The speculation tax is intended to address housing affordability and not hamper the real estate market, say the B.C. NDP.
Nanaimo byelection candidate Sheila Malcolmson and B.C. Premier John Horgan spoke at a provincial NDP council meeting in Nanaimo (on Vancouver Island) on Saturday and with a byelection set for Jan. 30, discussed issues including the vacant home tax. Nanaimo is subject to the tax, while Kamloops, an area with similar population, is not. Lantzville, on Vancouver Island, is also subject and Parksville and Qualicum (also on the Island) while originally set to be taxed, were eventually exempted.
Horgan said the vacancy rate and homeless problems were why Nanaimo was included.
香蕉视频直播淲e don香蕉视频直播檛 want to see vacant houses when we have people that can香蕉视频直播檛 find a place to rent,香蕉视频直播� Horgan told the News Bulletin. 香蕉视频直播淚f you want to avoid the speculation tax and you have a vacant home, you can rent it and you don香蕉视频直播檛 have to pay any tax. It was directed at making sure we香蕉视频直播檙e dealing with housing affordability. It wasn香蕉视频直播檛 exclusively about restricting those coming in and buying more properties. You can buy all the properties you want, but fill them with people. Houses are supposed to be for people. You shouldn香蕉视频直播檛 be investing in the housing market as part of your real estate speculation 香蕉视频直播� that香蕉视频直播檚 the message we香蕉视频直播檙e sending.香蕉视频直播�
Malcolmson has been hearing about homelessness and housing affordability while campaigning and said she will push for change.
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 getting feedback from people that they want to see all tools employed to make up for the last 16 years of B.C. Liberal inaction 香蕉视频直播� I香蕉视频直播檓 also reminded by the finance minister (Carole James) that if this isn香蕉视频直播檛 working for Nanaimo, or if Nanaimo香蕉视频直播檚 conditions change fast enough, then when the annual review comes up, if I香蕉视频直播檓 honoured to be the MLA, then I香蕉视频直播檒l be advocating for changes to the program to make sure it achieves the goal of affordability,香蕉视频直播� said Malcolmson.
British Columbians will be required to fill out a form in relation to the tax and Malcolmson addressed the notion that the province should go after speculators and not all people.
香蕉视频直播淎s was the experience in Vancouver, for you to find the speculators, you do need to do the paperwork and it was implemented without a great deal of controversy in Vancouver,香蕉视频直播� said Malcolmson. 香蕉视频直播淭hey had 96 per cent compliance with people filling out the forms. B.C. Liberals didn香蕉视频直播檛 raise the issue in the legislature when they had the opportunity and the program that香蕉视频直播檚 in place right now is modelled on what worked well in Vancouver and so that香蕉视频直播檚 what I香蕉视频直播檓 talking with people when they say they香蕉视频直播檙e concerned, I let them know this is the best way for us to achieve the objective.香蕉视频直播�
Historically, governing parties haven香蕉视频直播檛 fared well in byelections and Horgan said he would take it step by step when asked about what would happen if his party loses.
香蕉视频直播淲hat if? What if? If horses had horns they香蕉视频直播檇 be unicorns,香蕉视频直播� said Horgan. 香蕉视频直播淭hey don香蕉视频直播檛, so I香蕉视频直播檓 going to take it one day at a time as I香蕉视频直播檝e been doing since I was sworn in 香蕉视频直播� We haven香蕉视频直播檛 had a byelection that香蕉视频直播檚 been so important as this one, but we have a spectacular candidate, in a spectacular community, so the 香蕉视频直播榃hat if?香蕉视频直播� is how quickly can we get Sheila Malcolmson to work to help fix some of the problems here in Nanaimo.香蕉视频直播�
reporter@nanaimobulletin.com
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