Building & Industry News

Last week, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre promised to eliminate the GST on new homes sold for under $1 million if his party wins the next federal election. The savings on a $950,000 home would be $47,500 GST – a tax that’s supposed to be a consumption tax, not a...

It has taken awhile, but finally a Canadian politician has suggested a partial step to end housing as an endless, federal government cash machine. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has promised to eliminate the GST on new homes sold for under $1 million if his...

In the aftermath of the BC election, there are key housing policies that need implementation, regardless of which party ends up governing. While each of the parties proposed their solutions for housing supply and affordability, the following must be addressed: A cap...

Greater Victoria’s year-to-date housing starts are down 3% according to CMHC. From January to September, housing starts were 3,066 vs 3,153 during the same period last year. The decline in British Columbia is 8% at 29,585 new homes this year vs 32,054 last year. This...

A developer has gone to court over a $1.3 million vacancy tax charged because they did not renovate two toxic, rat-infested homes scheduled for demolition in Vancouver. This underlines the absurdity, unfairness and rising costs of building homes in British Columbia....

The Canadian Real Estate Association reports BC has the highest average home price at $939,972  which is $290,876 more than the average price in Canada. The BC government charges a Property Transfer Tax (PTT) of $16,795 to do a simple land title transfer on the...

Greater Victoria’s year-to-date housing starts are down 8% according to CMHC. From January to August, housing starts were 2,706 vs 2,937 during the same period last year. The decline in British Columbia is 9% at 23,141 new homes this year vs 25,448 last year. This is...

The Victoria Residential Builders Association and industry partners recently met with the CRD to discuss proposed Development Cost Charges (DCCs) up to $9,045 per new home, to pay for a a large water supply project. The province enables municipalities to charge DCCs...