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1. Despite residential hike, Vancouver businesses still disproportionately shoulder property tax burden

   Appeared in Business in Vancouver, February 11, 2020 Thanks to a city council vote in December, Vancouver homeowners face a seven per cent property tax increase this year—the highest in recent years—which city staff say will add an extra $100 to $200 to a ...

2. Groundhog Day in the Golden State—how plans to boost affordability in California keep failing

   The situation in California has important implications for Canada’s least-affordable cities including Vancouver and Toronto. ...

3. Montreal retail woes underscore need for property tax reform

   Approximately 15 per cent of Montreal's street-level retail spaces are vacant. ...

4. Land-use regulation in “superstar” U.S. cities—same old sad story

   The key to understanding housing affordability woes in our most expensive cities is understanding the extent that local regulatory environments hamper the construction of new homes. To do this, however, one must first measure local ...

5. Ontario won’t be ‘open for business’ without business property tax reform

   Appeared in the Globe and Mail, January 4, 2020 The Ford government wants to project its “open for business” ethos in 2020 and beyond. Indeed, Queen’s Park recently focused heavily on business competitiveness in its fall economic statement, announcing a ...

6. Vancouver’s latest policy on rental development—big bang, or more timid tinkering?

   The more floors allowed in new projects, the more feasible they become. ...

7. Property tax rates much higher for businesses than residents—which can cause serious problems

   Appeared in the New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal, November 23, 2019 When homeowners receive their annual property tax bill from city hall, they’re likely unaware that the shop down the street pays a higher property tax rate—probably much higher. For ...

8. Property tax rates in Calgary and Edmonton much higher for businesses than residents

   Appeared in the Calgary Sun, November 21, 2019 In recent years, Calgary has learned the hard way about relying too heavily on the commercial property tax base to fund local services. Due to the significant drop in downtown commercial real estate values, ...

9. Squamish Nation’s bold housing plans put Vancouver City Hall to shame

   Appeared in the Globe and Mail, November 7, 2019 What happens when you remove onerous regulations that prevent new homes from getting built where they’re needed most? Just ask the Squamish Nation, which recently doubled the size of a planned residential ...

10. Ford government backtracks on amalgamation—which is good news for municipal accountability

    The Ford government recently announced it would no longer consider forced municipal amalgamations in Ontario, following recommendations from a review the government commissioned earlier this year. This is good news for local governance, ...