

Not satisfied with gagging the legislature, Eby is gagging the courts.

Lastly, directives issued under this Act as late as June 30 can be made retroactive to Feb. 1.

This is the ultimate end run of the legislature, which wasn’t even sitting on Feb. 1.

The two Green Party MLAs have asked that the statute be amended, pointing out the many concerns it raises.

And the provincial Conservatives have assailed the bill, claiming it makes the premier a dictator or a king.

Yet regardless of whatever complaints they raise, or arguments they make, the opposition parties are effectively impotent. If the premier holds firm, they can’t force a change.

The NDP have 47 MLAs, the Conservatives 41, and the Greens two, with three former Conservatives who are sitting as independents.

One of the NDP members sits as Speaker, so in daily sittings the NDP are tied with the opposition. However in a tie vote, the Speaker can cast the winning vote.

This statute is as disingenuous as it is an offence against longstanding parliamentary due process.

The premier must accept this and back away.

Stay Tuned!!!

March 19th, Update

UPDATE: Selected as one of the Top 100 Real Estate Blogs on the Web by FeedSpot!!

March 19, 2025

Victoria’s newspaper (Times Colonist)

Letters To The Editor

Too much over-reach by NDP government

I find it ironic that Premier David Eby’s rationale for Bill 7 legislation is that it allows him to move quickly to prevent harm to the B.C. economy. I would argue that Eby has caused more harm to the B.C. economy than any premier in modern history.

Bill 7 is just another insidious power grab, couched in protectionist language. We are already feeling the effects of provincial over-reach with Bills 44, 46 and 47, which have spawned the loss of property rights, dismantling of heritage protections, erosion of tree canopies and biodiversity and no commensurate infrastructure to support the unfettered development that has been foisted on our cities.

Let’s hope this is a precursor to an early election, as it is time the public told Eby that we don’t want to live under a dictatorship.

Nancy Di Castri
Saanich

Democracy dies with Eby’s Bill 7

The announcement by Premier David Eby of the imposition of Bill 7, the “Economic Stabilization and Tariff Response Act,” on British Columbians represents a dark moment in an increasingly dark time for Canada and the world, but especially for British Columbians.

No legitimate government has the right to give itself emergency powers without the discussion or the participation of a duly-elected assembly. And yet we are seeing this with increasing frequency in B.C., in Canada and around the world.

In Eby’s case, as with other political leaders, the intent of the legislation is to guard against theoretical dangers that may occur in a potential future.

Frankly, this isn’t good enough. It doesn’t meet the litmus test of democratic practice that we have spent centuries of legal precedent and untold sacrifice, not to mention war and blood, trying to establish.

What it does represent is an impingement on people’s democratic rights and the negation of their will. The imposition of this bill will cut even more deeply into the rights of citizens who simply want to live a good life under fair and balanced laws.

If, as British Columbians, we are willing to stand for this extraordinary imposition on our democratic rights, then we have no right to complain if, one day, those same rights disappear altogether.

Bill 7 is a thin edge of undemocratic authoritarianism inserted into our lives. It does not bode well for any of us, and it should be withdrawn or scrapped immediately.

Perry Foster
Duncan

Bill 7 pulls us apart during a difficult time

In a democracy, Premier David Eby’s proposed Bill 7 Economic Stabilization Act is not required.

Each needed action for change or response to trade and tariffs should be presented in the Legislature for a vote and if the majority in the house agrees, passed.

What is being proposed is nothing short of a dictatorship and welcoming to Putin’s Russia-style democracy.

At this time in history, we need to pull together rather than apart.

D’Arcy Morrow
Nanaimo

Nero fiddles while Rome burns

The King of England is figurehead of the Commonwealth, a group of nations fostering international cooperation and promoting shared goals such as democracy, peace and sustainable development.

Canada, a founding member and the largest member of the Commonwealth, is being economically attacked by the most powerful nation of the world with a stated aim of taking over the country.

What does the head of the Commonwealth do to organize its members to help Canada?

The head of the Commonwealth releases his favorite 10 songs.

Yes, Charlie fiddles while Canada burns.

John Barrand
Victoria

Today’s the deadline for voting no

Re: “Affordability crisis from Saanich council,” letter, March 15.

Saanich council is incapable or unwilling to make real-life decisions about what to give up in the budgeting process.

When families and companies are faced with tough financial decisions, as they are especially today about making ends meet, they are forced to dig deep and find things they can forego or postpone instead of spending money that we don’t have. Not so Saanich council!

Instead, council has chosen to get more money outside of the five per cent borrowing limit through an alternate approval process. The total proposed extra borrowing amounts to about $9.6 million at annual debt servicing costs of around $908,000. There is waste in some of those proposals.

For example, bylaw 10025, the second biggest item at $3.1 million, includes more money for cycling infrastructure, including bike lanes, etc.

From what I see in my area around Royal Oak, the bike lanes on West Saanich, Royal Oak, including Mann Ave. and the recently installed traffic obstructions on Old West Saanich and Oldfield roads were unnecessary and are an utter waste of taxpayers’ money.

They reflect an ideological rather than a business approach to managing Saanich’s financial affairs.

As well, the public was given inadequate notice of these extraordinary financial proposals. The public was notified only through newspapers and consideration of the item at council’s Jan. 20 meeting.

This is a highly questionable and cynical approach to managing Saanich’s finances. Deficit and debt financing must stop.

You can still vote “No” by completing the forms at the municipal hall or printing them on your computer and delivering them to Saanich. The deadline is 4:30 p.m. today.

Evert Van Eerden
Saanich

Americans have paid our ‘tariffs’ for years

In response to recent letters about tariffs, let me point out that B.C. and Victoria have had “tariffs” on American property owners for several years. They are known as “speculation tax” and “property transfer tax.”

Until December 2024, we had owned a residence in Victoria for more than 30 years. During that time, laws were passed saying if we sold the place, gifted it to our children or died, we would pay a 25 per cent tax on the gain between the current value and our cost.

If we died or gifted the property, we would have to find cash elsewhere to pay the tax.

Also, beginning about eight years ago, we were reclassified as “speculators”, even though at that time we had owned the place for more than 22 years and it was enjoyed by four generations of our family. The speculation tax alone was almost $20,000 per year, and was in addition to paying the full amount of property taxes, with no exemptions.

In December we decided we could no longer afford the taxes and sold.

At the close of the sale, the B.C. government withheld 25 per cent of the gross selling price. At some point we might get roughly half of that back.

During those 30 years we put lots of money into the Victoria economy. Our family will miss our regular visits to Victoria, but with the attitude of some of the letters to the editor, we would be reluctant to admit that we are Americans.

Please don’t get mad at Americans, most of us don’t agree with what is happening. Remember, this too shall pass. Let’s stay friends.

Daniel Cunningham
Fresno, California

We don’t want to be like Puerto Rico

In keeping with the U.S. cry of “no taxation without representation” I think that the U.S. has much better candidates for statehood than Canada.

Washington D.C. has a populace of 700,000 (more than both Vermont and Wyoming) with no governor or fully-elected representation in both the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives.

Similarly, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico has a populace of more than 3.2 million and no representation. The U.S. citizens of both jurisdictions are subject to U.S. law without representation — ideal candidates to become the 51st and 52nd states.

I hope that this process would occupy the White House for the remainder of the term. In keeping with the current U.S. vogue of re-drawing the world atlas, should Ottawa consider offering provincehood to Alaska and Hawaii?

Paul Morgan
Central Saanich

Many fortune seekers travelled to the Yukon

With the recent report on the Trump family fortune beginning with a “restaurant and brothel” in the Yukon more than 100 years ago, it is hilarious the way left-leaning journalists spend their waking hours trying to trash Donald Trump constantly.

If they were true journalists and readers of history, they would know that the Yukon Gold Rush in the 1800s brought fortune seekers from second sons of England’s landed gentry, to adventurers, to down-and-out hopefuls, along with women of ill repute, women hoping for rich husbands — all streaming up from the U.S., Victoria, Vancouver, the Chilcotin and many other points.

They all hoped to make it big, with many enterprising men and women providing supplies, rustic hotels and raunchy women for the influx of all the dreamers. Persevering through awful northern wilderness conditions, history has applauded their ingenuity and doggedness.

We pampered folks in this century couldn’t manage without our cars, face creams and cappuccinos.

Well done, to the Trumps and their contemporaries of old!

Barbara Zielinski
Victoria

U.S. financial collapse stopped Harper’s plans

Re: “Stephen Harper’s memory is not selective,” letter, March 15.

Based on my recollections of the time leading up to the 2008 financial crisis, my impression is that individuals do have both short and selective memories.

Stephen Harper advised us that his government was on a path towards deregulating Canada’s financial institutions. By what seemed more like good luck than good management, he was “saved by the bell” with the financial collapse in the United States that year, before a Canadian de-regulation plan could be enacted.

Laurie McDonald
Gabriola

Let’s rebuild trust to weather future storms

During the COVID pandemic, it wasn’t the vaccines, masks or social isolation that I was afraid of, but their mandatory imposition.

I remember, early on in the vaccine mandates, trying to understand why we were threatening individuals with job loss and social isolation for not taking one of the new vaccines — while at the same time many individuals around the world wanted access to vaccines but were unable to get them.

When I tried to ask my MLA and MP for a pointer to whatever cost-benefit analysis had been done, they said it was a medical decision. When I asked my family doctor and Healthlink, they said it was a political decision.

My fear is that due to the imposition of mandates in the past, individuals will be less trusting of guidance in the future.

My hope is that, with a bit of contrition and humility, we can rebuild a level of trust that will let us weather future storms together.

Scott Newson
Nanaimo

Stay Tuned!!!

Market Update – March 13, 2025 – Canada’s Next Prime Minister

March 13, 2025

Emergency Powers Bill

The B.C. Provincial government has just brought in a draft bill (March 13th) giving itself extensive emergency powers,
in order to be able to act unilaterally to respond to potential further tariffs from U.S. This would allow the Premier
to act without any legislative oversight. It has had first reading.

Salt Spring Island

Salt Spring Island

The issue and impacts of proposed tariffs are worrying, and they will cause disturbance to the way things were being
done, but they do not fall into the category of war or global pandemic.

This is a worrying development by a premier who is in a minority position, without the deal he struck yesterday with the
two elected Greens, to support his NDP. This unnecessary bill will be in place until May 2027…unless gov’t decides to
extend it. This is a very serious thing, covers many things, and is not perhaps limited to tariffs responses. The
premier should call an election and let this be up to the electorate. This bill will allow the premier to be the sole
decider of all things going forward.

Canada’s Next Prime Minister

Federally, on March 14th, the new leader of the Liberal party will be sworn in as Prime Minister, and his cabinet
choices will also be sworn in. It is expected that he will call for an election, before the prorogued parliament
reconvenes at end of March. We will then hear his ideas about negotiation with the U.S. President.

The premiers of the provinces are dealing with various specific and differing provincial issues and therefore are unable
to speak broadly for the country itself. It will take time to begin interprovincial trade…long standing barriers in
place between each province have to be removed. This does not happen quickly.

Federal Uncertainty Stalls Real Estate Momentum

In the meantime, across Canada, people are treading water about real estate decisions, and are again taking a wait and
see response. The uptick in markets in October, November, December, January began to slow in February…due to
uncertainty. If there is an early federal election, it may take until late May to see the pattern of the 2025
marketplace appear.

At the moment, locally, low inventory continues and prices remain relatively stable. Listings are up in Vancouver, which
has been the main source of our buyers since 2016. A desire for the safety of a rural lifestyle and a preservation of
capital (a currency concern) are still the two main drivers of action here. A pause in activity has once more developed.

Stay Tuned!!!

March 12, 2025 – Market Update

BOC Interest Rate Cut

The Bank of Canada cut the key interest rate this morning by a further 25 basis points. The key rate is now 2.75%. Part of the BOC decision to reduce was affected by the current tariffs from U.S. and resulting retaliatory responses from Canada. The impact of same is still unknown.

The BOC in both 2023 and 2024, according to business pundits, was alerting the federal government that there were no measures in place to grow the Canadian economy. This lack of attention to Canada’s economy was apparently in place throughout Trudeau’s lengthy leadership. Business minded pundits were also speaking consistently about this.

By changing the face of the leader, the federal Liberal party is hoping to continue as the party in power, going forward. Mark Carney also advised Trudeau, and was close to his policies…as was Christya Freeland (who also ran for Leader)

The Blackberry?

Canadians generally are an innovative group and many interesting opportunities have been created here. (What was the story on BlackBerry?).

Have the various innovations been supported and encouraged to grow/benefit Canada? Did the companies move to U.S. in order to benefit from their less regulated and more supportive stance? Hmmm…

I wonder about the retaliatory and angry response to the U.S. tariffs shift…tourism is one of the key financial outcomes right across Canada. The fuss is not at the citizen level and yet responses seem to target same. If tourism drops because Americans are nervous about visiting, then it is Canadians who will suffer. Your thoughts?

The best negotiations are not about retaliations, but about a seeking of ways to arrive at a productive middle place. Is that happening?

What Will Parliament Do?

At the moment, many things are being stated by Trudeau’s cabinet. That is the “past”. Parliament is not sitting. The new leader has not chosen his cabinet (which is the “present”). We should be hearing from them, and the prorogued parliament (done by Trudeau) needs to re-open. The opposition parties (3 of them) need to speak to these issues. An election should be called ASAP and the Canadian population’s voice will then be heard. (Ontario’s premier, Doug Ford, was wise to pull back his initial angry response earlier today and to call for a lowering of the temperature).

A real negotiation needs to take place at the federal level. Who’s in charge right now? Just my “thinking out loud” thoughts…welcome yours!

Market Update – March 9th, 2025


March 9, 2025

Who will assume the new role of Prime Minister?

So, the forecasted outcome has been settled. Today, Mark Carney won the Liberal leadership “race” to replace Trudeau. He will also assume the role of Prime Minister.

It is expected that he will call for an immediate election. After being prorogued by Trudeau, the parliament will convene again March 27-29.

By changing the face of the leader, the federal Liberal party is hoping to continue as the party in power, going forward. Mark Carney also advised Trudeau, and was close to his policies…as was Christya Freeland (who also ran for Leader)

The U.S. tariffs issue will affect Canada.

Unfortunately, the federal government was not seeking economic health in the past several years of being in power. The current head of the BOC (Bank of Canada) had been trying to alert the party in power of this disturbing fact in both 2023 and 2024.

It’s also odd that it’s only now that long-standing barriers to inter-provincial trade are being discussed. This inability to trade between provinces has nothing to do with tariffs.

Some provinces may be more affected than others, but the usual way of doing business has changed. Reciprocal tariffs will be in place. April 2nd has been mentioned as the date this will begin. More later…

March 4th, 2025 – New – Market Update – Salt Spring Island


March 4, 2025

(Real estate updates from real estate boards are always one to two months behind. Transactions need to close in order to be counted in a month’s outcomes. In March, it is the January and/or February stats that are reported.

Today, on March 4th, the U.S. tariffs on Canada began. Canadian business leaders are of the opinion that the proposed counter retaliatory tariffs from Canada are political and not necessarily productive. The outcome of tariffs for each province will be different and are not yet fully understood.

Below, is the Vancouver Board February market report. Since 2016, the main buyer profile on Salt Spring has been a purchaser from Vancouver).

After a 46 per cent year-over-year increase of new listings in January, the number of newly listed properties on the MLS® in Metro Vancouver* rose more moderately in February helping keep market conditions in balanced territory.

The Greater Vancouver REALTORS® (GVR) reports that residential sales in the region totalled 1,827 on Metro Vancouver’s Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in February 2025, an 11.7 per cent decrease from the 2,070 sales recorded in February 2024. This total was 28.9 per cent below the 10-year seasonal average (2,571).

“After the rush of new listings in January, home sales and new listings in February were closer to historical averages, which has positioned the overall market in balanced conditions,” Andrew Lis, GVR’s director of economics and data analytics said. “With a potential Bank of Canada rate cut on the table for mid-March, homebuyers may find slightly improved borrowing conditions while enjoying the largest selection of homes on the market since pre-pandemic times.”

There were 5,057 detached, attached and apartment properties newly listed for sale on the MLS® in February 2025. This represents a 10.9 per cent increase compared to the 4,560 properties listed in February 2024. This was 11.6 per cent above the 10-year seasonal average (4,530).

The total number of properties currently listed for sale on the MLS® system in Metro Vancouver is 12,744, a 32.3 per cent increase compared to February 2024 (9,634). This is also 36.4 per cent above the 10-year seasonal average (9,341).

  • Across all detached, attached and apartment property types, the sales-to-active listings ratio for February 2025 is 14.8 per cent.
  • By property type, the ratio is 10.7 per cent for detached homes, 18.5 per cent for attached, and 16.8 per cent for apartments.

Analysis of the historical data suggests downward pressure on home prices occurs when the ratio dips below 12 per cent for a sustained period, while home prices often experience upward pressure when it surpasses 20 per cent over several months.

“Balanced market conditions typically bring a flatter price trajectory, and we’ve seen prices across all segments remain in a holding pattern for the past few months,” Lis said. “But with the active spring season just around the corner, it will be interesting to see whether buyers take advantage of some of the most favorable market conditions seen in years, and whether sellers change their willingness to bring their properties to market.”

The MLS® Home Price Index composite benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver is currently $1,169,100. This represents a 1.1 per cent decrease over February 2024 and a 0.3 per cent decrease compared to January 2025.

Sales of detached homes in February 2025 reached 477, a 14.8 per cent decrease from the 560 detached sales recorded in February 2024. The benchmark price for a detached home is $2,006,100. This represents a 1.8 per cent increase from February 2024 and is virtually unchanged compared to January 2025.

Sales of apartment homes reached 976 in February 2025, a 10.6 per cent decrease compared to the 1,092 sales in February 2024. The benchmark price of an apartment home is $747,500. This represents a 2.8 per cent decrease from February 2024 and a 0.1 per cent decrease compared to January 2025.

Attached home sales in February 2025 totalled 359, a 10.9 per cent decrease compared to the 403 sales in February 2024. The benchmark price of a townhouse is $1,087,100. This represents a 1.2 per cent decrease from February 2024 and a 1.7 per cent decrease compared to January 2025.