A gassy debate at city hall

Good morning,

I managed to snag a table at popular Vancouver restaurant St. Lawrence this week. To say I’m excited would be an understatement. According to most reviews (and my own visit just over two years ago), the place truly stands out as one of the best in the city. Quebec food holds a special place in my heart, and I do wish there more places like it on the West Coast. 

If you want to hear my review of it, be sure to subscribe to our free food and drink newsletter here. Tomorrow I’m reviewing another vegetarian restaurant!

Today’s top story is all about gas. No, not that gas, natural gas, and whether it should be used to heat your home. We break it all down and why it’s become such a contentious issue.

Let’s dive in.

PS - If you find this newsletter valuable, please consider forwarding it to your friends. New to the Lookout? Sign-up for free.

WEATHER

Wednesday: 4 🌡️ 2 | ☁️

Thursday: 4 🌡️ 0 | ☁️

Friday: 4 🌡️ 3 | 🌧️

ENVIRONMENT

A gassy debate at city hall

What happened: Yesterday council debated whether to allow natural gas for heating in new buildings, an issue that exposes a clear divide at council and a consistent problem facing the ABC-majority. 

Background: Back in July, Mayor Ken Sim’s ABC-majority introduced a motion to bring back a policy to allow natural gas heating in new buildings. This would change an existing policy that had been on the books banning the practice, according to the Vancouver Sun. 

It’s one of the most contentious issues the city has faced this year, with more than 100 people signing up to address council about the decision, alongside protests against the policy change outside city hall.

• Former mayor Gregor Robertson and former Toronto mayor David Miller both spoke out against bringing back gas heating to buildings, according to CBC.

Potential solution? In what appears to be a middle path where the impact on the climate is lessened, staff presented two plans at the meeting. One would require buildings to be built at a very high level to BC’s zero carbon step code, and another would require a higher level of energy efficiency for building but would allow natural gas for heating.

Self-inflicted wounds grow: In what may be considered a pattern with Mayor Ken Sim’s ABC party — the decision to end the park board, for instance —  the high-profile nature of the issue was essentially self-inflicted by ABC after they voted out of the blue to change the building requirements. 

Are children’s posters intimidating? That’s what ABC councillor Brian Montague and Mayor Ken Sim said about children’s art that Green councillors Adriane Carr and Pete Fry put on their desks from children who expressed support for the environment and opposed the motion. Sim said the posters could be considered intimidating and did not create “a safe environment for everyone so they can express their feelings.” You can see the posters in the image above.

VANCOUVER NUMBERS

📉 22: The ranking of Vancouver in the World's Best Cities report. It ranked 15th overall in liveability but 49th in lovability. [Vancouver is Awesome]

🚋 100: The number of TransLink buses that by Thursday will be equipped with special new winter tires. The total number equipped with winter tires will be 600, around one-third of the fleet. [Vancouver Sun]

🎤 $157 million: The expected economic impact for Vancouver of Taylor Swift’s Eras tour, with 150,000 people expected to attend the three shows from Dec. 6-8. [CTV]

⚱️ $6,100: The cost of an in-ground plot for an urn at the Vancouver Mountain View Cemetary, which will rise next year. The cost for two casket spaces? A cool $36,200.  [Vancouver Sun

SPONSORED BY INTERNATIONAL INTRIGUE

Staying informed about the world doesn’t have to be boring

Looking for news outside of just Vancouver? You may like International Intrigue.

It’s a free global affairs briefing created by former diplomats to help leaders like you understand how geopolitics, business and technology intersect. They deliver the most important international news and analysis in <5-minute daily briefing that you’ll actually look forward to reading.

Sign up for free today.

DREAM HOME

Ever wondered what a penthouse suite on English Bay costs? Well, here’s your answer.

The suite is part of a nine-unit building. It has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, 2,197 square feet of living space, with a new kitchen and floors. It’s got a lovely layout, but the bathroom appears to be a little dated, if I do say so myself.

The cost? Unlike the beautiful view of English Bay, the price of the unit is not pretty.

House of The Week is a home selected by the Lookout team and is not a paid advertisement. All ads are labeled as such. If you’re a realtor who wishes to feature your home in our newsletter, please contact our sales team. 

ANALYSIS

Three observations from the city’s latest budget

Sometimes when doing research for a story, you spot some interesting data that, while fascinating and worth exploring, don’t fit in an existing story, or aren’t story-worthy by themselves.

This is what happened while I reviewed the city’s proposed 2025 Budget in Monday’s newsletter. Here are some observations I thought readers might find of interest. 

Business versus residential: The tax burden has shifted away from Vancouver businesses in the last 20 years, from around 54.2 per cent in 2001 to 39.9 per cent in 2024. This is a somewhat similar trend for other cities in the region, though Surrey appears to have bucked it, staying mostly the same.

Homes versus condos: While taxes are rising, it’s those who choose to purchase a single family home that are paying far more, as those prices have skyrocketed. The average single-family property tax in 2024 was $4,635, and $1,178 for a condo. 

Age changes preferences: While not surprising, one tidbit from a survey the city did in preparation for the budget is how old you are changes your priorities for the city.

For example, the older someone is, the less likely they are to rate the housing crisis as their number one issue, with 45 per cent of respondents of those 60+ rating it as a top three issue, compared to 69 per cent for those 15-39. This may also be due to older people owning homes!

Younger people were also supportive of raising taxes on businesses (50 per cent) and residential property taxes (50 per cent), compared to senior residents at 33 per cent in support of raising business taxes and 26 per cent in support of raising property taxes.

THE AGENDA

📈 Using Vancouver parks services will get more expensive next year. The park board approved a set of fee hikes, ranging from six to seven per cent, a bunch of services. For example, a 12-month pass for places like fitness centres and pools will be $554, up seven per cent. The fee hike will bring in $4.4 million to help fund the park board’s budget shortfall. [CTV]

⚽ After a disappointing season, the Whitecaps let go of coach Vanni Sartini, who took over in August 2021. The team achieved a 13-13 record, and lost against Los Angeles FC in the first round. The Whitecaps CEO says they’re looking for fresh new energy. [CBC]

👮 A 46-year-old man was charged in the homicide in Joyce-Collingwood this weekend, after he was taken into custody. [Global News]

Outside Vancouver

📉 Premier David Eby took to Twitter to say that Ottawa must “respond with strength” to Trump’s plan to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian imports. That level of tariffs would have devastating impacts on the Canadian and BC economy and workers. In the first six months of this year, $16.9 billion of goods was exported to the US. Trade with that country represents around 55 per cent of all the province’s exported goods. [Vancouver Sun]

🚆 A BC advocacy group is calling for a $10 billion regional train service linking Whistler to Chilliwack. It seems like a great idea, but $10 billion is likely rather small, considering that the 5.7 km route for the Broadway Subway will cost $3 billion… But a conversation about the idea can’t hurt. [Vancouver Sun]

🏠 StatsCan says that three per cent of homes in BC are flipped every year, with 2021 the highest at 3.3 per cent. Flipping is defined as purchasing a home and selling it within one year. [Business in Vancouver]

SPONSORED BY VIFF CENTRE - VIFF’S YEAR-ROUND CINEMA

Flow, an Enchanting Adventure Film for All Ages - Youth Tickets Just $10!

Having made a splash at Cannes, VIFF 2024 audience favourite Flow opens Friday at VIFF Centre.

In this wordless and gorgeously atmospheric animated feature, a solitary black cat survives a tsunami and must confront his fear of water whilst sailing through a flooded world with a group of misfit animals.

"Simply Stunning. It's a little like watching the most thrilling nature documentary ever sketched." - David Fear, Rolling Stone

Get Tickets.

EVENTS GUIDE

West Van Comedy Classic | Kay Meek Arts Centre, 1700 Mathers Ave, West Vancouver | Nov. 29, 8:00 pm | Pro stand-up comedy featuring Chris Griffin, Alex Mackenzie, Syd Bosel, and more | Tickets $38

Bold Flavours: A Radicchio Pop-up Event | Burdock & Co, 2702 Main Street | Nov. 27, 5:00 pm - 9:30 pm | Immersive 90-minute radicchio tasting experience with local chefs and farmers | Tickets $70

Make Change Market | Heritage Hall, 3102 Main St | Nov. 29, 6:00 pm | An evening market showcasing Employ to Empower entrepreneurs, products, and activations. Support local businesses and kick off holiday shopping | Free

Toque Craft Fair | Western Front, 303 East 8th Ave. | Nov. 29-Dec. 1, 11:00 am | Explore curated BC-made crafts, textiles, ceramics and more | Free

Chinatown Winter Solstice: Lantern Making | Chinatown Plaza Mall, Vancouver | Nov. 30, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm | Lantern-making workshop with paper collage | Free

Portobello West Roundhouse Holiday Market | Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre | Nov. 30, 10:00 am | Discover 69+ local vendors offering handmade gifts, family fashion, jewelry, art, and more | Tickets $6

VSO Chamber Players | Kay Meek Arts Centre, West Vancouver | Dec. 1, 3:00 pm | Chamber music with VSO musicians performing works by Webern, Mendelssohn, and Brahms | Tickets $42 

VANCOUVER GUESSER

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• Did anyone see the killer whales in the waters off downtown Vancouver on Sunday? Here’s a video of them. 

• The park board launched a handy map to see all the development projects in the city. 

• Japan was my all-time favourite trip, and now there are flights available for $334. [Vancouver is Awesome]

• Want to have your announcement featured? Learn how here.