Why your property taxes could increase by 9.7%

Good morning,

It’s budget time and that means property tax hikes, which we get into in today’s newsletter. As someone who doesn’t own any property (and at these prices, likely never will), I’d love to hear what you property owners think. Shoot me a message.

We’ve also got more news about the Downtown Eastside, a breakdown of the latest food news and the weekly Wordle.

And thanks to one reader who suggested Persia Foods as an affordable alternative to big grocery stores. I love featuring local businesses.

Onwards.

— Geoff Sharpe

Editor’s note: No, there weren’t three desserts jaywalking as I mentioned in the last newsletter; they were, in fact, wearing balaclavas, not baklavas. But as few of you mentioned, it would’ve indeed been funny to see.

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WEATHER

Friday: 2 🌡️ -3 | ⛅

Saturday: 3 🌡️ -1 | ❄️

Sunday: 6 🌡️ 0 | ❄️/🌧️

Monday: 5 🌡️ 1 | ❄️/🌧️

VANCOUVER NUMBERS

38%: The growth in Metro Vancouver’s Black population in the last five years. In total, there are 41,180 Black residents. [CTV]

$529 million: The profit from Loblaws most recent quarter, up 10 percent compared to a year ago. This comes in the midst of rapidly rising food prices. [CBC]

20 cm: The potential amount of snow that could fall in Metro Vancouver this weekend. [CityNews]

CITY HALL

The nitty-gritty of the city budget’s tax increase proposal

What happened: Staff presented city council with the 2023 Draft Operating Budget slated to increase property taxes by 9.7 percent for the year, according to CBC. This could cost the average Vancouver resident about $400 more annually, though this varies significantly by property value.

What it covers: The proposed budget is $1.93 billion for 2023. The tax increases breaks down as follows:

• One percent for infrastructure renewal;

• One percent for “reserve replenishment for financial sustainability”;

• 2.7 percent for the Vancouver Police Department;

• And five percent funding increase for general city services.

Inflationary pressures are the biggest reason for the increase. With the cost of everything rising, cities aren’t immune and need to cover the shortfall.

Ken’s conundrum: Mayor Ken Sim promised during the municipal election campaign to hire 100 new cops, without raising property taxes, according to CBC. Part of the tax increase goes towards that promise. During the campaign, he did not provide specific ways he would fund the plan, instead saying, “we're going to be looking to the province and the federal government to pick up their responsibilities.” Sim also made opposition to a road tax a centrepiece of his mayoral election campaign.

• Background: Under former mayor Kennedy Stewart, property taxes rose by an average of five percent per year according to CBC. Over the last 10 years, property taxes increased by about 3.9 percent, according to the Vancouver Sun.

Yes, but: Sorry property owners, but you’re still getting a great deal. Vancouver has some of the lowest property taxes on the continent. Not only that, but property taxes are half of what they were in 2000, according to economist Alex Hemmingway in an interview with CityNews.

With that said, Vancouver has increased taxes at a higher rate than other regional municipalities.

Council will meet in March to approve the final budget. You can see the budget timeline here.

QUOTE

“If we’re looking at inflation pressures of five to 10 percent over the last year, that’s going to be reflected in cities’ budgets. And given that cities can’t really engage in deficit spending in the same way that provincial and federal governments can, they’re going to have to find ways to show a balanced budget. And if it’s not going to be through cuts, it’s going to have to be through tax increases.” Stewart Prest, professor of political science, explaining the budgetary issues facing Vancouver. [Vancouver Sun]

SAFETY

Some tents and structures cleared in Downtown Eastside

What happened: Vancouver police and city staff on Wednesday cleared out a number of tents and structures from the Downtown Eastside, which the city says was done to reduce the risk of fires and remove structures blocking building entranceways, according to CTV

• According to the last count by the city in January, there were 83 structures along East Hastings, which is a drop of 97 from August.

According to Ryan Sudd, an organizer with Stop the Sweeps Coalition, residents demanded long-term housing options, while the city offered shelter spaces and SRO units. The removal comes as temperatures dropped this week and are expected to drop further this weekend, along with potential snow.

Background: The B.C. government itself acknowledged that there is a huge backlog in government funding for affordable housing across the province. They’ve also been slow to expand treatment centres and detox beds for those seeking treatment, according to Business in Vancouver, though they did announce $1 billion in funding for housing and addiction treatments.

Cold problems: On Tuesday, a Marpole resident took to the media to decry the city for not opening warming centres in Marpole during the cold snap, in what they’re calling poor communication, according to CTV.

THE AGENDA

🗳️ MLA for Vancouver-Mount Pleasant Melanie Mark announced she’s retiring on Wednesday, saying the legislature felt like a “torture chamber” and that it “fundamentally resist(s) the urge to do things differently,” according to the Vancouver Sun. She was the first First Nations woman to serve as a cabinet minister. She will serve until the end of March and retire. She said her proudest achievement was waving tuition fees for youth in foster care. [Vancouver Sun]

🚥 Reading this while in traffic (we hope not)? Turns out the commute is as bad as you think. New data from TomTom Traffic Index says Vancouver has the second worst traffic for a metro area in North America. [CityNews]

🚓 A cyclist was shot Thursday morning in the Downtown Eastside. This comes after 14 guns were seized in the neighbourhood in the last five days. [Daily Hive]

🚶 A man has been charged with a hit-and-run that killed a pedestrian last year. The pedestrian was fatally hit, and the driver fled the scene. [CTV]

🎤 Bruce Boudreau made an appearance on local show Donnie & Dhali — The Team to discuss his time as the coach, saying “I want to thank the Vancouver fans, I will never forget them.” [Canucks Army]

🛳️ A Caribbean cruise to the Vancouver Convention Centre? Well not exactly. Mayor Sim has floated (get it?) the idea of cruise ships as temporary or permanent hotels in response to the increase in visitors for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. No word on whether breakfast is included. [Daily Hive]

CITY HALL

What happened at city hall this week

Rezoning approved

Despite criticism from locals, city council approved two new social housing rezoning proposals at 2518 to 2540 Grandview Highway South, according to CTV.

The details: The redevelopment will create 64 new units of social housing with social supports. It followed approval by council of 72 units of social housing at 1925 Southeast Marine Dr. Council approved each project unanimously.

Paper bag fee here to stay

It is unlikely that Vancouver will remove the $0.25 paper bag fee after council voted to end the $0.25 single-use cup fee, according to the Vancouver Sun.

Why the difference: The Retail Council of Canada says unlike the cup fee, there is evidence that the bag fee has changed behaviour. The group has not called for the bag fee to end, unlike the cup fee.

• Coun. Bligh who introduced the motion to end the cup fee said she hasn’t heard many complaints from people about the bag fee.

Other news

An auditor general report into the city spending $6 million on furniture in 30 months found the “city’s office furniture purchases adhered to its established purchasing-related policies,” after it was reported in 2020 that $317,000 was spent on high-end furniture during renovations. [Global News]

Economist Alex Hemmingway argues that to combat public hearings that disproportionately favour property owners over other types of residents like renters; the city should adopt deliberative mini-publics, sometimes called citizens’ panels, that would enable a broader cross-section of the public to participate in housing discussions. [Polciy Note]

WEEKEND EVENTS

Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival | In-person and online | Now until Mar. 26 | 70 different movies, guest speakers and outdoor education workshops. Paid tickets.

Just for Laughs Vancouver | Various locations | Still more shows to see, including ladies from The Office, Patton Oswalt and Tim Dillon | Tickets starting at $29.50.

Winter Arts Fest | Various locations downtown | All-ages festival art, lights and entertainment.

VIFF presents KDocsFF: People. Places. Power | VIFF Theatre, 1181 Seymour St. | Metro Vancouver’s Premier social justice film festival with documentary film and activism | Tickets $8.

A Tribute to Beyoncé | Christ Church Cathedral | Feb. 23 at 8:30 pm | Experience her classics at this multi-sensory musical experience | Tickets start at $40.

Millennium Mambo | Sunday at 6:00 pm | Taiwanese director Hou Hsiao-hsien, the “world’s greatest narrative filmaker” explores a generation “longing for the future so that the present” | Tickets $14.

FOOD

Here’s a summary of the best Vancouver food and restaurant news this week.

Reviews

🌍 Arike Restaurant, 1725 Davie Street: A Senegalese dish called monkey bread made from tiger nut flour? Yum! Plus it’s the “only Afro-centric restaurant in Metro Vancouver offering fine dining.” [CTV]

🍣 Sushi Mahana, 175 3rd St W #111, North Vancouver: What do George Clooney, Lady Gaga and Mariah Carey all have in common? They all ate at this exclusive omakase restaurant in North Vancouver. With seating for 10 and 25 dishes served, there’s no poker face needed with such high-quality food. [Vancouver Sun]

🇮🇳 Bagheera: Vancouver’s newest speakeasy is a throwback to travel and adventure in India. Bet on King Louie, No. 7 to get in and try the cocktails and snack-sized Indian food. [Vancouver Sun]

New openings

🍴 Vignette, 2650 Main: The chef is from Bar Susu, it’s a wine lounge offering a range of options, including a tasting menu. [Vancouver is Awesome]

🥠 Seaport City Restaurant, 2425 Cambie: A new Chinese restaurant opened up recently offering your dim sum favourites. [Food Gressing]

🧋 Baroness Bubble Tea Shop, 2790 W Broadway: A new Taiwanese bubble tea shop has arrived on Broadway. [Noms Magazine]

🇲🇽 Tamaly Shop, 2525 Main: It’s a shop focused on delicious Mexican tamales. Previously it was only online, but now has a storefront. [Vancouver is Awesome]

Food news you can use

🗺️ Owner of the Sunja Link Body Shoppe shares her favourite spots around town, including Lunch Lady and Ask for Luigi. [Scout Magazine]

🍎 A Community Supported Agriculture subscription is a great way to secure summer produce. There are over 12 different options depending on your interests. [Scout Magazine]

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• This might just be the best happy hour in Vancouver, which takes inspiration from Spain. [Vancity Lookout]

• A diver found a very weird crab that should only be found in the Atlantic Ocean. [The Star]

• Former Canucks captain Bo Horvat’s home is for sale and it’s as nice as you’d imagine. [Daily Hive]

• Kozak’s is a must-visit in Vancouver for Ukrainian food. [Vancity Lookout]

TWEET OF THE WEEK

Did you know there’s such a thing as a Mario Kart Death Race? Neither did we. But it looks like they had a ton of fun.

PHOTO OF THE DAY

You’re probably thinking, come on Vancity Lookout, a photo of rain? It’s the last thing you want to see this time of year, but we loved this shot from Reddit user -pOuYa-

GAME TIME

Congrats to Dan, Melanie and Kristi, who correctly guessed the news quiz yesterday. The answer to which company was splitting up was Teck Resources.

Today’s Wordle is something you have to pay, not many people like, but it supports things you need. Can you guess it? Play now.