Last week the people who run the nation’s biggest city voted 21 to 4 to seek a massive tax on those who buy real estate they don’t live in. The last time this happened was in the 1970s. After sharp real estate gains, the provincial government (Tory) brought in a speculation tax, then imposed rent controls. The market screeched to a halt, vacancy rates tumbled and chaos ensued.
The tax on profits flowing from non-principal dwellings, by the way, was 50%. Ouch. Then it dropped to 20%. Finally it was phased out. It would be another ten years before the market crashed (1989) after an explosive price gain, this time due to rising interest rates. Then it took 13 more years for recovery. Folks who bought into a major historic housing boom, in other words, had to wear snorkels for a long time.
Some see a similar pattern emerging.
Prices are clearly nuts. You can’t buy a goathouse for less than $1 million in any town or hamlet within two hours of 416. Ditto with Vancouver. Even places like Halifax have suffered a massive price hike, largely from Ontario real estate refugees. Now NS (like BC) has a big, unfriendly, annual tax on anyone who owns but does not live there full-time.
Average families can’t afford average houses. In his Saturday elect-me speech, Tory MP Pierre Poilievre again blamed the Libs for printing money and creating inflation. But that was political, not truthful. It’s simplistic and meant for the consumption of one-dimensional angry truckers and their dogmatic sycophants. Trudeau didn’t do this. We had a real estate mess when inflation was 0%. The pandemic simply made monetary policy mistakes worse. Now it’s speculation, FOMO and demographics that have thrown gas on the fire.
So, what now? Will governments ignore the market and let ‘er rip? Or is this the year of the hammer, as local politicians in the GTA, Vancouver, Halifax, Victoria and other besieged places want? And what about the CB? Is that bomb still coming four weeks from Wednesday?
Predictions are hard, as we know. Especially in volatile and quixotic times as we still struggle to recover from a global pandemic with millions believing they’ll never have to commute again. Lots of unknowns.
But facts are facts. So let’s deal with them.
First, interest rates will rise, The Fed says so. Tiff says so. The Bank of England is leading the way, and the primary increases in both Canada and the US come next month. The market is pricing in at least four hikes in 2022, maybe 5. So it’s happening.
Second, we’ve been told to expect federal government actions that will make it harder and more expensive for those buying and financing rental properties and second homes (now a quarter of all deals). Bigger downpayments. Restrictions on HELOC usage. Maybe more.
We also know there’ll be a new tax from Ottawa on real estate profits flowing from the sale of a property within a year of buying it. Plus there’s a federal tax coming on offshore purchasers yet to kick in.
Third, Toronto is now launching a tax on properties felt to be under-utilized. Van already has a vacant home tax, and BC’s ‘speculation’ tax is designed to primarily fleece Albertans who own retreats across the line. Of course BC (and most of urban Ontario) already have massive taxes on foreign purchasers of houses. And property taxes are on the rise.
Now, as mentioned above, there are calls for more taxes in the largest market on investment properties, plus the federal capital gains levy. Meanwhile CMHC funded a group suggesting every property in Canada worth $1 million or more should be subject to an annual revenue grab.
See a trend here? Politicians at all levels of government understand increasing the supply of homes to meet demand is impossible. Instead, the blunt instruments of mortgage rates and taxes will once again be the tools of choice. In the past, these have created market shocks. Long-term real estate appreciation remains intact, but the damage inflicted on new buyers, the highly leveraged and the income-insecure can be devastating.
In a post-pandemic world it seems world policy-makers are ready to act. 2022 smells like he moment. And the spurt we’re expecting to see in prices this spring just about guarantees a political response.
The advice stands.
Buy carefully. Better yet, buy later. It’s preferable to have a smaller mortgage at a higher rate than a monster one that comes cheap.
If you’re dead set on grabbing a house this year, go and get pre-authorized for a still-cheap mortgage. And maybe wait for the spring budget and its FHSA. You might as well milk that tax-deductible down payment.
If you’ve been thinking of downsizing, retiring, cashing in your windfall gain or moving to Timiskaming (take the fleece undies), how could this be a better time?
If you rent, stand tall. Given the insanity in our property market, this is a solid choice. The cost of living is far less and much more predictable. You’re not the target of political overreach and spared from interest rate roulette. You have freedom, mobility, flexibility and are likely being financially subsidized by a landlord. Most of all, you escape debt. Invest the difference. Stay liquid. And pity those who shame you. They, not you, are in the crosshairs.
About the picture: “Long time blog readers, but seriously avoids all things in the comment section,” write Allan and Cathyann. “This is Lucy, brought into our lives in June ’20, a Lab/Border/Golden mix. She ignores all things pandemic, and just insists we enjoy life. An absolute joy for us and anyone willing to throw her ball. This is after her first swim.”
170 comments ↓
Sorry Garth.
It’s the YEAR OF THE TIGER.
The economy will be ROARing.
GUNG HO FAT BOY, everyone.
Any increases in taxes will just make homes less (not more) affordable for average families. The taxes will just get baked into prices like they already are. Anyone who buys in the gta is already subject to a whack of taxes that amount to thousands. Has it worked yet? No. Will it work in the future? No.
Well, small towns and areas with lots of speculator activity might see some price drops, but not the SFD in urban areas. That much is guaranteed. That is what everyone who complains about housing wants anyways.
As many are coming to realize, the coming housing crisis will not look like 2008, or the 80’s when house prices stagnated or went down slightly. It’s actually going to go the other way: up, (and not stop).
IDK
The MSM has finally acknowledged what we knew back in Q2 2020. That this is Global WW3.
(Recall those armed inter-provincial borders that were test-rolled last year?)
.Ottawa: Protest battle lines harden on both sides amid concerns chance for peaceful end has passed (nationalpost.com)
— Checkpoints: Control over travel/movement. THE goal was roll out of the QR code globally. Future lockdowns will be electronic.
“The European Commission has approved a proposal to extend the European Union Chinese coronavirus health pass until June 30th of 2023, but still maintains the measure is “exceptional.”
—
— State of Emergency:
https://twitter.com/TheMarieOakes/status/1490165463774470149
“Ottawa city councilor Laura Dudas echoes the call of city councilor Menard’s call for Ottawa to declare a “state of emergency” to deal with protesters.
—
— State of emergency? GEE You don’t say – from last AUG:
#24 TurnerNation on 08.28.21 at 1:06 pm
Things which have the permanency in Kanada:
1. Fictional ‘State of Emergency’.
2. Flags at half mast
3. CV Rules. Always the rules Comrade.
The Ottawa Police Chief needs to be fired.
The government of Canada is not in control of it’s capital city.
What a worldwide embarrassment.
In other news average the SFH price in my local hood of Nanaimo now appears to be just over a million. Absolute nuts. Everything selling instantly. Property near us just had an unconditional offer on it before it even went on the market.
https://www.dawnwalton.com/blog/category/market-stats/
People may think they own….but in reality, we all rent. We really don’t own homes, we rent it. We don’t own our wealth, we rent it.
Our gain and wealth, is only decided by how much we have after the “rent” is paid.
And when we die, the rent is paid in full. Any excess is passed on to the next renter you choose.
Keep on renting.
I wouldnt touch Urban real estate with a barge pole.
Neil Oliver has 136,000 views in 24 hours.
Not bad for “tripe” eh Faron?.
As for Pierre.
3 million views.
:)
Unless the mortgage approval is base on T4 this will continue. Or otherwise people should be taxed based on the documents they submit for mortgage approval. Biggest question is how people are getting approved for such big amount.
Look no further than the mirror, for who’s to blame for the real estate mess that is Canada. However, that would be too hurtful to acknowledge for majority of the real estate koolaid drinkers and resident snowflakes of the land. Unfortunately, the only thing that will revert prices to any sort of affordable mean is a Scorch’d Earth policy. Which federal party is campaigning on that?
@PierrePoilievre vid as of 19 h ago:
3M views.
2 h ago it was about 700K.
Snowball rolling down Everest.
For those that want to run up the tally:
https://twitter.com/PierrePoilievre/status/1490115382157398030
Well the Libs have been in power for 7 years, have they tried ways to reduce demand? No, quite the opposite. Ease supply bottlenecks? No, just weird taxes to make RE more sticky.
Short of mandating the BoC to raise the overnight rate 25bps every meeting until the entire market finally corrects 50% (never gonna happen), making housing ‘affordable’ means prices actually go down, total kryptonite.
Good advice, Garth.
However, everyone should also consider the long term trends and the big increase in immigration that is coming down the road.
For ordinary Canadians, real estate will serve them very well over the next twenty years, at least.
“Tory MP Pierre Poilievre again blamed the Libs for printing money and creating inflation. But that was political, not truthful. ”
So increasing the money supply that chases fewer goods is NOT inflationary?
Of course. But that is not the reason in 2022 why houses cost too much. – Garth
When I was a caseworker at Ontario Works, I was instructed to deduct dollar for dollar, a dividend of 25 cents that was earned in a defunct investment account which was left dormant for years.
Why not tax the speculators?
“Trudeau didn’t do this.”
Although you realize some of the more fervent posters will be so disappointed to read that, you still tell the truth.
The 1914-1923 German’s and the 70’s American inflation’s were caused by money printing, not wars or our case pandemics. So we just better prepare for the consequences of distributing money at will. The temporary prosperity that it brings always end up with inflation. It would be very strange if not.
With the gov debt at this level, taxing the people out of this debt is also impossible. Thus more money printing. Classic.
Why increasing supply of homes is impossible, Canada is vast with a small population?
Politicians at all levels of government understand increasing the supply of homes to meet demand is impossible.
_____
What? Cut regulations. Change zoning. Offer incentives for increased density.
It takes years. – Garth
Totally agree with the housing analysis.
The real start of the housing I think was after the 2008 melt down and suppressing int. rates for the years to come..
Unfortunately T2 does not care about monetary policy as the amount of money dumped indiscriminately into the system essentially is the gas on the fire. So here we are.
Ya bring more taxes that will help.
Ponzi….this is for you but everyone should listen.
Anyone that supports The Beijing Olympics.
1hr 1min 30sec in.
https://mikesmoneytalks.ca/february-5th-episode/
Everything from China should be avoided or boycott.
Elon vs. the Kid.
Kid still posting about Elon’s Jet. I guess Elon balked at the $50K request.
Plus the Kid is now providing more than just a flight path:
https://twitter.com/ElonJet/status/1489420034057330690
https://twitter.com/ElonJet/status/1490135568684093441
Will the Kid take the original $5K offer to knock it off or will Elon cave and give the Kid the $50K?
…THIS should be a good war of wills.
There are a few others that come to mind whose Private Jets he could track:
https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/11/02/leonardo-dicaprio-skips-private-plane-to-fly-to-cop26-summit-unlike-eco-hypocrites-jeff-bezos-prince-charles-and-bill-gates/
Still,
yeah oil.
After living most of my 60 years in Canada, but some of it in other countries, I have now come to the conclusion that Canada isn’t the best country in the world. We are going to be moving to another country within the next 6 months. Many happy years lie ahead of us, and we won’t miss the BS that this country seems to be offering up lately.
North Korea has the formula.
Using stolen crypto to fund its missile program. That sounds a lot smarter than funding from the taxpayers.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-60281129
Something to think about for housing programs.
#9 Søren Angst on 02.06.22 at 3:05 pm
@PierrePoilievre vid as of 19 h ago:
3M views.
2 h ago it was about 700K.
Snowball rolling down Everest.
For those that want to run up the tally:
https://twitter.com/PierrePoilievre/status/1490115382157398030
************************************
When the LPC was asked what Trudeau’s position was on PP running for CPC leadership. They said fetal.
#6 crowdedelevatorfartz on 02.06.22 at 3:00 pm
Neil Oliver has 136,000 views in 24 hours.
Not bad for “tripe” eh Faron?
—
I wonder how many views Adele gets when she posts a video/song? Garth? Anyone?
#119 Masks really do make some people more attractive on 02.06.22 at 3:02 pm
And the “luxury belief” class currently trying to impose it’s values on the working class still wonders why people are resisting woke totalitarianism.
*************************
That’s exactly what this growing protest is morphing into.
I lost track of how many times I saw the word tax or its plural. Who knows what is coming next. As Yogi Berra said, “It’s hard to make predictions, especially about the future.” The older I get the less I understand.
1. Immigration levels mostly just replace population lost from death rate and declin8ng births
2. Bu8lding more housing would help but with supply chain disruptions going to take even longer than normal
3. The current run up of prices over past two years are DIRECT result of lockdown policies so Trudeau IS responsible, plus BOC recent wimping out of interest rate decisions only added fuel to the fire
4. AirBnB needs to be cancelled
5. Lockdowns need to be cancelled so more people go back to work and people stop using their homes as offices
Lockdowns were not imposed by Trudeau. Stop trying to rewrite history. – Garth
“Politicians at all levels of government understand increasing the supply of homes to meet demand is impossible.”
If that is true, then none of these other measures will work. Supply and demand trumps everything else.
I find it hard to believe increasing supply is “impossible”. The government, especially at the municipal level, is responsible for the constrained supply. It is not a natural thing. If we want lower housing costs, all we have to do is look at Houston to figure out how it is done.
All these proposed new taxes sound good to politicians, for one reason only: They want more tax revenue. It won’t lower the cost of housing. If anything it will raise it. Taxes always make things more expensive. And they’ve also forgotten to figure out if anybody can actually afford to pay these taxes. Houses are not money, so the money has to come from income as it always does.
Seriously, building a million new homes will take a decade. Likely longer. Regulations have to be changed. Local zoning laws amended. Lot levies reduced. Builders enticed. Land serviced. Schools, roads and other infrastructure built. All of it financed. There is zero chance this will occur fast nor have any meaningful impact on valuations. – Garth
The angry one-dimensional truckers have let loose with verbal abuse and physical violence towards the LGBTQ2S and BIPOC communities in the cities they’ve invaded. Why?
Thanks to our spineless politicians, rental options suck. in Vancouver, a nice 2 bedroom is 3 grand a month. Instead of building rental stock the local politicans who are bought off by developers allow more condos to be built, most which are sold to speculators. So taxpaying Canadians get screwed. If the government was serious about solving the housing problem, it would put a massive tax –like 20 percent–on second homes in big cities, as there is no reason to own more than one. However, they aren’t serious, so they do half baked measures like a measly one percent tax, which hasn’t changed behaviour.
#27 Lumber on 02.06.22 at 4:19 pm
The angry one-dimensional truckers have let loose with verbal abuse and physical violence towards the LGBTQ2S and BIPOC communities in the cities they’ve invaded. Why?
——————————————————
They bet the cops are not going to stop them. They may be right.
#27 Lumber on 02.06.22 at 4:19 pm
The angry one-dimensional truckers have let loose with verbal abuse and physical violence towards the LGBTQ2S and BIPOC communities in the cities they’ve invaded. Why?
———-
Please provide proof. And legitimate proof, not like Ustabe’s hokey clickbait links.
I hope that they put in a very large speculation tax for the purchase of non-primary residences by locals and foreigners. However, unless the supply is increased, with 450K new people that the Gov’t has for its targets, there will be another large pressure driving inaffordability in both rents and purchases. It is not a closed system: just because interest rates increase, one would expect housing prices to fall. Perfectly reasonable assumption in a closed system with no huge influx of people. This is not our situation, as many people who are immigrating from HK and elsewhere have lots of cash to make their initial purchase. Hard to know where it will end up, but eliminating speculators and flippers is a good start.
People who buy homes to increase the rental stock on a long-term basis (as most are) cannot be called speculators. They are investors. Renters need them. – Garth
“You have freedom, mobility, flexibility and are likely being financially subsidized by a landlord.”
==
There’s an article in yesterday’s edition of the G&M that argues the opposite of renting having mobility and flexibility.
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/investing/personal-finance/household-finances/article-renting-is-supposed-to-offer-mobility-and-flexibility-so-why-do-so/
It’s not far to the downtown core, part of me wants to go down there and apply the law, start some citizen arrests, the police certainly don’t.
The noise down there, in residences above the protest, are over the threshold for hearing damage, they get no sleep, its occupation and psychological warfare.
It needs to stop.
Renting an apartment. I tried to do that in 2021.
REiT owned/operated building.
1) I was not permitted to see the actual unit, instead I was sent a floor plan and pictures of a “similar unit”. Something something..covid…occupied…blah blah blah.
2) The price was do-able. I think it was $2000 a month.
3) I asked to have a copy of the lease forwarded by email for review and was told that instead I needed to transfer a (non-refundable and significant $) deposit immediately since there was so much interest. And then I should come in and read and sign the lease (after they had my money).
4) I (obviously) stuck to my guns and said “send lease first”. If I recall correctly the standard Ontario lease is 8 or 9 pages long.
The lease that the REIT sent to me was 58 pages long!
Yes, 58 freakin’ pages!
5) The rent as advertised ($2000) was stipulated in the lease in an “interesting”manner as follows (I am making up the numbers since I don’t have them at hand):
The rent was supposed to be $2000 a month. What the lease said was that the rent was $3000 a month and that I was getting a $1000 per month discount which could be discontinued at their sole discretion of the REIT.
6) Also in the lease, the square footage was significantly lower than what I had been told by email. And the unit they were offering to me was considerably different to the one shown in the floorplan that they sent to me.
7) The electricity to the unit was not metered, and the lease stipulated that they would charge me monthly for electricity at whatever rate that they choose, at their discretion and without recourse.
That’s just from memory. Almost every page of that lease held a clause that I found to be grossly unacceptable.
So that is the rental market in Ontario?
I was shocked and I still wonder if people are dumb/desperate enough to accept such a “deal”.
As an aside, when I reached out to the Ontario Government and told them this lease was 58 pages long… without hearing ANY of the terms and conditions, they simply said ABSOLUTELY DO NOT SIGN IT.
As far as I know the unit was subsequently rented to somebody else and (in my opinion and the Ontario Government’s) if they signed that 58 page lease…they made a HUGE mistake.
Question: I still wonder though…was there any actual enforcement that I should have asked the government to do? Should I have reported them?
How are consumers protected?
Does anybody know?
#23 Don Guillermo on 02.06.22 at 4:06 pm
#119 Masks really do make some people more attractive on 02.06.22 at 3:02 pm
And the “luxury belief” class currently trying to impose it’s values on the working class still wonders why people are resisting woke totalitarianism.
*************************
That’s exactly what this growing protest is morphing into.
———————————
Agree, the protest is growing into a people vs establishment.
– Basic shelter costs are making people nervous in a place where it can be -30 below.
– Food and Fuel Inflation is becoming noticeable.
– Many did not get to work from home and realized actual income disruptions.
– The MSM constantly pushing racial division and highlighting racial frictions. Clearly a top down propaganda campaign to sow division.
– The demand to inject medicine or lose your job is the step too far for people raised to believe they were citizens in a virtuous Liberal Democracy.
– The Establishment talking down to the population, and seemingly distant or in hiding .
I would say that a significant segment of the population has lost confidence in our Establishment , an establishment that holds them as outsiders in contempt.
“Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.” – Frederick Douglass
Polls find a majority of Canadians do not support the protest. The anti-vaxers are, indeed, a fringe and most people understand they’re making the end of this pandemic more distant. – Garth
Cost of living is out of control and inflation is at unbelievable double digits.
Everyone except for BOC know that interest rate hikes is the ONLY solution to reducing housing costs
#19 macduff on 02.06.22 at 3:39 pm
After living most of my 60 years in Canada, but some of it in other countries, I have now come to the conclusion that Canada isn’t the best country in the world. We are going to be moving to another country within the next 6 months. Many happy years lie ahead of us, and we won’t miss the BS that this country seems to be offering up lately.
Yeah, right. Moving to another country can mean many things. Giving up permanent residency? I hope you did your homework.
Or retiring and spending a substantial part of your winter time elsewhere but still milking all the benefits that Canada will provide you?
I somehow doubt you’ve made any decision based solely on the events of late. But hey … it will fool many and it sure sounds magnanimous.
BTW, please share your destination of choice. Good chance I’ve been there.
Average families can’t afford average houses. In his Saturday elect-me speech, Tory MP Pierre Poilievre again blamed the Libs for printing money and creating inflation. But that was political, not truthful. It’s simplistic and meant for the consumption of one-dimensional angry truckers and their dogmatic sycophants. Trudeau didn’t do this. We had a real estate mess when inflation was 0%. The pandemic simply made monetary policy mistakes worse. Now it’s speculation, FOMO and demographics that have thrown gas on the fire.
I still blame the Liberals.
your post from last week
This is a blatant failure of public policy. It’s stunning. Especially coming six months after a federal election which, arguably, was about houses, houses & more houses. In that space of time the escalation has surpassed anything we saw in 2017 when politicians freaked and moved fast to corral the market.
as I said then It is a blatant failure and blame needs to be put on the Federal Government. It controls interest rates, CMHC regulations, buying mortgage-backed bonds from the banks and the FHSA tax shelter The Liberals are in charge of the Federal Government, they set the legislation, they oversee the regulations. More importantly, they set the tone. The Civil Service follows.
Yes, there was a pandemic and the Federal Government had an obligation to help out by giving away money but the Liberals did it with such glee. Well, when interest rates go up, we’ll have to pay the interest on the money they borrowed.
“Year of the Hammer” What does it mean? The Federal Government is going to have to tighten its belt and we’re going to feel it. I blame the Liberals.
Anyone who pumps up renting over purchasing RE (when possible) has never had to look around to rent and move year year after year when the rent goes up unreasonably or when the option to renew is no longer available for whatever reason. And don’t even begin to think of coming to the table with a point of difference (disability, sexual oreientation etc.), and yes, in this very country, lawrs notwithstanding. The host here has never been in a vulnerable position to understand (or sympathize with) any of this…. But no surprise, that’s been his reputation.
I have rented often. BTW if you have to move annually to avoid a 2% rent increase then you probably lack the resources to buy. – Garth
#16 Love_The_Cottage on 02.06.22 at 3:22 pm
What? Cut regulations. Change zoning. Offer incentives for increased density.
It takes years. – Garth
—————————
But every good strategy must be a long-term strategy in the first place. And this is the only measure that will work long-term. Why dismiss it with such an ease?
When did we last have a government that thought long-term? – Garth
#34 Dougie on 02.06.22 at 4:50 pm
Renting an apartment. I tried to do that in 2021.
REiT owned/operated building.
Question: I still wonder though…was there any actual enforcement that I should have asked the government to do? Should I have reported them?
How are consumers protected?
Does anybody know?
___________
The landlords owe you nothing. It is their property, REIT or not. You are undertaking a financial and legal obligation. They do not wish to be taken advantage of any more than you. They are not obliged to hold the property for you while you read the document.
If you can’t read 58 pages, perhaps you may want to consider buying instead. On average, you will have 200 pages or more to read.
You can read, right?
And you do know how to use the Internet to find out how you would be protected, right?
so higher tax ‘s and higher interest rate’s and speculation
tax and paying prices higher by over 25% since 2020 when we were already in a bubble of about 30% and high
inflation where your dollar is worth .80 cents now is guaranteed that we bake in at least another 20% in housing or it finally revert’s back 50% of course went it
all crumbles and we’re almost there. should begin in 6 mouths and within two year’s you have a huge disaster
thank that’s all folks much with higher prices but when the shit hits the fan their will be more sellers than buyers. a BIG THANK YOU TO GARTH and don’t forget the recession we enter then. DON’T HAVE ALL YOUR MONEY IN ONE ASSET U WILL SEE WHY
If the Victoria market continues to grow as it has for last 20 years, average SDH will be around $4M. Having lived here for most of the run up, and seen prices in Vancouver neighborhoods like Kits that are already at those levels, it not longer feels nuts. I would say it’s likely. Not sure there’s any way to stop it.
#27 Lumber on 02.06.22 at 4:19 pm
The angry one-dimensional truckers have let loose with verbal abuse and physical violence towards the LGBTQ2S and BIPOC communities in the cities they’ve invaded. Why?
—————————————————
Haven’t you heard? It’s Because they’re occupying OT on behalf of their leaders… those racist homophobic extremists in the usa
Check out how angry Ron Desantis, Ted Cruz & Fox News all are about the truckers not getting their 10 million$$$
Be careful with the housing market. The cure for high house prices is going to be worse than the disease.
Speaking of disease. Look at the far right movement going on in our country.
BANNED
#33 Cheese on 02.06.22 at 4:46 pm
It’s not far to the downtown core, part of me wants to go down there and apply the law, start some citizen arrests, the police certainly don’t.
———
Oh my. There are crimes being committed, you say? Yes, best to go do some citizen’s arrests. Don’t be afraid to crack some heads. Good luck.
@#22 Faron
“I wonder how many views Adele gets when she posts a video/song? Garth? Anyone?”
+++
Ahhahaha.
I wondered when someone would compare the vapid ” Kanye and Kim “view” stats” would be bandied about.
(personally, I expected Ponzie to wave the numbers flag.)
100 million views of a song vs 1 million views of a politician
. Like comparing Big Butt bimbo brained Apples to cerebral oranges.
Why stop there?
Lets go all out and compare 450 million cute kitten views vs a President’s State of the Nation address views…..since Kittens are far more important than where the Leader of the Free World is going …..if you just tally up the most views.
The true tally of the “views” will be revealed come election time.
As Neil Oliver stated at the end of his 10 minute speech (if you cared to listen longer than your 15 second fruit fly attention span).
.”There’s a storm coming…”
Seriously, building a million new homes will take a decade. Likely longer. Regulations have to be changed. Local zoning laws amended. Lot levies reduced. Builders enticed. Land serviced. Schools, roads and other infrastructure built. All of it financed. There is zero chance this will occur fast nor have any meaningful impact on valuations. – Garth
_________________________________
Maricopa County Arizona grows at this rate very well.
All sprawl too. Very little stacking!
100,000 new homes a year, easy for them. A new school per week? Sure! 1.5 million peeps to 4.5 million in 40 years, while Toronto only doubled.
Maybe the Chinese can help Canada!
Number 43 yes we have been in Victoria since 2006 and bought a 1830 sq ft house with a 2 garage car on a city lot no real view. We downsized from a 5400 sq ft house with multiple decks lake view and on a property that had 100,000 pounds of good quality cherries. Our
Victoria home has tripled or maybe more in this crazy market. The okanagan is great but we are more than
overjoyed to be living Victoria B,C.
Plus Maricopa County built up the snowbird residences not included in the census!!!
Another company to boycott, Bloomberg (who owns BNN), for leaving the completely untrue ‘Russia Invades Ukraine) headline up on website for nearly half an hour (they claim error) before being caught.
News companies are no longer trustworthy. And I include the taxpayer subsidized CBC, which I used to support, for pushing the idea of requiring vaccine passports to have a third dose in order to be valid, when even the Health Ministry officials they interview in the article are supporting their phasing out.
Both vaccinated and unvaccinated (if it even is technically a ‘vaccine’) people transmit the virus; therefore there is not reason to have the passport.
The day Canadians accepted the idea that our freedom of mobility could be seen as a ‘perk’ rather than a Charter right and one of the bases
of a free and democratic society was the day those citizens proved to me they have no concept of what a democratic society is.
Bloomberg is extremely credible. And vax mandates are in place to encourage inoculation by removing social privileges. You haven’t figured that out yet? – Garth
Welland ON
Average after tax household income: $65K
60-yr old 1,500 sq ft house bought in March 2021 for $557K, tarted up and then sold in January 2022 for $935K
https://www.zolo.ca/welland-real-estate/sold
https://housesigma.com/web/en/house/wJKR7P81QJg7XeLP/25-Mccrae-Dr-Welland-X5169313
If you download the River TV app you can upgrade to Russian/Ukraine tv content. Haven’t tried it yet, and don’t know if there are any subtitles into English/French, but might be interesting to see this so-called crisis from the local point of view, and not just Canada/USA.
Who is push8ng these dominoes around?
100 year ban on real estate prices and on foriegn ownership and multiple ownership. There are longstanding bad habits to break and it might take awhile.
I recently finished the book ‘Emperor of All Maladies – A Biography of Cancer’. There are a fair bit of parallels between the growth of a cancerous tumor and the growth of debt in various Canadian cities… from the uncontrolled growth to defying standard logic (or the fundamentals of physiology). Its horrible to compare the real estate market and all its actors to cancer but it is what it is.
Not a few recent headlines mention how rents have gone up exponentially in many areas, pricing out those whose financial resources are on the low end of the scale. So if governments tax ‘investors’ including those who are potentially creating rental units, would that not add fuel to the rent increase fire? Reduced supply means prices go up. Purchase or rent, the result is the same. When will this RE bomb explode?
@37 Moving on out
I have fortunately been gifted with citizenship in two countries other than Canada (through descendancy) allowing me to take up residency in these countries. And yes, having paid into Canada’s health, and retirement programs for over 40 years, I feel no compunction about receiving benefits from this country upon my exit, especially since to some extent, I will continue to pay taxes. It’s interesting to hear the moral outrage in your response, but to be frank, I have been supporting an additional family through my taxes throughout my working life. Neither of the two countries that I am considering call me a settler, and to be frank, the standard of living is higher than it is here in this country.
The Liberals will continue to hold the rate and this year they will raise only a quarter twice. They are burning our money with high inflation and continue to believe that inflation is temporary. If they raise rates aggressively, the real estate market will collapse and destroy their electoral future. So the liberals will continue this policy, houses will rise in price, and people’s savings will depreciate.
The Liberals do not set rates. – Garth
Renting is for losers like Stone.
Yep, I remember the late 1980s housing market in Ontario.
Bidding wars, people using principle residences to finance multiple rental properties, key-money for rent controlled apartments.
A combination of rising interest rates and a recession in the early 1990s killed it. Real estate prices fell, rental occupancy fell and people had to sell. I know several people who had levered into rental properties that lost everything and had to start over.
Honestly, although I rent and would like to buy if prices were anything less than morbidly insane, I hope we have a soft landing this time around. But this time around prices are magnitudes higher as a multiple of income. I think the only way a soft landing happens is if Central Banks get out in front of inflation and gets it under control. CB do not seem to leaning that way.
Lots of places in Canada where houses are affordable.
SFD’s are sneaking up on a 100% increase during Trudeau’s tenure. You’d think 6+ years would be long enough to come up with some fiscal/housing policy that actually works. Now a trident of government is piling on simultaneously with taxes and regulation. Will it be enough? My guess is no, it’ll be more timid poking at the problem when they should be rolling out the cannons like NZ did. Buying time hoping the BOC will do their job for them.
Popcorn time.
57 Linda I hear ya but it’s about making money. Those that can’t afford increasing rents should get another job. Sheesh lol
#48 crowdedelevatorfartz on 02.06.22
Lets go all out and compare 450 million cute kitten views vs a President’s State of the Nation address views…..
———-
So then… what are the implications of this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqZsoesa55w
10.1 Billion views! (Cough!)
After the GFC of 2008, many Investors participating or watching, took a Bath. Their Kids saw Mom and Dad lose a lot of their 401K balances, and then the ZIRP. This is why Real Property has escalated in value. If average people are cut off from Pensions, and any real Interest revenue for their savings, then they will look to some way to realize a return. Factor in the Shellacking taken in 2008, people pivoted to a safer way to earn income, and build some wealth. Learnt to be wary of Financial Instruments, so what is left….. Our lovely Leaders, choose Dilution as the way out… Dilution of Interest Income, and then the Currency. So it is natural for the Real estate market to be used in a similar fashion to the current Chinese Leaders, … create the Wealth effect. The problems, from this deliberate change to the Equilibrium of the Financial process and Credit markets is a problem, that is just starting… I would avoid Debt now, and pay down any existing loans. The Bond Markets are increasing yield, and could increase quite quickly. Think of the percentage that Investors will demand, if Inflation stays at 4.7%. The average bond holders will demand 6.5% for inflation and risk tolerance minimum. The only way this won’t happen is if the Central Bankers continue with Financial repression. This is becoming Politically a non starter….And it is a bit of a crisis when all Bond auctions, have no Foreign participants… Time to get back to Basics, and GAAP.
Had a visit with a dear friend Friday. I asked how his daughter (newly minted MD)and new son in law (fresh RCMP grad) are doing with his new deployment in rural AB. “Great, just moved into the house they bought.” I remarked “They!?” He concedes, “I bought”… Sigh
The Year Of The Hammer.
Sounds ominous.
Well, my nickname for Garth is Thor, as especially during his Dr Garth posts, he likes to drop the hammer on people looking for some positive confirmation on their decisions in life.
The other hammer I see being swung wildly this year is The BANNED Hammer.
It looks like we are averaging one person being banned a week.
I remember the good old days, when it was only one a month and we made a calendar out of it.
I was once almost a candidate for Mr November…
M47BC
Now I doubt that the BoC will do a .5 rate hike, as they seem to be remarkably slow on this inflation thing. But I do have to wonder how much of a conversation is ebing had about that. It certainly would send a message that the cheap rate party is over.
Also doubtful the BoC acts aggressively before the Fed.
But the economic growth outlook is quite strong, and inflation is out of control. No reason not to pump the brakes hard on this.
Renting an apartment. I tried to do that in 2021.
REiT owned/operated building.
1) I was not permitted to see the actual unit, instead I was sent a floor plan and pictures of a “similar unit”. Something something..covid…occupied…blah blah blah.
2) The price was do-able. I think it was $2000 a month.
3) I asked to have a copy of the lease forwarded by email for review and was told that instead I needed to transfer a (non-refundable and significant $) deposit immediately since there was so much interest. And then I should come in and read and sign the lease (after they had my money).
4) I (obviously) stuck to my guns and said “send lease first”. If I recall correctly the standard Ontario lease is 8 or 9 pages long.
The lease that the REIT sent to me was 58 pages long!
——————–
Dougie, this is what I was saying months ago about the real danger of REIT’s, Hedge funds, and other financial entities buying up huge swaths of rental housing. My prediction is that unless Gov’t puts in measures to curtail this activity, more and more rentals will be of the type you describe (58 pages… should I hire a lawyer to read it all and advise?).
I would much rather deal with a Mom and Pop rental arrangement where there is a chance I can develop some type of positive relationship with the landlord, rather than some distant, faceless one hiding behind some corporate structure.
#48 crowdedelevatorfartz on 02.06.22 at 5:49 pm
100k viewer remember? We are talking about your Unabomber friend who thinks a child’s lung capacity is 100 ml and therefore wants to reject the policies of public health docs far more knowledgeable than he. Keep up.
#62 Habitt on 02.06.22 at 6:54 pm
Lots of places in Canada where houses are affordable.
—- –
Yep, but not many want, or can live there. These small towns off the beaten path are great for those without a fancy degree but possessing plenty of skills and independent thinking.
I was looking (on mls) at a small town fixer upper along hwy 11 for 59K. Lots of potential, almost 100 days on the mls. Offer 50K, put 20k down, 2.5%, and you got a monthly of 139.00! Property taxes 1k/yr. 800sf sfd. A handy dude with some ambition could have a great standard of living here working for 20.00/hr.
Cheese, it looks like your in a Pickle. The truckers will pop their air brake button,then dump their air tank. You’ll need big tow trucks with cranes. Need we elaborate that a tow truck driver’s loyalty is somewhat suspect. The RCMP,ok, they’ll do their job. But not with the enthusiasm they reserve for BIPOC,LGBQ, Greenies & Wokesters. Truckers & Cowboys are fellow travellers on dark lonely highways crisscrossing a huge cold country. Besides, the Libs are purging the Queens Cowboys of ah, ah, Cowboys.
Did you know that 50% of Canadian truckers are Punjabi? No one knows how they’ll go,most of all the Punjabi’s. But they delivered Modi his first defeat. Modi was the 1st. elected Populist leader of this modern era. (shout out to all you fellow Populists). This Ottawa soiree is western rural populism crashing a hoighty toightie party. The proverbial turd in the butter barrel. Us populists, get a deep down chuckle when the Laurentian Elite clean out the Pepto Bismol shelves. Its our inner Trotsky trying to escape.
Cheese, your enemy is close & they smell blood. Go stock up at Costco. (hamburger & toasted buns goes with cheese & pickle). Go skating on the canal. Don’t lose your toque. Keep your head down.
Tiff and the FED are LIARS.
2 and done.
BTW, that great jobs report from the USA last week…
https://mishtalk.com/economics/bls-job-revisions-show-every-job-report-in-2021-was-total-garbage
MORE CONFIRMATION OF THE DIVERSION.
Why are the cheer leading Mr. Turner? You sound like a politician or Levitt on Barney Miller or Ed McManon on Carson.
@#65 IHCTD9
“So then… what are the implications of this:”
++++
10 billion views!!!!!
Kill me now….
Please!
“Seriously, building a million new homes will take a decade. Likely longer. Regulations have to be changed. Local zoning laws amended. Lot levies reduced. Builders enticed. Land serviced. Schools, roads and other infrastructure built. All of it financed. There is zero chance this will occur fast nor have any meaningful impact on valuations. – Garth”
That is true. It took decades of mismanagement to get here, it will take a decade or more to get out. But “The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time is today.” There isn’t a way to paper our way out of it with regulations and taxes. We need to start building.
#30 Sail Away on 02.06.22 at 4:42 pm
#27 Lumber on 02.06.22 at 4:19 pm
The angry one-dimensional truckers have let loose with verbal abuse and physical violence towards the LGBTQ2S and BIPOC communities in the cities they’ve invaded. Why?
———-
Please provide proof. And legitimate proof, not like Ustabe’s hokey clickbait links.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Lumber, don’t mind the troll. He gets off supporting the bullies – they’re his people. And it appears he’s still upset he lost his gofundme donation to the Trucker Freedumb Convoy.
“#48 crowdedelevatorfartz on 02.06.22 at 5:49 pm
The true tally of the “views” will be revealed come election time”
Election time was Sept. 20, 2021. Trudeau won. A bunch of trucks parked illegally on Ottawa streets isn’t going to change that fact.
In volatile times like this, I like to bring it all back to basics. To the founding principles.
“Steve?” – I ask myself–
“Steve…?”
“What would your guru and mentor Smoking Man have done in this situation?”
And then it all becomes clear.
Govern yourselves accordingly.
#30 Sail Away on 02.06.22 at 4:42 pm
———-
Please provide proof. And legitimate proof, not like Ustabe’s hokey clickbait links.
Hey, guy who is on his third country, second wife and purports to run a middling engineering firm in a third rate city, is this link hokey and click bait enough to trigger you some more?
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1490473045965815812.html
After all, what is a little arson of inhabited apartment buildings when you engage in legitimate political discourse?
apparently if you say the word freedom 5x
pierre poilievre appears.
#6 crowdedelevatorfartz on 02.06.22 at 3:00 pm
Keep on renting.
I wouldnt touch Urban real estate with a barge pole.
Neil Oliver has 136,000 views in 24 hours.
Not bad for “tripe” eh Faron?.
As for Pierre.
3 million views.
:)
###################
Taylor Swift has over 70 mill views.
And she is much better looking.
#31…
Garth….People who buy homes to increase the rental stock on a long-term basis (as most are) cannot be called speculators. They are investors. Renters need them. –
***********
Not quite right!
People who buy houses are speculators !
If a single family can live in a house, these are speculators who will sell the house if its price increases and put the tenants on the street. Against those “INVESTORS” need to take actions to make speculation unprofitable.
People who buy apartment buildings from other people and rent out apartments for long-term rent are NOT speculators, but those investors are bad investors – they do not increase the availability of rent because , they do not build anything and thus do not affect the increase in housing availability but only increase their rent. Against them need to provide rent control.
And finally the third category – the best and which is not currently available (disappeared forever) – is people who build NEW homes for long-term rental. They are investors who increasing the available rent and thus reduce the price of rent. For them need to provide some attractive tax rules to push them build more houses.
#64 ‘Habitt’ – getting another job may be somewhat challenging. There are lots of openings I hear, but many employers want specific skill sets/experience & are not willing or able to offer on the job training. Canada really needs to emulate Switzerland. Apparently they have a combination education/skills set up where graduating students already have on the job experience via apprenticeship programs, so employers don’t have to spend time showing them how to apply all that education in the real world. Yes, Canada has similar programs. The difference as I understand it is that in Switzerland every single student gets ‘on the job’ training as a matter of course. In Canada only a few students get that opportunity & I believe one must apply to be accepted into any such program.
#62 Habitt on 02.06.22 at 6:54 pm
Lots of places in Canada where houses are affordable.
************
Really! Now?
Very interesting! Can you give me list of first 5 which is situated not in rural area. Please.
#52 DonQuixote
Garth… Bloomberg is extremely credible.
************
Agree…. if they not playing in political games. Unfortunately they do it more and more.
Question is – for what?
#39 JDDJ on 02.06.22 at 5:10 pm
Anyone who pumps up renting over purchasing RE (when possible) has never had to look around to rent and move year year after year when the rent goes up unreasonably or when the option to renew is no longer available for whatever reason. And don’t even begin to think of coming to the table with a point of difference (disability, sexual oreientation etc.), and yes, in this very country, lawrs notwithstanding. The host here has never been in a vulnerable position to understand (or sympathize with) any of this…. But no surprise, that’s been his reputation.
I have rented often. BTW if you have to move annually to avoid a 2% rent increase then you probably lack the resources to buy. – Garth
***
No, sir., you’ve rented as Garth Turner and not as someone with types of difference that were at the core of my post. Do you actually read the posts before responding? You might understand the renters but not individuals who need to convince landlords to rent out to them just because they are different. That’s what you could never sympathize with.
And characteristically, you’re being presumptuous. I’m a happy owner with a negligible mortgage but have enough of self-awareness to look around and not focus only on old white men.
Then why are you here? – Garth
Globe and Mail couple of days ago…..
As a country, we are falling behind. All signs point to our failure to design strategies that would allow us to prosper in a new, knowledge-based economy. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has dire projections for the Canadian economy, while the average salary is dropping, weakening an already endangered middle class.
Rather than investing in public sector institutional capacity to keep up with changes in the global economy, the Canadian government became dependent on a rotting practice of outsourcing its own work to costly, controversial and unaccountable consultants and in the process giving birth to the so-called “shadow public service.”
As public bodies transfer more and more responsibility to management consultancies, the processes for delivering their core functions become less transparent. These self-eroding practices are particularly troubling because the role of government is expanding owing to the nature of the contemporary, post-COVID economy, which requires an unprecedented amount of horizontal integration in policy development, analytical depth, and rapid response by policy-makers.
Our middle class bears the brunt of these policies. According to a recent IMF report, Canada’s prepandemic GDP per capita in 2019 was 3 per cent lower than in 2010; over the same period the U.S., which has aligned its economic policy strategies with contemporary economic realities, experienced a 35-per-cent increase. The World Bank’s 2020 report says Canada is losing ground in terms of GDP per capita, directly affecting purchasing power of the average Canadian, with the current average salary of US$43,242 down from the peak US$52,635 in 2013. The gap between Canadian and U.S. performance would be much wider if the changing wealth effects from privately owned assets were included in these measurements.
The implications for Canada are stark. The OECD recently projected that Canada’s economy will be “the worst performing advanced economy over 2020-2030 and the three decades after.”
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-canada-needs-a-revived-economic-council-to-thrive-in-the-21st-century/#comments
I don’t know what else can be said about bleak prospects for our children’s future, if things don’t change. I knew that politicians would thinker around the issue of real estate, I knew that they would lie thru the teeth as they manifestly are doing, I knew that they would try to suck and blow in the same time. But as it was said many times before there is not going to be normalcy unless valuations for the real estate reflect the earnings. Our social cohesion is already at the dangerous point and any prolonging of the inevitable correction is going to make things way worse. I hope Pierre is smart enough to once get elected tell the people the truth (we can not be reducing our economy on selling each other houses while the rest of the world is leaving us in the dust) and I hope that he insists on bringing the policies that would make Canada industrial and economic leader as it once was.
Lastly an honest question from an immigrant that became proud Canadian and loves this land and people.
What is the patriotic thing to be done right now in order to help our country?
Tongue-in-cheek: All the blog dogs on here regaling us with their tales of of survivorship: a harrowing week spent with the flu-like symptoms. (“But It Would Have Been Worse®…).
Why are they not castigating themselves over failing to Stop The Spread while Following the Rules?
You see, the instant you have some fun and do not Follow The Rules…we are told what happens. What selfish pursuits did they indeed deign, putting Us All At Risk with their infective ways?
Life in Kanada. What else is there to do but parody it.
— WW3 update. Anyone providing support or aid to the Germ…err I mean protestors will face a squad.
Just another day in a Former First World Country – our elites roar with laughter at the sport of us tax slaves tearing each other apart in the streets.
A modern day colosseum fight.
https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/ottawa-mayor-declares-state-of-emergency-amid-freedom-convoy-protest-1.5769811
“Senior police officials told CTV News Ottawa more enforcement is coming to the downtown core. In a tweet, police said, “Anyone attempting to bring material supports to the demonstrators could be subject to arrest.””
EU was cautious of possible increases in the spread of the virus later this year.”
—— In the middle of a Deadly pandemic guys:
.Northeast Ohio hospitals place hundreds of workers on leave for refusing COVID-19 vaccine (beaconjournal.com)
#27 Lumber on 02.06.22 at 4:19 pm
The angry one-dimensional truckers have let loose with verbal abuse and physical violence towards the LGBTQ2S and BIPOC communities in the cities they’ve invaded. Why?
===
Seeing a popular protest of remarkable size, some alt-right idiots smelled the opportuinity, squeezed in, and acted upon their idiotic views.
But the truckers don’t smash the windows and don’t burn the family-owned small stores. Unlike the ultra-left fascists back in the summer of 2020.
How would they enforce a non primary buyer property tax when they can barely catch those guys that split a detached into student rentals?
Garth,
“Blamed the Libs for printing money and creating inflation.”
The Liberal increase the money supply by 30 percent last year and house go up almost the Identical amount. The other factors you mentioned have been around for years. I appreciated your insight but time to be fair and balanced.
In order to defuse the situation, Trudeau should do two things. First, cancel the vaccine mandates for the truckers, but point out that he has no control over the U.S. rules and the truckers might have to deal with those if they go cross-border.
And second, commit to a proper, evidence-based review of the pandemic measures taken so far. This is needed to determine which of those measures were in fact useful; which are of questionable value and need more studies; and which are certainly pointless and must be avoided in the future.
He doesn’t need to promise an immediate end of all restrictions. Most of the restrictions are legislated at the provincial levels, and the provinces are gearing towards phasing them out anyway.
And then the truckers should leave. They made their voice heard, and the MPs / MPPs surely took a notice. Now, leave it up to the voters and the next elections at all levels.
Wrong. They are occupiers, no longer protestors. No minister should legitimize their unlawful behaviour. – Garth
Few presently realize it. But we’re on the cusp of transforming from the information age to the quantum age.
Quebec the bright point amongst the maple sludge is about to get the first quantum computer.
Time for a bit of humour:
“Renting out a House w/ 2 BedRooms, 1 Bath
– $1,000
– No Dogs
– No Students
– No Parties
– No Animals
– No young unmarried couples who are just going to fight & break-up then leave a mess
No NOTHING Matter of fact I don’t even want to rent it anymore. All y’all can go to hell”
Anonymous
Another topic. Although I do not in any way fully support the convoy of truckers protesting in our major cities, as with many dimwit protests there are questions that need to be answered by Gov’t that they have trouble articulating. I encourage the blog dogs to give me their most sensible answer to each of the following.
Q1. What is the point of ENFORCING a Gov’t decree that the trans-border truckers all be vaccinated? (omicron is rampant, nothing more lethal is on the current horizon outside our country (COVID-MERS could be a huge issue at some later stage). Will vaccinating all such truckers reduce the numbers in ICU in Canada?
Q2. Do we still need to enforce an expensive PCR test on Canadian travellers returning to Canada? (No lethal variant outside Canada, omicron is raging everywhere, those vaccinated/unvaccinated can transmit…Protect those in LT care, but what is the point?).
Q3. Should we mandate teachers, RMTs, Physiotherapists, who come into contact with scores of people each and every day be vaccinated or they lose their jobs? Why are truckers singled out?
I fully realize that the answers to the questions are time-dependent, i.e. they should reflect the current reality both inside and outside our border. If a lethal variant emerges outside our border in the next few months, I agree we need to shut it all down ASAP. At the moment it looks okay to lift some restrictions like they did in the UK and our socialistic paradise of Denmark.
Please give me an answer to Q1–Q3 in case I have fuzzy thinking.
Trudeau didn’t do it. OK, it’s your party. Don’t go too heavy on the kook-aid people might think you’ve gone bat shit crazy.
And, the trouble with the climate crisis hypnosis is that we’ve relied on computer modeling and mass hysteria. Then there’s the mass murder of opposition scientists careers. But, when the computers are proven wrong, what to do?
https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2022/02/crisis-for-the-climate-models.php
Wrong. They are occupiers, no longer protestors. No minister should legitimize their unlawful behaviour. – Garth
———————————
You’ve become so crabby in your young age Garth :p
#4 Elon Fanboy on 02.06.22 at 2:54 pm
High-Priced Nanaimo – a nurse co-worker of mine, married, 2 kids, bought in the far outskirts of the city. Her realtor told her ‘bid as high as you can go or you will lose the house’.
They offered 125,000 over asking, no subjects and were so glad that it had an ‘illegally’ rented suite….??? Four months later, the unimaginable: her work-from-home hubby was called back to work… he now takes the ferry and rents a room somewhere in Vancouver. Geezus.
As they build multiple massive buildings in downtown core, does anyone wonder: what about the roads?
Throw another million or 2 people in Vancouver but never do anything about the infrastructure, which has been the same for the past 50 years…just imagine.
Wrong. They are occupiers, no longer protestors. No minister should legitimize their unlawful behaviour. – Garth
===
Well, if the minister or the prime minister doesn’t want to listen to his constituents, then the voters will show him the door. The next elections will happen in less than 4 years, perhaps a lot sooner.
#96 yvr_lurker : all good questions, and they highlight the need of an independent professional review mechanism for the public pandemic measures.
We as regular members of the public, having no expertize in the field, cannot give reliable answers to those questions.
We need some medical professionals, who have the expertize and who aren’t in the conflict-of-interest situation due to being employees of the government, to review the government actions and advise what works and what doesn’t.
@#78 Balmuto
“Election time was Sept. 20, 2021. Trudeau won.”
+++
Bwahahaha.
A Minority govt handing onto the NDP by its fingernails.
Trudeau’s polling numbers are in the dumpster.
His only saving grace was O’Toole.
There’s a new sheriff in town.
And the longer that Ottawa protest is allowed to drag on just shows how ineffectual the “Leadership” Federally, Provincially and Municipally is.
Who IS the mayor of Ottawa?
All I seem to see is the police chief on the News.
Ford is taking a Provincial pass the buck to the Feds and…..
Our fearless PM seems to be busy doing anything else than deal with a situation literally in his back yard..
Can anyone imagine ANY other world leader in a Capital City where the Head of the Nations govt is seated….let this drag on…
Not fricken likely.
#80 Ustabe on 02.06.22 at 8:35 pm
#30 Sail Away on 02.06.22 at 4:42 pm
——-
Please provide proof. And legitimate proof, not like Ustabe’s hokey clickbait links.
——-
Hey, guy who is on his third country, second wife and purports to run a middling engineering firm in a third rate city, is this link hokey and click bait enough to trigger you some more?
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1490473045965815812.html
After all, what is a little arson of inhabited apartment buildings when you engage in legitimate political discourse?
——-
Oh, good proof, haha.
Junk internet is as bad for one’s mental health as junk food is for physical health.
#88 Grandv!ew on 02.06.22 at 9:22 pm
As a country, we are falling behind.
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Agree 100%
Canada is no longer a UK dominion officially since the 50s no longer a most favoured to our neighbours the US since the 2000s, digging things up from the ground is barely profitable in the 2010s, we’ve become a major house flipping & banking economy. Which until recently was somehow no big deal.
Problem is RE flipping is never sustainable which we’re stubbornly going to re-learn. Oh well..
@#100 Satori
“Throw another million or 2 people in Vancouver but never do anything about the infrastructure, which has been the same for the past 50 years…just imagine.”
++++
Yep.
They have actually “greened” the downtown core by DECREASING car lanes and putting in bike lanes.
As the old 3 storey buildings are bulldozed and 60 storey condo towers are built block after block.
The removal of the last main viaduct into the downtown core will be the final nail in the traffic coffin.
St.Pauls Hospital will close move from the downtown core to the vacant lands behind the train station .
An extra 15 minutes ( or longer) in the grid lock that is downtown Vancouver at night in the Summer months when most of the violent stabbings, shooting , overdoses, etc etc etc happen.
I worked downtown for 30+years and lived down there for 10.
You could NEVER get me back down there.
I can only imagine the absolute anarchy and chaos a major earthquake will bring with clogged streets, hardly any food and water and a WOKE, progressive city hall that will want the bike lanes cleared first.
Good luck walking up 30, 40 stories with your food, water or poop bucket.
The TCH #1 “Freeway” is a joke at the best of times.
Decades and billions spent on Skytrain hasnt dealt with the influx of an extra million people in the Lowerbrainland over the past 25 years.
Extra traffic “car pool” lanes that bottleneck back down to two lanes each way under 50 year old overpasses.
Gridlock every morning and evening.
Toss in 1 inch of snow for absolute “car-mageddon”
The Lower Mainland.
A somewhat large city still acting small while the City staff pretend we’re “New York”.
2040 with another 2 million people?
See ya.
#60 Not Stone on 02.06.22 at 6:51 pm
Renting is for losers like Stone.
———
Sounds like somebody is extremely jealous.
At least you know you’ll never be magnificent like me, be debt free like me, nor have a wonderful B&D portfolio like me. Lots of other incredible things about me but if I mention more in just one comment, your head is likely to explode from envy. That would just be messy and gross.
By the way, B&D at 0.07% YTD.
Two of my friends bought houses in Nova Scotia, sight unseen, within the last year. One just this past week. Their jobs are in Toronto, but they really wanted to own something. Ontario real estate refugees very real and they’ll be screwing thinks up in other areas now
Garth,
You really don’t get it.
The money printing is out of control, and benefits the asset rich (your people), and hurts the paycheck people. What makes you think this is outside government policy? Finance and the BoC don’t have each other’s phone #?
PP understands this in a way few MP’s do.
The lockdowns and travel restrictions have hurt many, but been a boone to others. The protestors are the ones who’ve been hurt.
Have you tried crossing the border in the last couple years? It’s easier to go to Europe. Imagine if your business depended upon it?
Children? Teenagers? The poor have been hurt the most.
The is no scientific reason to destroy their childhoods.
The protests have morphed into a catch-all of all of these people who have been hurt. They will win and PP will be the next PM, unless a short interim if the Liberals toss Jr.
#101 Michael in-north-york on 02.06.22 at 10:28 pm
Wrong. They are occupiers, no longer protestors. No minister should legitimize their unlawful behaviour. – Garth
===
Well, if the minister or the prime minister doesn’t want to listen to his constituents, then the voters will show him the door. The next elections will happen in less than 4 years, perhaps a lot sooner.
——————————-
Hey, Mickey
Did you just escape from Disney Land?
Seems like you’re living in a dream world.
In this world, a legitimately elected government does not bow to law breakers, period.
But I agree, next election will tell the tale.
But probably not the one you wanna hear.
#90 expat on 02.06.22 at 12:34 am
Sell your house, take money and run away from your communist fascist tyranny in insane socialist regime of soviet kanadastan, before your plastic money became what it is – just piece of plastic.
——-
#19 macduff on 02.06.22 at 3:39 pm
After living most of my 60 years in Canada, but some of it in other countries, I have now come to the conclusion that Canada isn’t the best country in the world. We are going to be moving to another country within the next 6 months. Many happy years lie ahead of us, and we won’t miss the BS that this country seems to be offering up lately.
———-
smart people are running out from faling apart ultra liberast soviet kanadastan
#110 Ponzius Pilatus on 02.06.22 at 11:24 pm
Hey, Mickey
Did you just escape from Disney Land?
Seems like you’re living in a dream world.
In this world, a legitimately elected government does not bow to law breakers, period.
But I agree, next election will tell the tale.
But probably not the one you wanna hear.
===
Hey, Ponzey,
Are you still stuck in the Disney Land? Keep working on your certificate, that you were instructed to get the other day.
Speaking of elections, I don’t care what you wanna hear. Just bring it on. The numbers don’t lie.
DELETED
Wrong. They are occupiers, no longer protestors. No minister should legitimize their unlawful behaviour. – Garth
===
Wrong. Canadians are occupieers of first nation land.
#96 yvr_lurker on 02.06.22 at 9:56 pm
1. vaccinated people have a lower viral load shortly after exposure, and therefore are less likely to transmit.
2. Yes, because the PCR test works.
3. Yes, those should all be vaccinated too. Also, truckers were not singled out, they were given a special exemption for a little while.
That was easy.
“#103 crowdedelevatorfartz on 02.06.22 at 10:52 pm
@#78 Balmuto
“Election time was Sept. 20, 2021. Trudeau won.”
+++
Bwahahaha.
A Minority govt handing onto the NDP by its fingernails.
Trudeau’s polling numbers are in the dumpster.
His only saving grace was O’Toole.
There’s a new sheriff in town.”
The NDP is solidly with the Liberals against this illegal occupation. If anything that alliance just got stronger.
And if the “sheriff” you refer to is Pierre Poilievre, he hasn’t even won a party leadership race, let alone a federal election. The battle for the soul of the Conservative party has just begun. Meanwhile the Liberals are getting out the popcorn.
#62 Habitt on 02.06.22 at 6:54 pm
Lots of places in Canada where houses are affordable.
—————–
True enough but you want to hope that if you need
an ambulance the weather will allow the chopper to fly.
Cell service to call one might be a problem too.
#104 Sail Away on 02.06.22 at 10:53 pm
#80 Ustabe on 02.06.22 at 8:35 pm
Junk internet is as bad for one’s mental health as junk food is for physical health.
—
Says the guy who dug out a four year old link from bizpacreview to moralize for some unknown reason. And who also rejoices in his love for McDonalds? Wow.
Goodness. Tuning in this evening from Calgary where the daytime high was plus 13 and there were more dogs than peeps today on the city pathways. Rest of the week expected to be similar. So much for the myth of those unbearably cold winters in Alberta. Well…maybe in Edmonton.
Just when I thought the bedlam and pandemonium couldn’t get worse all this flotsam jetsam about the ‘protests’ have proved me wrong. The ill-informed continue to embarass themselves. Oh me.
How to describe it except to say it is “Beyond the Pale”. The discourse has grown outsized for the usual suspects on this blog. Sail Away,… babydoll…, we know who they are, but, surely it must be time to exit the brutes and enjoy some time with Mrs. Sail Away at the Tiki Kona hideaway?
I will exit likewise shortly, though not on USA territory. Like Captain Queeg, let them roll the little metal balls through their hands and demand to know what happened to the strawberries. It’s the ‘Caine Mutiny’ like Deja Vu all over again.
For CEF. Thinking about your post on the ambulance delays in the GVA. Here’s a clip worth your time that explains why. It’s San Francisco oriented, but really it applies to Vantown as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlH3S-uLTIw
Thank Dog one can dull the roar by tuning into Rene Fleming singing ‘Marietta’s Lied’ de Erick Corngold’s ‘Die tote Stadt’. Sung in German. It must be even better with the benefit of understanding the language.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErdxbjzOFp4
P.S. About this business of restricting use of HELOC’s for down payments in investment units and increasing the down payment requirements………..what a farce,
When you can tell me what means to enforce such preposterous measures will be come talk to me. Otherwise, quick blowing smoke up my ass. And how will the PC’s convert an attack dog ( Pierre P.) to a diplomat for political purposes? Another farce.
Amen.
85 Vlad
Research the following on 1) Wikipedia for population and amenities and 2) realtor.ca for real estate prices
Trail BC
Medicine Hat AB
Prince Albert sask
Thunder Bay Ont
Moncton NB
84 Linda
I recall watching a program on the Swiss system. Basically, while still in school, students were allowed to start specializing in fields that interested them such that they could start careers in finance, mechanics, health
very shortly after graduating.
Switzerland has a lower percentage of college grads, and a higher percentage of HS dropouts than Canada.
Their system seems to be very efficient.
https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/most-educated-countries
#59 The Liberals do not set rates. – Garth
BoC Governor Macklem looks is not independent, unlike Poloz
I like Poilievre, but he’s the wrong choice for leader imo, better off having him as finance minister. The Cons need a brand new face. Someone younger voters, especially those in the GTA that they can connect with. Someone like Althia Raj. My bet is if you had her wear a white 5 gallon at the stampede, the west would embrace her too.
@#116 Bluto
” The battle for the soul of the Conservative party has just begun. Meanwhile the Liberals are getting out the popcorn.”
++++
Poilievre is a shoo in to lead the Cons.
As for entertainment.
The NDP only care about…the NDP.
When they feel the time is right….the carpet will be yanked from under Trudeau.
Unless Butt’s is brave enough to call their bluff first.
His cue card holders have gotten used to “being in power” for the past 7 years so I wouldn’t count on The “PC Prince” going off script anytime soon.
Going into another Federal election with “Mr Minority” isn’t always the best strategy.
https://www.therecord.com/opinion/contributors/2022/01/16/trudeau-needs-to-rebuild-his-popularity.html
I don’t think the Liberals are reaching for popcorn.
I’d say they’re sharpening their back stabbers.
Hopefully they’ll nominate Freecash as his replacement.
She appears to have gone to the same “Charisma School” as O’Toole.
The polls should be interesting over the next few weeks.
Nothing wrong with Timiskaming. I drive through it often. For someone like a teacher, nurse, mechanic, electrician, and even doctor, lawyer, dentist (anything other then a highly specialized degree that requires big head offices), a place like that offers a higher standard of living than GTA. That’s place where an average income can buy an average house. Yes, there is no doggie yoga, that’s a minus. But you can invest a lot of money that you would otherwise spend on rent or mortgage. I can see how for someone who’s never been north of Barrie this may seem like Alert, Nunavut. I used to think that way too when I just arrived.
Garth have noticed your softening tone on the Liberals and their Leader in Hiding hmm. Is it the influence of the Mahone Bay money and former flower children that took up residence there?..miss the old Garth..
Common sense. Trudeau did not impose lockdowns. That was done by the provinces. And the last thing I would want from any prime minister is to legitimize an occupying force in the capital city. The Truck People are anti-vax whose only accomplishments will be to (a) polarize politics in Canada as has occured in the US and (b) extend the pandemic. I do not support either. – Garth
I hate to admit to a case of schadenfreude with the truckers jamming up Ottawa, and the citizens foot stomping indignation.
Ottawa has been jamming up Alberta for years. Ottawan’s are finally get a taste of how the Albertan’s feel.
Not fun, eh?
The citizens of Ottawa – a million of them – had zip to do with your issues. Grow up. – Garth
A friend was telling me that he took a trip to Cambridge, ON., the place down the 401 that is max. commuting distance from the GTA (if you can stand the traffic). A friend of his took him down the street to see a house just sold. Typical house. On market for asking price of low 800s. Sold within a week for $1.3 million.
Insane 2022 Canadian tulip mania!
Beijing 2022. Probably most westerners first insight into the workings of a police state. Athletes get to experience first hand what an oppressive and joyless place it is.
I’d recommend sending all the socialist activists over to Beijing to live in the “Olympic Bubble”. Once the realizer they can’t get Skip-the Dishes their love affair with with lockdowns and socialism will be over.
As someone once said, “The best cure for whatever you want is to get it…good and hard.”
Looks like electric vehicles are going nowhere !
https://driving.ca/column/motor-mouth/motor-mouth-6-fearful-predictions-for-the-auto-industry-in-2022?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=driving_promo_AO#Echobox=1643989160-13
#104 Sailo
Oh, good proof, haha.
Junk internet is as bad for one’s mental health as junk food is for physical health.
————————-
Good point.
Got that CEF?
#106 crowdedelevatorfartz on 02.06.22 at 11:07 pm
So agree! Plus an earthquake in Vancouver, it’s already every man for himself downtown… That’s a scary thought.
Ignoring the anti-mandate truckers seems to be working out fine for T2. From dismissing it early-on as a non-issue to ignoring their presence on the hill. Now it’s all over international news. And when the truckers will be forcibly removed – prepare for some negative coverage. You can’t ignore a street protest forever.
PP and I share the same initials.
So, if feel some kinship.
I wish him all the best in his quest for the Conservative leadership.
Hopefully, some good contenders will emerge.
A working democracy needs a strong opposition.
Garth, I stopped by here today eager to read your take on Pierre Poilievre’s conservative leadership bid. Do you think Chrystia is lined up to go against him this go-around? Regardless of her or Trudeau, I can’t wait for the debates.
Some fun reading, some examples of the Brampton mortgages being used here.
https://condomadness.info/images/Tagari.decision.pdf
Bloomberg is extremely credible. And vax mandates are in place to encourage inoculation by removing social privileges. You haven’t figured that out yet? – Garth
________________________
Inoculations do not provide sterilizing immunity therefore the only benefit is to the end user (in a waning fashion). If the end user does not wish to accept those benefits, they fully have the right to do so. Permanent vaccine passes are not about ‘incentives’ they are about punishment. We don’t punish anyone else for their health choices – we offer them sympathy. It’s time to move on from punishing people for their health choices. If we can treat cigarette smokers, the obese, drug users, stunt drivers – then we can also treat “antivaxxers.” If you haven’t convinced someone to get a vaccine by now, you never will. We figured this out for the obese too, and used entire campaigns to celebrate their beauty and courage. We shamed smokers – but we stopped doing that too. We moved on. It’s time to move on.
Just get vaccinated like 90% of society has. You are not special. Then we can all move on. – Garth
Achtung! Achtung!
https://twitter.com/BertelSchmitt/status/1490707709456367625
https://twitter.com/electricfelix/status/1490702496188227589
Just get vaccinated like 90% of society has. You are not special. Then we can all move on. – Garth
____________
I have not revealed my vaccination status, but it may surprise you. Unfortunately, as much as I would like that to be true, it has not worked that way for ANY nation anywhere in the entire world (I can support this with all data). It simply hasn’t. The vaccine is a broken promise. I wish it wasn’t that way, but it is. It’s really time to move along. If anyone refuses to move forward, then there are other hidden factors at play. Find balance Garth. I believe in you, and I am proud of you for publishing some of the counter arguments (even if just recently).
I have presented much data to very ardent supporters of the vaccine over the last month – it was a long battle, but the data is clear on the vaccine – it’s not worth fighting over. If someone doesn’t want it, they shouldn’t be forced into it.
I would like to make a prediction too. If vaccine mandates are not dropped now, they never will. You’ll be on a yearly booster schedule, and this will NOT work out well for your immune system. You can ask Israel about that one (also supported by science research).
The vaccine mandate machine is too large, it’s frightening to see what we’re going through as a country for something that doesn’t solve the problem.
You can look up other nations with 100 percent vaccination rates. They are still in trouble….
I’m open to any data showing me the opposite, if you can find it, please share it. I want proof that a high vaccination rate has allowed a country to return to normal life. If not, then people should not be punished for not taking it.
Are you an infectious disease specialist and immunologist? Or is this FB talking? – Garth
#137 Chris L. on 02.07.22 at 10:27 am
Bloomberg is extremely credible. And vax mandates are in place to encourage inoculation by removing social privileges. You haven’t figured that out yet? – Garth
________________________
Inoculations do not provide sterilizing immunity therefore the only benefit is to the end user (in a waning fashion). If the end user does not wish to accept those benefits, they fully have the right to do so. Permanent vaccine passes are not about ‘incentives’ they are about punishment. We don’t punish anyone else for their health choices – we offer them sympathy. It’s time to move on from punishing people for their health choices. If we can treat cigarette smokers, the obese, drug users, stunt drivers – then we can also treat “antivaxxers.” If you haven’t convinced someone to get a vaccine by now, you never will. We figured this out for the obese too, and used entire campaigns to celebrate their beauty and courage. We shamed smokers – but we stopped doing that too. We moved on. It’s time to move on.
Just get vaccinated like 90% of society has. You are not special. Then we can all move on. – Garth
————————
On the surface, the arguments of this anti-vaxxers sound convincing.
Treat all diseases with equality and passion.
But, then you realize, all the medical conditions he listed are not contagious.
#127 Re-Cowtown on 02.07.22 at 9:15 am
I hate to admit to a case of schadenfreude with the truckers jamming up Ottawa, and the citizens foot stomping indignation.
Ottawa has been jamming up Alberta for years. Ottawan’s are finally get a taste of how the Albertan’s feel.
Not fun, eh?
The citizens of Ottawa – a million of them – had zip to do with your issues. Grow up. – Garth
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
There are 33 million Canadian who had zip to do with the oppressions of the past but Ottawa has us all paying anyway. I’m not complaining about it, I’m just saying that it’s all part of being a Canadian. I don’t think the “Zip Test” is a serious social standard.
Ottawa is just starting to get the message now. Up until now no one has forced the elites to live with the unintended consequences of their own actions.
Trudeau should only blame his own tone-deafness for this. But he won’t. Even in the midst of the pandemic, he still couldn’t stop taking shots at Alberta to score cheap political points. Classless act.
Trudeau’s three P’s of failure:
Pipelines, Pandemics and Peterbilts.
On the surface, the arguments of this anti-vaxxers sound convincing.
Treat all diseases with equality and passion.
But, then you realize, all the medical conditions he listed are not contagious.
_______________
The vaccine doesn’t stop you from catching or spreading it – at all. Like zero. It was never tested for ‘sterilizing immunity’ it was tested to reduce 1 symptom only…(headache, or sore throat, etc.). This is the worst vaccine every produced in the history of vaccines. Why it is mandatory is a lesson in madness. Trust me, I wish it worked better. And the vaccine passport people wish it worked better too to justify getting you on the vaccine passport system!
They are just hanging on for the Omicron booster…the end goal IS the vaccine passport! It has nothing to do with health. Connect the dots!!!
I’m not an “antivaxxer” – I love vaccines. I hate this one, and I hate what our country has become because of it.
The country is just fine. 90% of people are on board with public health measures. You and the Truck People are outliers. This is the final comment. – Garth
It’s important to recognize that as long as you’re eating and drinking on a plane, you’re protected from all viruses.
The minute you stop doing so, you can be exposed.
Please be careful.
#108 “Two of my friends bought houses in Nova Scotia, sight unseen, within the last year. One just this past week. Their jobs are in Toronto, but they really wanted to own something. Ontario real estate refugees very real and they’ll be screwing thinks up in other areas now”
—————————————————————–
In NS They are referred to as “Onterribles”
#137 Chris L. on 02.07.22 at 10:27 am
Inoculations do not provide sterilizing immunity therefore the only benefit is to the end user
**************
False.
1. Viral load decreases faster in vaccinated people who therefore spread it less.
2. Unvaccinated are a greater burden on our medical resources.
————————————–
#139 Chris L. on 02.07.22 at 10:52 am
You can look up other nations with 100 percent vaccination rates. They are still in trouble….
**************
False again.
The only country with over 94% is the UAE and with 10m pop and 800K infections, they are at just over 2,000 deaths. An excellent record, better than others.
#143 Brian on 02.07.22 at 11:26 am
It’s important to recognize that as long as you’re eating and drinking on a plane, you’re protected from all viruses.
The minute you stop doing so, you can be exposed.
Please be careful.
——————-
On that note:
The American airlines are starting to serve booze again (I did not know they stopped).
If you enjoyed the brawls without booze, get ready for some real Royal Rumbles.
#119 the Jaguar on 02.07.22 at 12:34 am
Just when I thought the bedlam and pandemonium couldn’t get worse all this flotsam jetsam about the ‘protests’ have proved me wrong. The ill-informed continue to embarass themselves. Oh me.
How to describe it except to say it is “Beyond the Pale”. The discourse has grown outsized for the usual suspects on this blog. Sail Away,… babydoll…, we know who they are, but, surely it must be time to exit the brutes and enjoy some time with Mrs. Sail Away at the Tiki Kona hideaway?
——–
Oh, I hadn’t really noticed any excessive turmoil…
Mrs. SA and I have decided to stay put for the time being and prep for a major Australia excursion with our daughter who now lives there. Last time in Sydney we did not do the ‘bridge climb’, but will definitely book it early this time: https://www.bridgeclimb.com/
Using the extra home time for dog walks, mtn. biking and relaxing by the fire. And building our hunting/camping Gypsy Wagon, of course. Similar to this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adIBqvwrQ_k
When a newspaper has to ask for millions….
Time to fold it up!
Obviously public has turned their backs.
Holly Doan
@hollyanndoan
· 5h
[email protected] CEO writes to Commons finance committee asking for millions more in public aid. “Skills and training are required,” says John Boynton. https://blacklocks.ca/torstar-pleads-for-more-aid/
#127 Re-Cowtown on 02.07.22 at 9:15 am
I hate to admit to a case of schadenfreude with the truckers jamming up Ottawa, and the citizens foot stomping indignation.
Ottawa has been jamming up Alberta for years. Ottawan’s are finally get a taste of how the Albertan’s feel.
Not fun, eh?
The citizens of Ottawa – a million of them – had zip to do with your issues. Grow up. – Garth
———
Garth makes a good point. There are a million citizens in Ottawa. How many Freedumb trucker terrorists? A hundred. Maybe two?
Keep making the citizens of Ottawa angry. At one point, they will take care of you Freedumbers.
Also, considering you’re located in downtown Ottawa, your escape routes are extremely limited. That’s not an enviable position to be in.
When the wall came down in Berlin, there was a big problem with criminal gangs coming from Poland stealing cars in Berlin and the then West Germany. They would come in and dismantle entire cars in minutes. They were hard to catch because they were so fast and efficient in how they operated.
I foresee a similar situation occurring. Those trucks converted offer a nice treasure trove of scrap metal.
If I’m thinking that, how many people in Ottawa are thinking the same thing.
Run Freedumbers! Run!
While you can.
#96 yvr_lurker on 02.06.22 at 9:56 pm
1. vaccinated people have a lower viral load shortly after exposure, and therefore are less likely to transmit.
2. Yes, because the PCR test works.
3. Yes, those should all be vaccinated too. Also, truckers were not singled out, they were given a special exemption for a little while.
That was easy.
——–
Sorry, but the response was lacking in both depth and substance; a clear C- grade. The Gov’t better come up with much better answers (not just one liners) over the next few months when this wave subsides as there will be many more mainstream people questioning the need for each of the measures, i.e. why is the UK and Denmark relaxing restrictions?
We are all triple vaxed, and have been perfectly fine with the vaccine mandate for taking advantange of “perks” in society. Am much less sympathetic for Gov’ts and employers imposing vaccine mandate for workers in non-health related fields.
137 Chris
“If you haven’t convinced someone to get a vaccine by now, you never will.”
——————————–
Absolutely correct, and more generally, there is x% of the population that will not be told what to do – doesnt matter what it is.
Reminds me of a group bike ride organized by one of the local shops. Insured and registered thru CyclingBC. A fellow showed up without a helmet. Shop owner said he had to wear one and the shop could lend him one for the evenings ride. “No way” he said. Spent the evening 50 metres “off the back” so as not to be included in the ride.
He has a BIL who is a serious rider. I see them out now and then. He still doesnt wear a helmet.
#147 Sail Away on 02.07.22 at 11:58 am
And building our hunting/camping Gypsy Wagon,
__________________________________
What will you cover that with?
#147 Sail Away on 02.07.22 at 11:58 am
And building our hunting/camping Gypsy Wagon, of course. Similar to this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adIBqvwrQ_k
++++++++++++++++++
Nice wagon. How many Clydesdales will it take to haul that thing ? Don’t drink and drive and always observe the speed limits eh !
#147 Sailo
You got a Bison to pull the “Gypsy Wagon”?
It’s the only way to go Authentic Canada.
Could become a tourist attraction.
BMJ gets fact checked.
The experience has highlighted serious concerns about the “fact checking” third party providers on behalf of Facebook, the resulting censorship of information.
By Dr. John Campbell an advocate of Covid 19 vaccines.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMf-Zq7xJcY
#142 Chris L. on 02.07.22 at 11:09 am
it – at all. Like zero.
—
That is incorrect. Because that statement forms the basis of your argument, your argument also has to be discarded. Sorry.
Nova Scotia?
#144 WTF on 02.07.22 at 11:30 am
#108 “Two of my friends bought houses in Nova Scotia, sight unseen, within the last year. One just this past week. Their jobs are in Toronto, but they really wanted to own something. Ontario real estate refugees very real and they’ll be screwing thinks up in other areas now”
—————————————————————–
In NS They are referred to as “Onterribles”
************************************
Nova Scotia, my birth province, has an awful lot of older people and people living on government cheques. They are used to calling for more equalization. A lot of people there (nor all) are against industrialization of any kind. I have been watching them “run off” industry after industry ever since I left in 1989. A lot of Nova Scotians don’t like “outsiders”.
Nova Scotia erected a border against fellow Canadians due to COVID. By the way, Alberta never once imposed any kind of special isolation / quarantine rules against fellow Nova Scotia during this pandemic.
They are vastly over-represented in the senate due to an accident of history. They are I believe somewhat over-represented in parliament.
Their main export for the past 100 years has been their best young people.
The Onterribles comment is typical of a lot of people in Nova Scotia though certainly not all.
Generalize much? To what end? You sound elitist and uncharitable. No wonder people feel as they do about Albertans. (See what I mean?) – Garth
#95 ‘Barb’ – your humor is appreciated but also makes a very valid point. I’ve read quite a few comments expressing hostility towards the ‘evil, greedy’ landlord coupled with entitlement. As in ‘I/we have a ‘right’ to occupy someone else’s property & we should only pay rent if/when we feel like it’. Parents/guardians have an obligation to provide for children which includes shelter. Somehow these so called adults believe that childhood ‘right’ carries over to adulthood & that society at large has an obligation to provide for their needs. Further, they feel said ‘right’ triumphs any other legal right. In their minds it is a ‘wrong’ to allow someone who owns an asset to deny its use to others. Yet I’d bet those self same folks would fight to the bitter end if anyone decided to help themselves to anything they own without paying for it. Funny how that works!
This is about the umpteenth time since 2000 that I have heard rates are rising and it never happens. At least not as bad as advertised. A 1.0% increase over a year will do nothing to drop housing prices. I keep telling people, nobody’s going to give away their biggest asset. You’re a dreamer if you think they are. The way this ends is you won’t be able to get a condo for under $1M. You’d be lucky to find a pre-construction condo right now in the GTA for under $800,000.
Just another incident related to the peaceful protest:
The owner of a downtown Ottawa ice cream shop decided to close its doors again this weekend after an employee said they were assaulted on their way to work.
The employee said they left their home in the Sandy Hill neighbourhood across the Rideau Canal from downtown early Friday morning on their way to work at Moo Shu Ice Cream & Kitchen on Bank Street.
But only a short distance from their home, the employee — whom CBC is not naming because of concerns for their safety — said they were approached by two men who hurled racial and other slurs and harassed them for wearing a mask.
“They were yelling racially charged slurs at me and asking me if the reason that I had my mask on was because I was an anti-Asian slur,” they said.
“Essentially [they were] treating me like an Asian person who was going to give other people COVID just for just existing.”
The employee said the verbal harassment continued before they were shoved to the ground and the two men ran away.
Immediately after the assault, the employee said they called the Ottawa police hate crime unit, which the service has been often sharing during the ongoing protest in the shop’s neighbourhood….
“We’ve operated in Centretown for six years now, we’ve seen lots of protests and demonstrations and it’s never been disruptive,” Mok said.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/moo-shu-ice-cream-employee-assaulted-ottawa-1.6341207
OPS taking a lot of criticism for their handling of the “seige” (otherwise referred to as ‘peaceful protest’ to some Blog dogs here). Will be interesting to see if chief Sloly keeps his job after all this is over.
From a G&M article:
The federal government has proposed cross-jurisdiction meetings to respond to the trucker protests while urging Ottawa Police to take control of the occupation in the downtown city core that encompasses the Parliament buildings.
Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair and other ministers held a news conference Monday to say a “trilateral table” will be set up with the Ontario government and City of Ottawa to co-ordinate actions to help establish order.
Mr. Blair said “it is well past the time to bring the protest to an end,” but he laid responsibility at the feet of Ottawa Police, saying they have all the resources to end the protests.
“Let me clear, it is not the role of any government to direct law enforcement operations. It is the responsibility of the police of jurisdiction and this case the Ottawa Police Service to maintain public order and uphold the rule of law.”
Mr. Blair, a former Toronto police chief, said Ottawa Police have the resources to manage the siege , noting RCMP and OPP have provided extra officers and money. The RCMP have provided 275 agents and the Ontario Provincial Police have sent 100 officers.
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-federal-government-urges-ottawa-police-to-take-control-of-convoy/#comments
#119 the Jaguar on 02.07.22 at 12:34 am
Just when I thought the bedlam and pandemonium couldn’t get worse all this flotsam jetsam about the ‘protests’ have proved me wrong. The ill-informed continue to embarass themselves. Oh me.
How to describe it except to say it is “Beyond the Pale”. The discourse has grown outsized for the usual suspects on this blog. Sail Away,… babydoll…, we know who they are, but, surely it must be time to exit the brutes and enjoy some time with Mrs. Sail Away at the Tiki Kona hideaway?
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Awwe. Poor sailaway. Maybe if he learned to admit when he was wrong instead of doubling down, he wouldn’t need to be “baby doll[ed]”.
@#157 Shawn
“Their main export for the past 100 years has been their best young people.”
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You moved from NS to Alta in 1989?
Shame.
I moved in 1980 and was there when Calgary Mayor Ralph “King” Klein uttered his famous, ” Go back East all you bums and Creeps”.
https://www.facebook.com/cbccalgary/videos/archives-ralph-kleins-bums-and-creeps/1593311508183055/
Good old Ralph ended up at a Maritimer’s Party out in Cochrane a few months later and apologized to the crowd. I got to witness that.
Looks like those trucks won’t be that easy to remove.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-protest-truck-tow-remove-1.6339652
remember never say never. l wonder where home price will be when interest rates are 5.5 % i think more than 50% off so just sit tight and wait garth won’t say it but i will and will people rush in with those prices no they’ll take much longer to decide because everything will be normal and rates will to 4.5-6% normal so lets how many millions of canadians will be effected and broke and under water
#162 Observer on 02.07.22 at 2:56 pm
#119 the Jaguar on 02.07.22 at 12:34 am
Awwe. Poor sailaway. Maybe if he learned to admit when he was wrong instead of doubling down, he wouldn’t need to be “baby doll[ed]”.
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That’s the best part
# 37 what difference does it make where the person is moving to and if anyone had any brains and a million dollars there are min 10 better country’s in the world to retire canada is not the best place in the world it does’t have many things going for it all we do is follow our masters like U S and CHINE canada is a follower not leader anymore or never has been when i don’t need to work all my extra cash will go over seas canada at the bottom of places to live ask any european with funds to move and you’ll get 100 of 100 no’s because only people that feel rejected by their country immigrate here and those in canada that feel rejected will leave to a country where immigrate’s were rejected because of weather,health care, housing, dental, and fresh food is available at 50% less than canada i rest my case kanada is going down
Enjoy the time off, Garth! Enjoy spending more free time with the young pup!
163 crowdedelevatorfartz on 02.07.22 at 2:57 pm
@#157 Shawn
“Their main export for the past 100 years has been their best young people.”
+++
You moved from NS to Alta in 1989?
Shame.
I moved in 1980 and was there when Calgary Mayor Ralph “King” Klein uttered his famous, ” Go back East all you bums and Creeps”.
https://www.facebook.com/cbccalgary/videos/archives-ralph-kleins-bums-and-creeps/1593311508183055/
Good old Ralph ended up at a Maritimer’s Party out in Cochrane a few months later and apologized to the crowd. I got to witness that.
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He was referring to people from Toronto!
#157 Shawn “Nova Scotia, my birth province”
Mine too Buddy. went out to AB in 1979 ish. Calgary to be exact. The wonderment of enduring the self congratulatory , absolutist, nutbar, white/black, no nuance, commentary on everything became tiresome quickly. No shortage of uninformed blowhards.
Moved to Van after a few months, best decision for me. Had the opportunity over the years to visit Calgary for my monthly business trips. Not much has changed.
Still visit NS every Year, love it. I guess you didn’t get the dry wit and sarcasm prevalent in just about every interaction that takes place in Canadas Ocean Playground. Oh well…….
Yee Haw