NEWS RELEASE: Fair Tax Coalition applauds ‘Expert Panel’ report on business taxation. Vancouver, B.C. (October 1, 2012) – The Vancouver Fair Tax Coalition (VFTC) today commends the Ministry of Finance’s “Expert Panel on Business Taxation” on its first steps to restore balance and competitiveness to municipal property tax rates. The panel recently released recommendations that [...]
Our city has strategies for environmental sustainability and for “greening” Vancouver. There are also plans and strategies for important social aspects of our city: culture, neighbourhoods, social housing, water, fire, and more. However, there is no comprehensive plan for our economic sustainability. A sustainable economy is important and cannot be taken for granted. With a growing [...]
The Cambie Street businesses and residents have had a difficult time during the construction stage of the Canada Line. Unfortunately, they are about to see property tax increases of crisis proportions. Tenants and business owners are becoming a taxation “hot spots” where year-over-year increases in assessments cause profound increases in property taxes. These are far [...]
The importance of continuing the 1% shift is directly linked to the employment and economic growth in Vancouver. Employment is essential to the economic health of citizens. Although commercial property taxes are the responsibility of landowners, the taxes are paid by employer tenants and directly effect the profitability and growth of the business sector. Vancouver city data clearly [...]
by Don Cayo, Vancouver Sun October 24, 2011 From 1998 to 2010, the city of Vancouver enjoyed a net increase of 83,267 new residents and 50,973 new homes — but added just 46 new businesses. Indeed, Vancouver’s 50,666 business licence numbers in 1998 actually declined slowly and unsteadily until 2007 when they reached their nadir [...]
by Don Cayo, Vancouver Sun – January 7, 2011 The total assessed value of a business property — the land and building combined — in Vancouver is based on what the assessor thinks the space could be rented out for if the lease had been renewed last July 1, the date on which all assessed [...]
‘Shift’ redistributes tax burden by Ed Des Roches and Bob Laurie, guest columnists, Special to Vancouver Courier. November 17, 2010 It is clearly time to take politics out of taxation discussions, something Tom Sandborn fails to do in his Nov. 9 column “City’s tax burden policy could be the new HST.” Unfortunately, most property tax [...]
Vancouver Sun Published: Thursday, October 28, 2010 The City of Vancouver has invited citizens to give their opinions on how to deal with its anticipated $20-million budget shortfall in 2011. We welcome Mayor Gregor Robertson’s efforts to cut costs and his invitation to join him in finding solutions. At the risk of sounding jejune, may we [...]
David Cadman, Ellen Woodworth oppose city program by Jeff Lee, Vancouver Sun October 19,2010 VANCOUVER – Vancouver city should scrap its policy of shifting taxes from the commercial sector to residential taxpayers as it looks for ways to make up a $20.6 million budget gap, two councillors said Tuesday. David Cadman and Ellen Woodsworth, both [...]
Announcement at UBCM meeting met with anger from small, medium sized communities by Jeff Lee, Vancouver Sun September 28,2010 WHISTLER – The provincial government has shelved a proposal for tax relief for communities heavily dependent upon industries, saying the cost implications are significant. The decision, made public at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention, was [...]
