Vancouver Region Planning and Development News – Learn about Industrial Lands and Urban Planning

Hello. Welcome to my weekly newsletter of curated headlines about city building, urban planning, real estate development, transportation, economy, and other eclectic matters in the Vancouver region and the rest of the world.

LEARN ABOUT INDUSTRIAL LANDS - The City of Maple Ridge is advancing the proposed new North 256 Street Industrial Lands Area Plan, a long-term planning initiative designed to support economic growth, job creation, tax base enhancement, and sustainable industrial development in the community.

Upcoming online information presentations:

· Session 1: Wednesday, January 14, 12:30 – 2:00 p.m.

· Session 2: Thursday, January 15, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.

Event registration, the area plan and associated industrial documents:

· https://engage.mapleridge.ca/256AreaPlan

· https://www.mapleridge.ca/build-do-business/planning-land-use/industrial-lands

LEARN ABOUT URBAN PLANNING - What is urban planning, why we plan, types of plans, define land uses and calculate densities, and how plans are prepared and implemented, and much more. Basically it’s planning for non-planners. Two options: a one-day class (5 hours) or a three-evening course (7.5 hours):

· Learn the BASICS of Urban Planning - One-Day Live Online Class. Saturday, February 7, 2026, 9:30 am to 2:45 pm PST

· Learn the ESSENTIALS of Urban Planning - Three-Evenings Live Online Course. Mondays, February 23, March 2, March 9, 2026, 6:00 to 8:30 pm PST

· Urban Planning Courses and Resources: www.LearnPlanning.ca. As a newsletter subscriber, register now to get a student rate / discount rate (code ‘Newsletter’).

Eric Aderneck, rpp, mpl, bcom, dule / eric@aderneck.ca / 604.721.5528 / www.linkedin.com/in/ericaderneck

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ECONOMY / TAXES

C1 BC Economic Briefing https://www.central1.com/pdf_files/b-c-economic-briefing-for-january-9-labour-market-lower-mainland-housing-market-international-trade/

Weak economic growth forecast for BC in 2026, says new Deloitte report https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/deloitte-economic-outlook-b-c-2026-9.7036515

Canada swings to trade deficit in October as share of U.S. exports falls. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-canada-trade-deficit-october-us-exports/

BC government’s per-resident spending hits record high under Premier Eby https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/bc-budget-premier-spending-comparison-history

BC government spending reaches highest level on record at $13,711 per person in 2025 (inflation-adjusted) https://www.fraserinstitute.org/studies/british-columbia-premiers-and-provincial-government-spending-2025

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BUSINESS / JOBS

BC closes 2025 with 3,300 jobs lost in December https://www.biv.com/news/economy-law-politics/bc-closes-2025-with-3300-jobs-lost-in-december-11717573

Canada’s labour market gradually improving despite softening in December https://www.rbc.com/en/economics/canadian-analysis/data-flashes/canadas-labour-market-gradually-improving-despite-softening-in-december/

The ESG and DEI backlash has caught up to corporate Canada https://thelogic.co/news/analysis/esg-dei-backlash-canada/

The global implications of the US military operation in Venezuela https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-global-implications-of-the-us-military-operation-in-venezuela/

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HOUSING AFFORDABILITY

Are new realities in Montreal’s rental market making age-old vacancy rate obsolete? https://nationalpost.com/news/local-news/are-new-realities-in-montreals-rental-market-making-age-old-vacancy-rate-obsolete/

The risks desperate Vancouver renters are taking to secure housing https://vancouversun.com/news/the-risks-desperate-vancouver-renters-are-taking-to-secure-housing

Why Canada’s micro-condos are losing their appeal https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqxq32zzq8eo

Multiplex Permits Are Declining. Here’s What It Means. https://www.vanplex.ca/blog/vancouver-multiplex-permit-trends-2026-reality-check

Building UVic: University moves to develop housing around campus edges https://www.biv.com/news/building-uvic-university-moves-to-develop-housing-around-campus-edges-11677420

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RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE

Real estate split: A tale of two markets in Canada. https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/business/2026/01/08/real-estate-split-a-tale-of-two-markets-in-canada/

The Condo Crash is Spreading https://macleans.ca/the-year-ahead/the-condo-crash-is-spreading/

BMO economist says real estate has entered a ‘slow grind’ toward affordability https://www.theglobeandmail.com/real-estate/toronto/article-bmo-economist-real-estate-slow-grind-affordability/

Metro Vancouver records lowest home sales in more than 20 years in 2025 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/metro-vancouver-home-sales-statistics-2025-lowest-record

Greater Vancouver Real Estate Board Stats Report Dec 2025 https://www.gvrealtors.ca/market-watch/monthly-market-report/december-2025.html

Fraser Valley Real Estate Board Stats Report Dec 2025 https://www.fvreb.bc.ca/statistics/Package202512.pdf

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COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE

Where is the Canadian housing market headed in 2026? Economists and analysts picked these seven trends to watch https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/economy/article-2026-in-charts-about-housing

What’s going on with Vancouver’s zany real estate market? https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-whats-going-on-with-vancouvers-zany-real-estate-market-it-just-might

Recreational property markets stabilize as domestic purchasers return https://www.biv.com/news/real-estate/recreational-property-markets-stabilize-as-domestic-purchasers-return-11682750

Vancouver General Hospital campus looks to expand with two towers https://www.westerninvestor.com/economy-law-politics/vancouver-general-hospital-campus-looks-to-expand-with-two-towers-11710006

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BUILDING / DEVELOPMENT

There’s a growing backlash against the outsized, ‘boxy’ apartment blocks being built in BC https://vancouversun.com/business/douglas-todd-growing-backlash-outsized-boxy-multiplexes-being-built-bc

Why housing development charges are skyrocketing—and what to do about it https://thehub.ca/2026/01/08/why-housing-development-charges-are-skyrocketing-and-what-to-do-about-it-deepdive/

DCCs change in Delta, Metro https://www.biv.com/news/real-estate/dccs-change-in-delta-metro-11677947

Vancouver officials identify 50 unoccupied ‘problematic properties’ https://www.biv.com/news/vancouver-officials-identify-50-unoccupied-problematic-properties-11699532

From Office Campuses to Affordable Housing, Mass Timber Finds a Market https://propmodo.com/from-office-campuses-to-affordable-housing-mass-timber-finds-a-market

Era of Uncertainty Results in Hesitancy, Indecision https://www.naiop.org/research-and-publications/magazine/2025/winter-2025-2026/business-trends/era-of-uncertainty-results-in-hesitancy-indecision/

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URBAN PLANNING

BC’s plans to update heritage protections could majorly affect property owners https://www.theglobeandmail.com/real-estate/vancouver/article-heritage-protection-laws-property-owners/

The 30 Largest Cities in North America by Population. https://www.visualcapitalist.com/30-largest-cities-in-north-america-by-population/

BC cities say they’re on the hook for millions for housing, social issues due to senior gov’t ‘downloading’ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-municipal-downloading-quantified-9.7032840

Metro Vancouver golf course to become a public park as new aquatic and community centre plan advances https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/maple-ridge-golf-course-park-transformation-hammond-aquatic-community-centre-plan

Inspired by Cities Around the World, 9 Ideas to Change Vancouver for the Better https://vanmag.com/city/general/how-to-improve-vancouver/

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TRANSPORTATION

This Metro Vancouver bus route cost over $25 per passenger last year https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/this-metro-vancouver-bus-route-cost-over-25-per-passenger-last-year

A regional rail solution to relieve long-term capacity constraints on SkyTrain’s Expo Line https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/metro-vancouver-regional-rail-skytrain-expo-line-relief-line

Predictions for an even more unpredictable automotive future https://driving.ca/column/motor-mouth/2026-automotive-industry-predictions-ai-ev-mandates

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RESOURCES / ENVIRONMENT

A Venezuelan oil reset is an economic risk Canada cannot ignore https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/commentary/article-venezuela-oil-reset-maduro-canada-markets-crude-exports/

Alberta’s Danielle Smith says Maduro capture outlines urgency of West Coast pipeline https://www.biv.com/news/albertas-danielle-smith-says-maduro-capture-outlines-urgency-of-west-coast-pipeline-11699444

Eby says Canada should build refineries, not pipelines, after Venezuela attack https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/eby-says-canada-should-build-refineries-not-pipelines-amid-oilsands-uncertainty

BC court halts major forest licence transfer, citing failure to uphold ‘honour of the Crown’ https://www.biv.com/news/economy-law-politics/bc-court-halts-major-forest-licence-transfer-citing-failure-to-uphold-honour-of-the-crown-11715942

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INDUSTRIAL / MANUFACTURING

Large Users Driving Vancouver Industrial Market https://www.connectcre.ca/stories/large-users-driving-vancouver-industrial-market/

Reducing Embodied Carbon in Industrial Development https://www.naiop.org/research-and-publications/magazine/2025/winter-2025-2026/business-trends/reducing-embodied-carbon-in-industrial-development/

The “ChatGPT moment” has arrived for manufacturing https://www.economist.com/interactive/business/2026/01/07/the-chatgpt-moment-has-arrived-for-manufacturing

Is Your Office Property a Candidate for a Data Center Conversion? https://www.naiop.org/research-and-publications/magazine/2025/winter-2025-2026/development-ownership/is-your-office-property-a-candidate-for-a-data-center-conversion/

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SHOPPING / HOSPITALITY

London Drugs’ DTES closure delivers political gut punch to Eby https://www.biv.com/news/commentary/rob-shaw-london-drugs-dtes-closure-delivers-political-gut-punch-to-eby-11720186

Fate of BC’s drug decriminalization pilot to be determined https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/british-columbia/article-government-unclear-drug-decriminalization-exemption-will-continue/

Decades-old Safeway on West 4th Avenue in Kitsilano to close this month for mixed-use housing and retail redevelopment https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/safeway-west-4th-avenue-kitsilano-closing-redevelopment-january-2026

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OFFICE WORK

Cushman Wakefield Vancouver Office Market Report Q4 2025 https://assets.cushmanwakefield.com/-/media/cw/marketbeat-pdfs/2025/q4/canada/vancouver-office-marketbeat-_q4-2025.pdf

Office vacancy rate dips as return-to-office shift picks up: CBRE report https://www.westerninvestor.com/british-columbia/office-vacancy-rate-dips-as-return-to-office-shift-picks-up-cbre-report-11707079

10 employment law realities that now define the workplace https://financialpost.com/fp-work/howard-levitt-10-employment-law-realities-that-define-workplace

The problem with promotions - The Peter principle is alive and well https://www.economist.com/business/2026/01/08/the-problem-with-promotions

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POLITICS / PEOPLE

Reconciliation in BC is ‘government’s job, not the courts’: David Eby https://vancouversun.com/opinion/columnists/vaughn-palmer-reconciliation-bc-first-nations-governments-job-not-courts-david-eby

BC premier committed to amending DRIPA law to uphold government authority https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/bc-dripa-declaration-act-law-amendments

Will Carney chart a new course for Indigenous Canadians? https://nationalpost.com/opinion/will-carney-cast-aside-trudeaus-indigenous-policies

Venezuela offers a lesson in how socialism ruins countries https://nationalpost.com/opinion/j-d-tuccille-venezuela-offers-a-lesson-in-the-horrors-of-socialism

Older, 70% white, plunging fertility and lost faith: Who Canada is now https://nationalpost.com/feature/canadas-demographics-problem-immigration

Canadians’ immigration views are changing. How will that effect the economy? https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/canada-has-a-demographics-problem-is-immigration-still-the-answer

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OTHER / MISC

Trump pulls U.S. out of 66 international organizations, including UN climate treaty https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/us-politics/article-trump-united-nations-un-66-international-organizations-climate-treaty/

‘Economic war’ and growing disparity key worries of bank CEOs https://www.biv.com/news/economic-war-and-growing-disparity-key-worries-of-bank-ceos-11701877

Canada’s China Policy Will Be Decided in Washington https://macleans.ca/the-year-ahead/canadas-china-policy-will-be-decided-in-washington

How productive is the public service? We’ll never know https://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/how-productive-is-the-public-service

In pictures: US strikes Venezuela and captures Maduro https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/03/world/gallery/nicolas-maduro-captured-venezuela

Video: The Path of Most Resistance: Why Capital No Longer Flows to Canadian Housing