Media Release For Immediate Release August 27, 2007 Vancouver Fair Tax Coalition urges a responsible and sustainable approach to settling the civic workers strike (Vancouver, BC) Strikes are tough on everyone but responsible spending is a critical factor in reaching a settlement, say Bob Laurie and Ed Des Roches, co-chairs of the Vancouver Fair Tax [...]

Vancouver Fair Tax Coalition Op/ed May 15, 2007 Kudos to council on a good start, but there’s a long way to go Vancouver City Council recently voted in favour of holding business property taxes at 2006 levels. In doing so, the mayor and council have recognized the importance of Vancouver having a vibrant business community, which [...]

For immediate release Business applauds council’s decision (Vancouver, BC, April 19, 2007) The 2007 property tax allocation set by Vancouver City Council is good news for the business community, said the Vancouver Fair Tax Coalition that represents more than 43,000 businesses in the city. Reacting to council’s decision to hold non-residential property taxes at 2006 [...]

Property tax report falls short (March 14, 2007, Vancouver, BC) Recommendations from the City of Vancouver’s Property Tax Policy Review Commission do not go far enough to address the inequitable distribution of property taxes for businesses, the Vancouver Fair Tax Coalition said today. The interim report recommends the city shift between one and two per [...]

Report confirms Vancouver businesses subsidize use of city services (January 30, 2007, Vancouver, BC) A study commissioned by the City of Vancouver confirms local businesses are subsidizing residents’ use of city services. The Consumption of Tax-supported Municipal Services report, prepared by MMK Consulting for the City of Vancouver, states that Vancouver residents used $388 million [...]

Overtaxed Vancouver businesses receive advance tax notices December 13, 2006, Vancouver, BC – Business owners in Vancouver are bracing themselves for the arrival of the city’s advance tax notices. Although city council has acknowledged that property taxes on business are too high, the business community received another property tax increase in 2006, and could be [...]

For Immediate Release: April 21, 2006 Vancouver, BC – Despite the high property tax burden on Vancouver businesses, city council opted to lower the tax burden by only one per cent at yesterday’s budget meeting. Currently, business owners pay six times the property taxes that homeowners pay – this is the highest ratio in the [...]

For Immediate Release: April 18, 2006 Council left to approve property tax increase for Vancouver businesses Vancouver, BC – Although city council has acknowledged that property taxes on business are too high, they have been given little in the way of options to address this serious problem. In addition, the 2006 Property Taxation: Distribution of [...]

For Immediate Release: March 20, 2006 Vancouver, BC – Seventy-six per cent of Vancouver residents believe it is unfair that businesses pay six times the tax rate they pay, and 73 per cent believe that Vancouver’s tax ratio between business and residential taxpayers should be in line with the regional average. These findings from an [...]

For Immediate Release: November 14, 2005 Vancouver Fair Tax Coalition releases candidates’ positions on business property tax Vancouver, BC – Vancouver city council and mayoral candidates agree municipal property taxes on businesses are too high, but they don’t agree how this should be resolved, according to results of a survey conducted by the Vancouver Fair [...]