Vancouver Regional Matters and Happy Holidays

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 from the rest of the world. Happy Holidays.

My Next Class – A Great Christmas Present / New Year’s Resolution:

· Learn the Basics of Urban Planning - One-Day Live Online Class, Saturday, February 8, 2025: www.eventbrite.ca/e/learn-the-basics-of-urban-planning-one-day-live-online-class-tickets-692147099607

· Learn what urban planning is, why we plan, types of plans, define land uses and calculate densities, and how plans are prepared and implemented. We'll explain planning concepts, principles, terms, and current issues, and how municipal plans and policies interconnectedly influence real estate development, transportation systems, and other urban matters.

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

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ECONOMY / TAXES

C1 BC Economic Briefing www.central1.com/pdf_files/b-c-economic-briefing-for-december-20-cpi-mls-housing-starts-non-farm-payroll-business-confidence

The end of growth? Immigration and rental inflation are slowing https://realestatemagazine.ca/the-end-of-growth-immigration-and-rental-inflation-are-slowing/

Is the government telling the truth about Canada's debt? www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLr3PWETbtk

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BUSINESS / JOBS

'A little patience': Anxiety creeps into auto sector as Trump threatens blanket tariffs on day one https://financialpost.com/transportation/autos/anxiety-auto-sector-trump-threatens-blanket-tariffs

Eby government’s fiscal update spells more bad news for BC taxpayers https://vancouversun.com/opinion/op-ed/eby-governments-fiscal-update-spells-more-bad-news-for-b-c-taxpayers

Conversations That Matter: Small business, big opportunities https://vancouversun.com/life/conversations-that-matter-small-business-big-opportunities

Our Big Mac index shows how burger prices differ across borders www.economist.com/interactive/big-mac-index

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HOUSING

Minister warns West Vancouver, Oak Bay over new housing shortfall https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/west-vancouver-oak-bay-new-housing-supply-shortfall-warning-bc

In BC, a glut of supply could ease affordability www.theglobeandmail.com/real-estate/vancouver/article-in-bc-a-glut-of-supply-could-ease-affordability

BC man who flipped 14 homes in four years is fined $2 million for tax evasion https://vancouversun.com/business/real-estate/bc-man-who-flipped-14-homes-in-four-years-is-fined-2-million-for-tax-evasion

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COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE / DEVELOPMENT

Expert: These Were The Top 5 PropTech Trends of 2024 https://storeys.com/proptech-trends-2024-review

STOREYS’ Policy Of The Year: Development Charges https://storeys.com/policy-year-development-charges-2024

Here’s what made Vancouver civic affairs news in 2024 www.vancouverisawesome.com/local-news/top-vancouver-civic-affairs-news-stories-2024-9949065

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URBAN PLANNING

Growing to 4.2M people in Metro Vancouver 'a bit too much' without a plan: Mike Hurley www.richmond-news.com/highlights/growing-to-42m-people-in-metro-vancouver-a-bit-too-much-without-a-plan-mike-hurley-9999373

Metro Vancouver's top 5 infrastructure projects hope for fewer surprises in 2025 https://vancouversun.com/news/metro-vancouvers-top-5-infrastructure-projects-hope-for-fewer-surprises-in-2025

Is Crime More Concentrated in Spread-out Cities? www.planetizen.com/blogs/133431-crime-more-concentrated-spread-out-cities

The scaling back of Saudi Arabia’s proposed urban mega-project sends a clear warning to other would-be utopias https://theconversation.com/the-scaling-back-of-saudi-arabias-proposed-urban-mega-project-sends-a-clear-warning-to-other-would-be-utopias-227852

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TRANSPORTATION

The world’s most, and least, walkable cities www.economist.com/interactive/2024-walkable-cities

The U.K. and Germany have done it. Should Canada also privatize its postal service? www.cbc.ca/news/canada/postal-service-future-privatization-1.7414824

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RESOURCES / ENVIRONMENT

BC is experiencing a mining permitting crisis, and local communities will suffer www.theglobeandmail.com/business/commentary/article-bc-is-experiencing-a-mining-permitting-crisis-and-local-communities/

How global warming is reshaping winter life in Canada https://theconversation.com/how-global-warming-is-reshaping-winter-life-in-canada-222329

How BC's 2 biggest cities are trying to curb illegal dumping www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/illegal-dumping-surrey-vancouver-1.7404092

Bloedel Conservatory reopening after months of major renovations. https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/bloedel-conservatory-reopens-renovations

Softwood dispute spells trouble again for Canada as U.S. holds upper hand www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-softwood-dispute-spells-trouble-again-for-canada-as-us-holds-upper

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INDUSTRIAL / MANUFACTURING

Metro Vancouver's tiny industrial lands drive $43B economy, finds report www.vancouverisawesome.com/highlights/metro-vancouvers-tiny-industrial-lands-drive-43b-economy-finds-report-9998620

More industrial land needed to keep businesses — and higher-paying jobs — in Metro Vancouver: Report https://vancouversun.com/business/real-estate/industrial-land-businesses-jobs-metro-vancouver-report

Is pickleball about to gobble up 2.6M sq. ft. of CRE space? https://renx.ca/is-the-sport-of-pickleball-about-to-gobble-up-25m-sq-ft-of-cre-space

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RETAIL SHOPPING / WORK

What luxury is telling us. www.ft.com/content/a98befd3-2b9f-4639-9de4-02186264aaf2

New competition rules could expose BC landlords, tenants to risk www.biv.com/news/real-estate/new-competition-rules-could-expose-bc-landlords-tenants-to-risk-9981427

It’s been a tough year for The Bay in Vancouver. Why 2025 likely won’t be any better https://vancouversun.com/news/the-bay-vancouver-struggles

Howard Levitt: Top 10 employment law stories of 2024 https://financialpost.com/fp-work/top-10-employment-law-stories-2024

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POLITICS / PEOPLE

City voters in Canada leaning right as they lose faith in their go-to political picks https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-more-city-voters-leaning-right-politically-analysts-say/

Businesses must stop caving to political pressure and abandoning their EDI commitments https://theconversation.com/businesses-must-stop-caving-to-political-pressure-and-abandoning-their-edi-commitments-245450

Ottawa talking to First Nations about future of Granville Island https://vancouversun.com/news/vancouver-granville-island-first-nations-future

Our footloose index: the most attractive countries for graduates www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2024/10/22/our-footloose-index-the-most-attractive-countries-for-graduates

Immigration minister plans reforms to asylum system to stop it being 'gamed' www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/immigration-minister-plans-reforms-to-asylum-system-to-stop-it-being-gamed/ar-AA1vNXQb

Pete McMartin: Why the U.S. should be Canada's 11th province https://vancouversun.com/opinion/columnists/pete-mcmartin-why-the-u-s-should-be-canadas-11th-province

Why warriors should welcome laws of war www.economist.com/international/2024/12/19/why-warriors-should-welcome-laws-of-war

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OTHER / MISC

'It was probably the strongest picture I made': How Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life became a Christmas classic www.bbc.com/culture/article/20241219-how-frank-capras-over-sentimental-film-became-a-christmas-classic

Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas is You went from modest 1990s hit to Christmas's defining song - here's why www.bbc.com/culture/article/20241120-mariah-careys-all-i-want-for-christmas-is-you-went-from-modest-1990s-hit-to-christmass-defining-song

The next massive volcanic eruption is coming. It will cause chaos the world is not prepared for. www.cnn.com/2024/12/24/climate/massive-volcano-eruption-climate/index.html

Japan’s ‘cat island’ falls victim to demographic crisis www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/27/japans-cat-island-falls-victim-to-demographic-crisis

Northern Lights: The aurora that dazzled us in 2024 www.bbc.com/weather/articles/clyjvmqzrr9o

Olympics surfer to Donald Trump: 12 of the most striking images of 2024 www.bbc.com/culture/article/20241219-12-of-the-most-striking-images-of-2024

Video: Can Trains Save Seattle? www.youtube.com/watch?v=12RnUzSGrkw

Video: The FESTIVUS for the REST of Us! - Seinfeld Short Episode www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQb_RXS4DDA