Port workers officially on strike

Good morning,

Or bad morning if you tried to take BC Ferries this weekend without a reservation. It’s becoming a common story every long weekend, with massive lines and cancelled ferries. Hard to imagine it getting better anytime soon…

In today’s newsletter, we’ve got:

• An update on the port strike 🪧

• A change in an important housing affordability measurement 🏠

• And a look at how bad BC Ferries travel was this weekend

A reminder that there is no newsletter on Wednesday as we’re taking our day off that day instead of today!

Onwards.

— Geoff Sharpe, Vancity Lookout writer

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WEATHER

Monday: 28 🌡️ 17 | ☀️

Tuesday: 31 🌡️ 18 | 🌤

Wednesday: 30 🌡️ 18 | ☀️

WEEKLY LOOKOUT

Port strike: How long will the strike last for? That’s the question this week as workers take to the picket line demanding better wages and protections from automation. More on this story below.

LABOUR

Port workers on strike — now what?

What happened: In the end, no deal was reached before the strike deadline, as workers at ports across the province took to the picket lines, affecting 7,400 workers and 30 B.C. ports according to the Vancouver Sun.

Background: Both sides have been negotiating for months, including bringing in a mediator. But both sides are still far apart. It has been three months since the contract expired.

• The strike does not affect cruise ships docking at ports across the province.

The strike could impact about $1 billion a day in trade, but according to the Vancouver Sun, shippers aren’t that concerned yet, as they have contingency plans such as sending containers to U.S. ports.

Warning: Unions issued a statement calling on the government not to interfere with negotiations, after business groups called for back-to-work legislation due to the economic impact of the strike, according to the Vancouver Sun. The government has not indicated they plan to intervene.

The impact: A stoppage at the ports will have major ramifications not just in B.C. but across the province, with goods not being able to be shipped. Some business groups have argued it could exacerbate inflation, but Prof. Peter Hall at Simon Fraser University said this was unlikely, according to CTV.

What it means: The strike's impact in the longer term is massive and will likely put pressure on both parties to find a solution. Short-term, the impacts on businesses and consumers will be minimal, but the concern is that it stretches out over a longer period. So far the government has not indicated any desire to circumvent the bargaining process.

VANCOUVER BY THE NUMBERS

🪧 7,400: The number of port workers who walked off the job this weekend. [Vancouver Sun]

💰 $1 million: The amount a Lotto 6/49 ticket was sold for in Vancouver. [Richmond News]

🚎 2.3%: The amount ticket fares have risen in Metro Vancouver, which is around a five to 10 cent price bump. This will help pay for doubling buses, extending the Millennium Line, creating rapid transit to the north shore and building a gondola to Simon Fraser University, all by 2035. [Global]

HOUSING

30 percent of income for housing? If you’re lucky…

Turns out that the oft-cited affordability metric for spending only about 30 percent of your average income on housing may be changing. But does that mean it’s not more affordable to live? Nope.

What happened: Experts are beginning to say that due to the unaffordability of housing in Canada, the often-cited metric to know if you can afford a home may need to change, according to CBC.

Background: The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation adopted the 30 percent rule back in 1986. The idea is that 30 percent of income being used towards housing was an effective way to measure affordability. Anything over is considered unaffordable for the average family.

The reality: Here in Vancouver, the entire Metro Vancouver region spends 51.6 percent of paycheques on rent, according to CityNews. The most expensive cities to rent are also all B.C. So yeah, not many people are hitting that 30 percent mark…

Harder to get built: Another factor impacting housing affordability and prices? Construction costs. According to Urbanized and RBC Economics, the costs of building across Canada have increased by 51 percent since early 2020. Specifically, structural steel and concrete are up 53 percent and 55 percent respectively.

In Vancouver: One reason you may need to readjust your housing calculation costs is that rent is now on average 17 percent higher than the next most expensive city Toronto, according to Urbanized. An average apartment rental in Vancouver now costs on average $2,513 — yikes — compared to $2,146 in Toronto.

• Dig deeper: The Walrus took a deep dive into home ownership and how our country is becoming a nation of renters. [Walrus]

One complaint: The story suggests one way to make homeownership more attainable is by cutting discretionary spending like eating. Just to be clear, no amount of cutting of discretionary spending will help someone afford a home in Vancouver!

NEW JOBS

Discover your new dream job in Vancouver

1. Manager, corporate communications at Fortis BC

2. Director, digital at Smart, Savvy & Associates

3. Brand studio producer at ARC’TERYX

4. Community arts programmer at the City of Vancouver

5. Event coordinator at St. Paul’s Foundation

TRANSPORTATION

Another bad BC Ferries weekend

Could it have been worse? Maybe. Could it have been better? Most definitely. In what is becoming a regular occurrence, BC Ferries struggled to service the massive volume of people travelling over the long weekend.

What happened: Over 6,600 reservations were shifted around due to the Coastal Celebration being taken out of service due to an “extended refit.” Many passengers who did not have reservations were turned away on Friday, according to Global. Those without reservations had to wait over six hours.

• Those travelling to Departure Bay had a much easier time, with normal levels of wait times.

Sunday wasn’t much better with over six sailings cancelled between Swartz Bay, Otter Bay and Village Bay throughout the day, according to CTV.

What’s going on? The loss of one ship was bad enough, but staffing issues were also causing problems, as ships require a minimal crew level, which has been an ongoing issue.

Looking ahead: The problem is unlikely to improve any time soon. The corporation says there will be a wave of retirements, with 450 to 700 marine workers expected to retire in the next five years, according to the Vancouver Sun. The problem is wages are not high enough, due to inflation, though contract renegotiations will take place in August to increase worker pay.

THE AGENDA

🏖️ Beach alert, but not the good kind. Kitsilano Point, specifically Hadden Beach, has high E.coli levels and poses risks to swimmers and it’s recommended you stay away. [Global]

🇨🇳 The Chinese Canadian Museum is finally open. Announced in March 2020 and located at 51 East Pender St., it opens with an exhibition on the 1923 Chinese Exclusion Act, which required Chinese people to register with the government, and banned immigrants. [Business in Vancouver]

🤝 A deal was reached last week between SkyTrain employees and BC Rapid Transit Co. Workers will receive improved benefits and increased wages. Workers affected include Millennium and Expo Line workers. [CTV]

🚰 Don’t expect any drinking water, toilets or showers at Spanish Banks. A pipe has broken and won’t be fixed until next year. [CBC]

⚙️ A new device is being installed in SROs to help prevent overdose deaths. It notifies staff if a person hasn’t checked in while taking drugs. Of the deaths from drug overdoses, 61 percent of people were doing drugs alone. [CBC]

📄 The Minister of Health for B.C. is in discussions with St. Paul’s Hospital about altering their medical assistance in dying policy (MAID) policy, after public outrage over the hospital’s policy of transferring palliative care patients who are approved for MAID due to religious reasons. [CTV]

EVENTS

Carnaval Del Sol 2023 | Concord Pacific Place | July 7-9 | Come check out the biggest Latin festival in the Pacific Northwest, with music, dance, art, and of course, food | Tickets $15

Khatsahlano Street Party | Saturday, July 8, 11 am | An epic street party taking over the whole neighbourhood over 60 performers | Free

Vancouver Bubble Tea Outdoor Music Concert | Bubble tea and music? Heck yes. Come check out the musical group Coco Project and enjoy some delicious bubble tea | Learn more

Vancouver Chinatown Festival | In Chinatown | July 15-16 | The popular event features walking tours, food stalls, stuff for kids, and opportunities to check out local businesses | Free

Powell Street Festival | Oppenheimer Park | August 5-6 | Celebrate Japanese art and culture at the popular festival this summer, with music, food, crafts and more | Free

SPORTS

⚾️ The Canadians won 4-3 on Friday, 11-2 on Saturday and lost 6-8 against the Spokane Indians. The team currently stands at 44 wins and 30 losses and sits at the top of the Northwest League.

⚽ Tough game for the Whitecaps. The team lost 3-3 against Kansas City, which was their first shutout loss of the season. They currently sit at 9th in the MLS Western Conference [The Province]

🏒 Free agency has been busy for the Canucks. They signed defencemen Carson Soucy and Ian Cole, as well as checking centre Teddy Blueger. They also brought on goalie Zach Sawchenko from the minor leagues. [Sportsnet]

GOOD NEWS MONDAY

Start your day off with some good news:

A 16-year old hiker who was lost on a hike in Golden Ears Park was discovered after 50 hours, according to CBC late last week. Luckily she was unharmed and is in great condition. She originally became separated from her hiking group on Tuesday. A big thank you to all the rescue teams who were involved in the search for her.

SURVEY

On Friday we asked readers if they believed the province needs to clarify rules around drug legalization. An overwhelming 92 percent of readers agreed they needed to be clarified.

Here’s what some readers said:

“Why should non-smokers and young children be subject to secondhand smoke. All we want is to enjoy a day in the park.”

“We need consistent policies on public behaviours not a patchwork of regulations where people will be confused about what is allowed and what is not.”

“The Province needs to give local governments the tools they need to keep their communities safe and welcoming for all.”

Thanks to everyone for sharing your opinions!

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• West End traffic is really backed up these days… [Reddit]

• BC Parks has a new feature where you can be notified by email if there’s a camping spot that becomes available. [CTV]

• That was quite the explosion at Central Park this weekend from the fireworks. [Reddit]

• Reminder — there’s a free bike valet at English Bay so you can keep your bike safe at the beach. [Reddit]

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Someone really needs to move this boat, though it does make for a great photo.

GAME TIME

Congrats to everyone who correctly guessed Friday’s Wordle. The answer was PORT.

Today’s quiz question — how many workers are on strike at the port? Reply with your name and the correct answer, and we’ll include your name in the next newsletter.