Realtors know who’s buying — and so should gov’ts
In the last couple of days, certain highprofile government officials have been heard bemoaning (in the media, of course) how difficult it is to determine the extent of foreign ownership of homes in Vancouver and the rest of Canada.
They say they don’t know what to do, or how and where to start, without accurate figures to help.
Well, when someone buys property, they need to provide certain details as to who they are. Realtors know who they’re selling to, real-estate companies know their clients, lending institutions know who is borrowing and the governments know where the tax revenue is coming from.
It begs the question, in this day and age, how difficult is it, really, to find out who is buying property? The answer: It’s not.
We all know that if the various levels of government wanted to, they could put more rules and regulations in place to ensure that real estate remains affordable for Canadians. But all they want is their picture in the media so it looks like they care, and that something might get done.
We also know that nothing will get done until foreign buyers dry up. That won’t happen until the choicest real estate is gone, and that will happen before governments act. Doug Marsden, Vancouver
House prices outrageous
When my grandmother came to Canada, she was able to buy a picker’s cottage on one acre of land in Yarrow, where she grew raspberries to supplement their income. She lived to her 90s and was a homeowner most of her life.
My husband and I married at a young age and raised two children. Due to job loss and financial setback, we sold our home in 2003 and began to rent. Now, the hope of ever owning a home again has disappeared.
We are good, law-abiding, taxpaying citizens who can’t afford to own a home where we have lived and worked all our lives. My son, a tradesman, can barely make a living after paying rent and commuting costs.
It used to be taught that we shouldn’t take a mortgage more than three times your annual household income. Median household income is $76,00, which would translate to a mortgage of $225,000. How does that compare with our million-dollar homes here in Greater Vancouver?
Vancouver isn’t a great place to live when families are staggering under unmanageable household debt and we pay more a month just to get to work than on groceries. This is outrageous and unsustainable. Laurel Martens, Surrey
Compass-card woes
Recently, my wife couldn’t “tap out” at the station, and the following day she was accused of going three zones instead of two. She was publicly embarrassed and was detained until she paid an additional $1.50.
The previous day, her card didn’t work on a bus and the driver spoke harshly, accusing her of trying to cheat the system. He let her on, but I assure you she didn’t want to be there.
She also used a $20 bill in a machine last week to put a single trip on my son’s Compass card, and it gave no change. She went to customer service and was again treated as if she was trying to rip off the system.
We are hardworking people who pay our way. But we can’t afford to pay $20 for a concession ride or $5.50 for a two-zone ride.
TransLink, you owe her $19 and a public apology. Ray Taylor, Burnaby
A right to clean water
Re: Contaminated soil landfill. On July 28, 2010, the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution No. 64/292, which recognized access to clean water and sanitation as a human right.
In part, this resolution states that the UN considers them as being “essential for the full enjoyment of life and all human rights.”
Does our provincial government and Ministry of Environment recognize this human right? Does this right apply to the residents of Shawnigan Lake? Brian Costello, Shawnigan Lake