Vancouver Regional Matters -- Urban Planning and Real Estate Development News

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 Canada Day!

If you enjoy this newsletter, please encourage your collogues to subscribe or upgrade to a paid subscription. Thank you.

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

.

ECONOMY / TAXES

C1 BC Economic Briefing https://www.central1.com/pdf_files/b-c-economic-briefing-for-june-27-cpi-non-farm-payroll-international-travel/

Carney's 'One Canadian Economy' a much-needed move in the right direction, but questions remain https://financialpost.com/news/economy/questions-remain-carney-one-canadian-economy-act

The national 'emergency' that is hitting Canadians where it hurts — in their paycheques https://financialpost.com/feature/productivity-emergency-hits-canadians-paycheque

Fast-tracking legislation misses the real fix for Canada's red-tape woes https://www.biv.com/news/commentary/opinion-fast-tracking-legislation-misses-the-real-fix-for-canadas-red-tape-woes-10851824

The Canadian economy moderately contracted in April https://www.rbc.com/en/thought-leadership/economics/featured-insights/canadian-gdp/

.

BUSINESS / JOBS

Reducing government debt in Canada could boost incomes for average workers by $2,100 a year https://www.fraserinstitute.org/studies/impact-government-debt-labour-productivity-canada

A 1% tax cut isn't tax reform nor is it needle-moving for most Canadians https://financialpost.com/personal-finance/taxes/1-tax-cut-isnt-reform-needle-moving-most-canadians

Tipping into recession? GDP dips as manufacturing slumps https://www.central1.com/pdf_files/tipping-into-recession-gdp-dips-as-manufacturing-slumps/

We needed to get rid of the dairy cartel, not sanctify it in law. https://financialpost.com/opinion/we-needed-to-get-rid-of-the-dairy-cartel-not-sanctify-it-in-law

Maple Ridge has plan to attract and retain business, investment https://www.mapleridgenews.com/local-news/maple-ridge-has-plan-to-attract-and-retain-business-investment-8092759

America needs workers, not jobs https://www.rbc.com/en/thought-leadership/economics/featured-insights/america-needs-workers-not-jobs/

.

HOUSING AFFORDABILITY

One of Vancouver’s biggest rental projects just completed and it’s seeking tenants https://vancouversun.com/news/vancouver-big-rental-project-seeking-tenants

Is Canada building too many rental apartments https://vancouversun.com/opinion/columnists/is-canada-building-too-many-rental-apartments

Foreign student caps shake up BC’s student housing market https://www.biv.com/news/real-estate/foreign-student-caps-shake-up-bcs-student-housing-market-10851983

Vancouver Council Rejects Potential Tax Abatement Program For Rental Projects Foreign student caps https://storeys.com/vancouver-rental-projects-tax-abatement-rebecca-bligh/

C1 Let’s talk rent https://www.central1.com/pdf_files/lets-talk-rent/

.

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE

Metro Vancouver's condo market is slumping. Here are 4 key factors behind the slowdown https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/metro-van-slumping-condo-market-1.7573303

Is real estate really the best place to park your money? A hard look at the numbers https://financialpost.com/real-estate/mortgages/real-estate-best-place-invest-money

How Small Apartments in Big Buildings Became the US Norm https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2025-06-26/how-small-apartments-in-big-buildings-became-the-us-norm

Metro Vancouver weighs overhaul of developer fees amid industry pushback https://www.biv.com/news/real-estate/metro-vancouver-weighs-overhaul-of-developer-fees-amid-industry-pushback-10862363

.

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE

Vancouver developers lay off staff, sell off assets as condo industry decline continues https://www.theglobeandmail.com/real-estate/vancouver/article-condo-developers-vancouver-decline/

Vancouver commercial real estate ‘charting its own course’ https://www.biv.com/news/real-estate/vancouver-commercial-real-estate-charting-its-own-course-10863239

What’s Old Is New: The Business Case for Urban Adaptive Reuse https://urbanland.uli.org/resilience-and-sustainability/whats-old-is-new-the-business-case-for-urban-adaptive-reuse

Capilano Mall Redevelopment By QuadReal Includes 11 Towers Up To 40 Storeys https://storeys.com/capilano-mall-redevelopment-north-vancouver-quadreal/

Seacliff advancing 3 major Vancouver Island developments https://renx.ca/seacliff-vancouver-island-developments-nanoose-bay-sandstone-beachlands

.

BUILDING / DEVELOPMENT

Failed New Zealand scheme is cautionary tale for Carney's homebuilding agency https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/failed-new-zealand-scheme-is-cautionary-tale-for-carneys-homebuilding-agency-report

BC NDP's selective streamlining leaves key projects behind https://www.biv.com/news/commentary/opinion-bc-ndps-selective-streamlining-leaves-key-projects-behind-10842970

How robots are taking prefabricated housing construction to a new level for this Vancouver company https://vancouversun.com/news/intelligent-city-bc-robots-prefabricated-housing-construction-vancouver

.

URBAN PLANNING

Good planning doesn't equal good design https://renx.ca/good-planning-doesnt-equal-good-design

Re/Max just released a list of Metro Vancouver's 'hidden gem' neighbourhoods. Did they get it right. https://vancouversun.com/news/re-max-list-metro-vancouvers-hidden-gem-neighbourhoods

Security Concerns Hit Some of the World’s ‘Most Livable Cities’ https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-16/copenhagen-bests-vienna-in-economist-s-list-of-most-livable-cities

Major Anmore housing project dropped by developer on brink of public hearing https://vancouversun.com/news/major-anmore-housing-project-dropped-by-developer-on-brink-of-public-hearing

BC Forest Practices Board says forestry changes could reduce wildfire risk https://www.biv.com/news/resources-agriculture/bc-forest-practices-board-says-forestry-changes-could-reduce-wildfire-risk-10836209

Fear and Loathing in Canada’s Most American City https://macleans.ca/politics/fear-and-loathing-in-canadas-most-american-city/

Municipal government per-person spending in Canada hit near record levels https://www.fraserinstitute.org/studies/expanding-finances-local-governments-canada-1990-2023

.

TRANSPORTATION

Metro Vancouver cities get $145 million from TransLink for road, bike lane upgrades https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/translink-2025-local-government-funding-programs-projects

Coquitlam Unveils New Land Use Plan For Transit-Oriented Areas And Corridors https://storeys.com/coquitlam-transit-oriented-areas-phase-two/

TransLink says fare enforcement blitz has led to millions in cost savings https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/translink-fare-enforcement-transit-metro-vancouver-1.7569026

.

RESOURCES / ENVIRONMENT

Rhetoric—not evidence—continues to dominate climate debate and policy https://www.fraserinstitute.org/studies/four-climate-fallacies

Canada Could Be a Critical Minerals Powerhouse https://macleans.ca/politics/canada-could-be-a-critical-minerals-powerhouse

Why commodities are on a rollercoaster ride https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2025/06/26/why-commodities-are-on-a-rollercoaster-ride

Enbridge says it would pitch new Alberta-BC pipeline only under right conditions https://www.biv.com/news/enbridge-says-it-would-pitch-new-alberta-b-c-pipeline-only-under-right-conditions-10862731

Eby contorts his pipeline messaging once again https://www.biv.com/news/commentary/rob-shaw-eby-contorts-his-pipeline-messaging-once-again-10854718

LNG Canada's Kitimat plant produces first batch of liquefied natural gas https://www.biv.com/news/resources-agriculture/lng-canadas-kitimat-plant-produces-first-batch-of-liquefied-natural-gas-10851933

.

INDUSTRIAL / MANUFACTURING

First big tenant secured for major Delta industrial development https://www.delta-optimist.com/local-news/first-big-tenant-secured-for-major-delta-industrial-development-10825100

BC manufacturing, construction see declines amid headwinds https://www.westerninvestor.com/economy-law-politics/bryan-yu-bc-manufacturing-construction-see-declines-amid-headwinds-10858986

West Coast ports brace for tariff fallout as shipping volatility grows https://www.biv.com/news/transportation/west-coast-ports-brace-for-tariff-fallout-as-shipping-volatility-grows-10852526

Washroom Dispute Brews At Marine Landing As Buyers Raise Concerns https://storeys.com/marine-landing-wesbild-purchasers-bathrooms/

.

SHOPPING / HOSPITALITY

BC mall owner lays out plan for Bay leases. Landlords are unconvinced https://www.biv.com/news/bc-mall-owner-lays-out-plan-for-bay-leases-landlords-are-unconvinced-10862400

Tariff pressures push Vancouver retailers to revamp supply chains, raise prices https://www.biv.com/news/retail-manufacturing/tariff-pressures-push-vancouver-retailers-to-revamp-supply-chains-raise-prices-10863013

New FIFA World Cup hosting costs revealed by BC put price at up to $624 million https://vancouversun.com/news/fifaworld-cup-hosting-costs-bc-624-million

.

POLITICS / PEOPLE

Red, white and you – Canada Day https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/article-most-canadian-possessions-canada-day/

Is Canada really built on 'stolen' land? https://nationalpost.com/opinion/is-canada-really-built-on-stolen-land

Can You Be Sued for Saying Someone Isn’t Indigenous? https://thewalrus.ca/can-you-be-sued-for-saying-someone-isnt-indigenous/

Former PM, GAC's $51K-per-month booze bill tops annual gov't waste awards https://vancouversun.com/news/national/former-pm-gacs-51k-per-month-booze-bill-tops-annual-govt-waste-awards

.

OTHER / MISC

Scenic drives at Parks Canada https://parks.canada.ca/voyage-travel/experiences/panoramique-scenic

Highways and Horizons https://placesjournal.org/article/highways-and-horizons-tesla-and-the-interstates

How Trump won the adulation of the western world in less than a week https://nationalpost.com/opinion/j-d-tuccille-how-trump-won-the-adulation-of-the-western-world-in-less-than-a-week

The Uncertainty in the Aftermath of the U.S. Bombing in Iran https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2025/06/the-uncertainty-in-the-aftermath-of-the-u-s-bombing-in-iran.html

'It was a near-death experience': How a California town blocked dangerous mudflows https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20250620-the-california-town-that-defended-against-mudslides

Video: When Building a Brand-New City Doesn’t Go as Planned