Regional taxes set to increase in 2025

Good morning,

I asked readers on Friday if Lookout readers were interested in attending in-person events. Over 80% of you said you’d be interested. It’s definitely something we’re planning for in 2025!

I’m also excited to say that Nate Lewis, who you’ve seen writing for us over the summer, is back after some time off. He’ll be focusing more on some exclusive, longer-form stories covering hyper-local issues in Vancouver rather than the daily newsletter. It’s exciting to have him back, and I can’t wait for you all to see the stories we’re brainstorming.

Today’s newsletter brings some tax news for current homeowners and some exciting plans for future homeowners. 

Let’s dive in.

— Geoff Sharpe, Lookout managing editor

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

WEATHER

Monday: 10 🌡️ 4 | 🌧️

Tuesday: 10 🌡️ 5 | 🌤️

Wednesday: 10 🌡️ 6 | 🌤️

GOVERNMENT

Regional taxes set to increase in 2025

This is your warning for next year not to be too surprised if your property tax increase is higher than expected.

What happened: Metro Vancouver, the regional utility service provider for the region, voted to approve a 25.3 per cent increase in their portion of property taxes, which would account for a $177 increase for an average household, according to Vancouver is Awesome. A big reason? The cost overruns associated with the North Shore Wastewater Plant, with $98 of that average of $177 paying for the plant.

Back it up: If you haven’t been following — and to be fair, it’s not the most exciting topic — the project was initially expected to cost $700 million, but has skyrocketed to $3.68 due to issues with the contractor Acciona, which were eventually fired. As these things tend to, the courts are currently involved. 

• The federal and provincial governments will only provide $405 million for the project, so the rest has to come from residents, according to CBC.

Yes, but: For all of you in Vancouver, be happy you aren’t living in North Vancouver. They’re facing an extra $725 payment every year for 30 years to cover the cost, though as noted above, all cities will be contributing. In 2029, North Shore residents’ annual tax bill will be $1,792 compared to $903 south of the Fraser River. 

Reality check: While that may seem like a lot, it’s worth putting these numbers into context. Bear with me for a moment.

In 2023, North Vancouver only paid an average of $941 in property taxes, and $2,917 in total municipal taxes, including things like Metro Vancouver. In the city of Vancouver, it was $864 and $2,807. In contrast, someone in Toronto would pay $7,969 in property taxes on a $1.18 million dollar home. 

• Those low taxes for residents come with a price — infrastructure and other services people rely on need to be funded. 

What it means: It may seem like a bigger tax increase, but it’s worth looking at it another way. Infrastructure costs money. The cost of delivering new housing units in Vancouver and Metro Vancouver is around 30% related to fees charged by governments, a portion of that development cost charges from Metro Vancouver. Those costs are proposed to rise, with a condo cost increasing from $6,249 to $14,657 per unit, according to Storeys. 

Rather than have higher property taxes (which other cities outside Metro Vancouver do), those costs are passed onto future residents through higher poetry prices and bigger mortgages. Is that really fair? 

• I know, I know, that was a bit of a tangent. But it’s not good enough just to look at rising costs but also at the wider context compared to other jurisdictions.

What’s next: Metro Vancouver stuck two task forces after a debate between councillors, according to the Vancouver Sun. One would look at ways to control spending, and the other would look at Metro Vancouver’s governing structure.

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VANCOUVER NUMBERS

🚢 100: The number of oil tankers that travelled through the Burrard Inlet and the Second Narrows in the last six months since the bigger Trans Mountain pipeline and Westridge Marine terminal started operating. Normally, this used to be around 5-7 per month. [Business in Vancouver]

🪧700: The number of foremen who could be locked out today at BC ports after the BC Maritime Employers Association delivered its final offer to the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 514. Bargaining has been ongoing for two years. [Vancouver Sun]

🌧️70 millimeters: The amount of rain that’s expected to have fallen yesterday and into today. [Vancouver Sun]

👍️ 36,000 square feet: The size of a new pickleball facility coming to Lougheed in Burnaby, featuring 10 indoor courts.

RESTAURANT REVIEW

Viet Family's pho will make you forget about beef

Viet Family at 1414 Commercial Dr. on Main has developed what seems to be a popular following, judging by the volume of visitors. It makes sense — Vietnamese is a popular Vancouver food, so why wouldn’t the vegan alternative also be?

Snuggly nestled into the street with an unassuming white-faced facade, I could not help but note the irony of Fanny Bay Oysters on its left and The Daily Catch, a seafood market on the right.

Seitan forms a big part of the menu at Viet Family, with the kitchen using it in creative ways to mimic the meat you might find in normal dishes. Made from gluten, it’s formed from wheat by passing developed gluten flour through water. The starch is slowly removed, leaving behind a dense gluten ball. Historically, it’s been used by many Asian countries as a meat substitute by vegetarian Buddhist monks. 

I ordered the caramel spare ribs and the beef pho. My goal was to try a more traditional version of the popular Vietnamese soup, as well as something a little more creative to see how they emulate meat alternatives.

Read the story

THE AGENDA

🌧️ There was a rainfall warning issued last night for Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, with 70 millimetres of rainfall expected until this morning. [CityNews]

👮 Mayor Ken Sim’s home was vandalized over Halloween with “hateful” graffiti, and the mayor shared that this isn’t the first time he’s faced these types of attacks, including a bomb threat. [CityNews]

⛺ The CRAB Park encampment will soon be no more. The city has given the remaining seven residents a week to clean up their belongings as they transition the park back to day use. The city says they’ve set aside shelter space for all remaining park residents. It remains to be seen if this will be permanent, as the city has been taken to court over their actions. Previously, a Supreme Court judge allowed campers to remain because there were not enough shelter spaces. [Vancouver Sun]

❌ A heads up — the Seawall between Third Beach and Prospect Point will be closed from now until Dec. 6 to accommodate the removal of dead trees from the hemlock looper moth infestation. [City of Vancouver]

❓In what has to be a very funny coincidence, the day local Vancouver billionaire Chip Wilson put up his notorious communist sign was the same day Mayor Ken Sim made October 3rd Chip Wilson Day in Vancouver. How will you be celebrating next year? [Twitter]

🏗️ A WorkSafeBC investigation of a crane collapse at the Oakridge construction site alleges that there was a “systemic failure to manage workplace health and safety.” The company managing the site is EllisDon, an Ontario-based construction company. The company denied the allegations. [CBC]

🏒 Canucks beat the Sharks 3-2 on Saturday, with the team at 5-2-3, good enough for 3rd in the Pacific Division. The team also placed forward Nils Aman on waivers, before he returned to the Canucks’ AHL team. [Canucks Army]

NEW JOBS

Discover your dream job in Vancouver:

• Director of curatorial programs at the Chinese Canadian Museum Society of BC

• Senior communications officer at BC Liquor Distribution Branch

• Director of retail operations at RoveConcepts

• Customer service representative at Vivid Vancouver

• Manager, customer success at Highspot

EVENTS

Women in Tech Vancouver | 4611 Canada Way, Burnaby | Nov. 7, 6 pm | Come network with other women in tech | Free

Two Tyee Titans, In Conversation | Upstart & Crow | Nov. 9, 6:30 pm | Two Tyee reporters I love each have a new book; come listen to chat about their time in journalism | Free

CFAC x CIBC Capital Markets 2024 Fireside Chat | 2053 Main Hall Vancouver | Nov. 5, 5 pm | Opportunity for students to build relationships with industry professionals and learn about capital markets | By donation

Beginner’s Crochet Workshop: All About Granny Squares | 3567 Commercial St | Nov. 6, 6:30 pm | Learn how to crochet, with this class working through the basics | Tickets $75

Circle Craft Holiday Market | Vancouver Convention Centre | Nov. 6-10 | Over 300 artisan showcase their wares for you to buy, the perfect Christmas gift opportunity | Tickets $12

Transform Festival | Vancouver Playhouse | Nov. 6-9 | The Cultch presents the electrifying performances from local community artists | Tickets 

Vancouver Asian Film Festival | Multiple locations | Nov. 7-14 Showcasing 100 films from Asian creators | Tickets $15

Ocean Film Festival Canada World Tour 2024 | Centennial Theatre | Nov. 7, 7 pm | Come watch a lineup of films focusing on the ocean, both underneath and above it | Tickets $27

Public Disco After Dark | The Birdhouse | Nov. 9, 9:30 pm-2:30 am | All-female DJ lineup, with house and groovy techno music | Tickets $20

Eastside Culture Crawl | Nov. 14-17 | All around Strathcona | Four days of artists showcasing their work and opening up their studios, a fun event for everyone | Learn more

Hibernation Harvest Dinner | Locando dell’Orso | Nov. 18, multiple times remaining | A five-course Italian family-style dinner capturing the essence of autumn | Tickets $139

Turkish Film Festival | Various locations | Nov. 21-24 | Come see films showcasing the rich, diverse world of Turkish cinema | Pass $49

GOOD NEWS MONDAY

Local Vancouver business Vessi, which makes those popular waterproof shoes, has donated 600 of them to the Community Services Access Point Society, according to CityNews. The group’s founder and CEO Timothy Moorley reached out to Vessi about helping community members stay dry, and Vessi responded with the donation.

Moorley started the nonprofit in 2022 after his leg was amputated due to a work accident. The group has also received kids shoes, which they will donate to schools.

Know a group doing great work like this? Reply to this email with a little about them, and we’ll reach out to feature them in our newsletter.

GAME TIME

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Okay, these are some extremely cool/spooky Halloween photos. Somehow they make wearing pumpkins look extremely cool.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• TransLink is looking to repurpose old SkyTrains, into something like public art or a museum. Fun! [CTV]

• Is your phone taking over your day? Log Off is a free newsletter that gives you research-backed tactics to cut screen time and ditch distracting phone habits. Join for free today. [Sponsored\

• Okay, these are very confusing downtown bike signs… [Reddit]

• I adore libraries, so it’s great to hear Vancouver Public Library has over 120 free courses and workshops. [Curiocity]

• The folks over at the Vancouver Subreddit are building out a local business holiday shopping guide. It’s small now but slowly getting bigger!

• Ooh La La Donuts is back, and this time in Kitsilano. [Vancouer is Awesome]