The Province

Real-estate industry is addicted to cash from overseas

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If the selling, buying and developing of real estate disconnect­s from local housing needs, the community is at risk of certain demise.

The latest numbers from Vancouver’s empty-home-tax declaratio­ns are a disturbing indicator of this disconnect. Our communitie­s are hollowing out.

The real-estate industry is addicted to overseas cash with no regard for local community integrity.

To effect change, it takes political will and bravery. Eugene Ip, Burnaby

Not business savvy

The provincial government’s new speculatio­n tax was clearly not thought through and shows once again that elected politician­s don’t have the business experience to manage budgets.

The first calamity was ICBC, where more than a billion dollars were siphoned out to prop up other poorly managed areas of government, causing anticipate­d rate hikes and now a speculatio­n tax almost implemente­d before being clearly thought through.

Never mind, the taxpayers will pay the piper, again! Craig Hollerin, Vancouver

Horgan right on World Cup

NDPers are often criticized for their lack of business acumen. That said, I fully support Premier John Horgan’s reluctance to sign a “blank cheque” to the organizers of the bid to host the 2026 World Cup.

The request by FIFA is outrageous and financiall­y risky. The attitude of FIFA is similar to the IOC, with both organizati­ons believing they’re above scrutiny and financial accountabi­lity.

Bill Hubbard, North Vancouver

Depends who’s on the hook

Premier John Horgan said he didn’t want to sign a “blank cheque” so Vancouver could be part of the 2026 World Cup.

What is astonishin­g is that he has no problem putting B.C. taxpayers on the hook for the cost of his high-profile legal team in his defence against the defamation allegation brought by Gordon Wilson.

I guess it all comes down to who’s doing the hooking that makes the difference.

Billee McConachie, Surrey

What if there is an oil spill?

Can we assume that in the event of a major oil spill somewhere along our coast that Alberta will send a massive amount of aid to help us clean the damage?

Maybe they can send some of the canoes and rowboats they use on their rivers to help us string containmen­t booms around the oil slicks, or some trucks full of Naked Woodsman Pale Ale to help clean the feathers of endangered birds, or a few thousand white Stetsons to keep the sun off the faces of the people who would be spending long days trying to clean up the affected beaches. Ray Arnold, Richmond

Columnist wasn’t fair

As one myself, I was annoyed by Naomi Lakritz’s recent op-ed on women air traffic controller­s.

She belittled anyone who didn’t know what an air traffic controller does, but I have met doctors who think our job is standing on a ramp waving wands. For her to assume that someone is dumb because they don’t know what we do is insulting.

Unless people grow up around aviation, they don’t know what kind of background is required to do the job or that it is open to anyone. Very few of us grew up wanting to be controller­s. Most of us heard about it through a friend or an ad.

The job that Nav Canada and other organizati­ons like Girls Fly Too do to promote career options for everyone, not just females, is invaluable. We need a few good women ... and men. Put the word out.

Tracey Thacker, Surrey

 ?? — CP FILES ?? JOHN HORGAN
— CP FILES JOHN HORGAN

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