THE British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports that a total of 7,731 residential unit sales were recorded by the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) in November, an increase of 20.4 per cent from the same period last year.
Total sales dollar volume was $5.59 billion, up 39.1 per cent from November 2016. The average MLS residential price in the province was $723,112, up 15.5 per cent from November 2016.
“November was the third consecutive month that BC home sales were above 9,000 units, on a seasonally adjusted basis,” said Cameron Muir, BCREA Chief Economist. “Elevated consumer demand is being supported by strong employment growth, rising wages and favourable demographics.”
BC employment increased 3.8 per cent over the last 12 months, totaling over 90,000 jobs. Over the same period, average hourly wages in the province climbed 5.7 per cent to $26.82. Against this backdrop, a large cohort of millennials is entering their household-forming life stage. In addition, some buyers are likely completing purchases now in advance of tighter conventional mortgage qualifications, scheduled for the new year.
Year to date, BC residential sales dollar volume was down 6.8 per cent to $69.4 billion, when compared with the same period in 2016. Residential unit sales declined 8.8 per cent to 98,024 units, while the average MLS residential price increased 2.2 per cent to $708,150.
THE combination of a growing economy and a dearth of skilled workers has created a labour shortage of approximately 361,700 jobs—the highest number of unfilled private sector jobs ever recorded in Canada—according to the Q3 2017 Help Wanted report, released on Tuesday by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB).
The corresponding vacancy rate—the proportion of unfilled jobs relative to all jobs available in the private sector—jumped up to 2.8 per cent, its highest point since before the 2008 recession.
“Labour shortages are again becoming a major hindrance to businesses across the country, especially small firms,” said Ted Mallett, Chief Economist at CFIB. “We need government to take action, to find solutions for chronic shortages that inhibit a small business’ ability to take on new contracts, expand and innovate.”
Regional vacancy rates
Businesses in Canada’s three most populous provinces have the most difficult time finding suitable employees. British Columbia has the highest vacancy rate (3.4 per cent) followed by Quebec (3.1 per cent) and Ontario (3.0 per cent). All three provinces experienced rising vacancy rates in Q3 2017, as did Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Industry groupings
Among broad industry groupings, eight of 12 sectors experienced rising vacancy rates in Q3. In terms of unfilled positions, the retail (50,000 jobs), hospitality (45,900 jobs) and construction (38,000 jobs) industries are experiencing the biggest labour shortages.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with Gordie Hogg in South Surrey. Photo by Jay Sharma of Mahi Photo Studio
AFTER seven decades, the federal Liberals for the first time on Monday won in the South Surrey-White Rock riding which had always been considered a safe Conservative seat.
In October, the Liberals had wrested a Quebec riding from the Conservatives.
The results clearly show that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Liberals are comfortably on top even as the new Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer desperately tries to make a dent in their popularity and establish himself.
In the other three by-elections on Monday, the Liberals won in their safe seats in Newfoundland and Labrador (Bonavista-Burin-Trinity riding) and Toronto (Scarborough-Agincourt riding), and the Conservatives in their safe seat in Saskatchewan (Battlefords-Lloydminster riding).
In South Surrey-White Rock, Liberal candidate Gordie Hogg, a former mayor of White Rock and a former MLA and provincial minister, garnered 14,369 votes (47.5 %) as compared to Conservative candidate Kerry-Lynne Findlay’s 12,752 votes (42.1 %). Findlay is a former federal minister who represented the Delta-Richmond East riding.
The NDP’s Jonathan Silveira got only 1,478 votes (4.9 %) while the Green Party’s Larry Colero won 1,247 votes (4.1 %).
The riding fell vacant after Conservative MP Dianne Watts resigned to enter the BC Liberal leadership race. Watts, former Surrey mayor, had won the seat in 2015 by less than 1,500 votes against the Liberal candidate.
Andrew Scheer introducing Kerry-Lynne Findlay in South Surrey. Photo by Vinnie Combow
Both Trudeau and Scheer campaigned in the riding to give a boost to their party candidates.
Indeed, Trudeau, who got a rock-star reception in the riding, is the kingmaker. He made all the difference here.
FOR now, the Trudeau and his Liberals remain firmly on top in the country.
The latest Nanos federal ballot tracking (December 8) has the Liberals at 40.7 per cent support, followed by the Conservatives at 30.3 per cent, the NDP at 17.5 percent, the Bloc Quebecois at 3.8 per cent and the Greens at 6.7 per cent.
Nanos tracking has Trudeau as the preferred choice as Prime Minister at 45.4 per cent of Canadians, followed by Scheer (23.5%), NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh (8%) and Green Party Leader Elizabeth May (6.4%). Fifteen per cent of Canadians were unsure who they preferred.
Six in 10 Canadians (64.7%) believe Trudeau has the qualities of a good political leader while 40.1 per cent believe Scheer has the qualities of a good political leader. One in three Canadians (36%) say Jagmeet Singh has the qualities of a good political leader, while 41.6 per cent believe the same about May. One in three (30.7) said BQ Leader Martine Ouellet has the qualities of a good political leader (Quebec only).
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with Gordie Hogg in South Surrey on December 2. Photo by Jay Sharma of Mahi Photo Studio
South Surrey—White Rock Party / Candidate / Votes / Percent of Votes
* Liberal Gordie Hogg 14,369 47.5 %
* Conservative Kerry-Lynne Findlay 12,752 42.1 %
* NDP-New Democratic Party Jonathan Silveira 1,478 4.9 %
* Green Party Larry Colero 1,247 4.1 %
Total number of valid votes: 30,259
Polls Reporting: 199 of 199 (100 %)
Voter Turnout: 30,259 of 79,359 registered electors (38.13 %) — does not include electors who registered on election day.
AN agreement with the federal government that would see the majority of cannabis revenue flow to the Province was reached on Monday, Finance Minister Carole James announced.
“This agreement is a win for our province as we made a very clear case that British Columbians will bear the majority of costs when cannabis is legalized,” James said. “We negotiated an agreement for B.C. that means the majority of cannabis revenue will flow to the provinces so we can invest in programs to keep people safe and remove the criminal element from cannabis.”
The federal and provincial governments have agreed to a 75/25 revenue split, with the provinces receiving 75% of cannabis-specific tax revenue, and the federal government receiving 25%. The federal government has also agreed to a $100-million cap on its share of the tax revenue. Any revenue collected by the federal government above the $100-million cap would be returned to the provinces.
The proposed cannabis-specific tax will not exceed $1 per gram or 10% of the final producer’s selling price, whichever is higher. The tax will be applied upstream as an excise tax (an indirect tax on producers), similar to the federal excise taxes on other controlled substances, such as liquor and tobacco.
The Province will use this revenue to ensure cannabis regulation in British Columbia protects children and youth, prioritizes health and wellness, educates drivers, keeps the criminal element out of cannabis and ensures consumers get a safe product that they can trust.
Quick Facts:
* The federal government will establish a federal-provincial-territorial committee of finance officials to coordinate this cannabis taxation approach.
* The Province recently concluded a public consultation on cannabis legalization with input from 48,951 British Columbians, and 141 submissions from local and Indigenous governments, as well as a range of other interested stakeholders.
* The Province is working toward a regulatory framework in advance of the July 1, 2018, legislation date.
FORMER Officer in Charge of the Upper Fraser Valley Regional Detachment in B.C., Columbia, Deanne Burleigh, has been appointed to the position of Chief Superintendent and Officer in Charge (OIC) of the Burnaby RCMP Detachment.
“The City of Burnaby is very pleased to welcome Superintendent Deanne Burleigh to her new role as OIC for the Burnaby RCMP Detachment,” said Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan. “In addition to her most recent role, in which she was responsible for the policing of four municipalities, Chief Superintendent Burleigh brings to Burnaby experience from previously held positions as: the Officer in Charge of the Integrated Health and Resource Management Team at E Division HQ; Operations Officer at the Richmond Detachment; and eight years in commercial crime extensive operational. I know that her broad range of experience and expertise will serve our community very well.
“In addition, her focus on collaboration and communication will further advance the Burnaby Detachment’s many current outreach and community partnership initiatives. I am confident that Chief Superintendent Burleigh will be a tremendous asset to our City.”
Additional information about Burleigh, can be found here.
THE BC Prosecution Service (BCPS) announced on Monday that the Crown has filed an appeal with the Court of Appeal for British Columbia asking that the court set aside the stay of proceedings ordered by the BC Supreme Court in R v James Kyle Bacon.
Bacon had been charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit the murder of Corey Lal, one of six people who died on October 19, 2007, at the Balmoral Tower building in Surrey.
In an abbreviated ruling released on December 1, 2017, the BC Supreme Court announced that an application for a stay of proceedings to terminate the prosecution brought by Bacon had been granted, and the two charges on the indictment had been judicially stayed.
The BC Prosecution Service said it has reviewed the decision of the court and in accordance with the BCPS policy on appeals to the Court of Appeal, is satisfied that:
(1) the ruling reveals errors of law;
(2) a reasonable argument can be made that the ruling would not necessarily have been issued if the errors were not made; and
(3) the public interest requires an appeal.
On the appeal, the BCPS will be asking that the stay of proceedings be set aside and that a new trial be ordered. Although the fact of the appeal is public, it is anticipated that further filings with the court as well as some or all of the appeal proceedings will be sealed or closed to the public, given the nature of the ruling under appeal.
As the matter is now under appeal and remains the subject of a sealing order, there will be no further comment by the BCPS on the circumstances of the case, the decision under appeal, or the grounds for the appeal.
IN September 2016, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Kathleen Ker had announced that Bacon’s trial had been put off until March 2018 because of a raft of pre-trial applications that still hadn’t been heard. Also, the defence wanted charges against Bacon stayed because of the long delay in getting to trial.
Chris Mohan memorial
Photo by Chandra Bodalia
Innocent victims Chris Mohan, 22, a South Asian, and Edward J. Schellenberg, 55, of Abbotsford and four other victims who police say led criminal lifestyles – brothers Corey Jason Michael Lal, 21, and Michael Justin Lal, 26, and Edward (Eddie) Sousakhone Narong, 22, and Ryan Bartolomeo, 19 – were executed in typical gang-style fashion at Apartment 1505 of the Balmoral Towers at 9830 East Whalley Ring Road in Surrey on October 19, 2007.
Red Scorpion gangsters Cody Haevischer and Matthew Johnston were each convicted of six counts of first-degree murder and one count of conspiracy to commit murder in the Surrey Six murders and received mandatory life sentences of 25 years with no parole eligibility in December 2014.
In November 2013 Michael (Quang Vinh Thang) Le, 28, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder in the Surrey Six murder case. Initially, he had been charged with one count of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Consequently, a charge of first-degree murder for the murder of Corey Lal was stayed. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison. But his term was to end in less than a couple of years because he got double-time credit for pre-sentence custody since 2009. The Harper government since did away with double-time credit.
Person X, who cannot be identified because of a publication ban, pleaded guilty in April 2009 to the murders of three victims and to conspiracy to commit murder. He is serving a life sentence with no parole for 15 years.
In December 2015, Sophon Sek, who had been charged with manslaughter and break and enter in the Surrey Six murder case, pleaded guilty to break and enter with intent to commit an indictable offence. The manslaughter charge was stayed. He was to serve 285 days in prison consecutively with the six years he was serving on drug and firearms charges.
(L-R) TV personality Tara Slone, Surrey Mayor Linda Hepner, Minister Bruce Ralston, and Surrey Councillor Bruce Hayne.
ROGERS Hometown Hockey stopped by Surrey Civic Plaza for a celebration of hockey this past weekend. The two-day free event featured an outdoor viewing party of the Edmonton Oilers vs. Toronto Maple Leafs game and a live pre-game broadcast with hosts Ron MacLean, Tara Slone and ‘Hockey Night in Canada, Punjabi Edition’.
“We would like to thank Hometown Hockey for bringing this great community event to the City of Surrey,” says Surrey Mayor Linda Hepner. “The two-day event was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate Canada’s pastime, support minor hockey, and offer fans a unique experience to be part of a live broadcast as they cheer on their favourite NHL team.”
Additional activities included meet-and-greet opportunities with NHL alumni Kirk McLean and Dave Babych, Vancouver Canuck alumni autograph signing, live entertainment from Mike Edel and the Chris Buck Band, and Edmonton Oilers’ forward Jujhar Khaira sharing the story of his hockey upbringing in Surrey. Scotiabank’s Scotiahockey program also donated $15,000 to support minor hockey in the city.
For more information on Rogers Hometown Hockey in Surrey, visit www.surrey.ca
Gang paraphernalia that was seized on March 30, 2017.
THE RCMP announced on Monday that on November 30 charges were laid as a result of an investigation targeting drug trafficking activities of Red Scorpion associates in Kamloops.
The charges are a result of multiple operations undertaken by the Kamloops Targeted Enforcement Unit between October 2016 and March 2017.
During the course of this investigation, Kamloops RCMP seized $191,445 in cash, 1.3 kg of cocaine, 56 grams of heroin, 448 grams of fentanyl, 717 grams of methamphetamine, 231 grams of MDMA and 1 firearm.
This investigation led to the following enforcement activities:
Cash seized as a result of a vehicle stop on December 1, 2016.
* On December 1, 2016, a vehicle was stopped north of Merritt and a substantial quantity of Canadian currency was seized as a result of a search of that vehicle. Charges have been laid against the driver, Gregory Wilson of Coquitlam and Brandon Chappell of Kamloops for possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.
* On January 14, 2017, Kamloops RCMP executed search warrants at the Heavy Metal Gym and Chappel’s residence. Within Chappell’s residence, police located another substantial quantity of Canadian currency, drugs and a firearm. As a result, charges were laid against Chappell for possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking and unlawful possession of a firearm.
Cash seized from Chappell’s residence on March 30, 2017.
* On March 30, 2017, Kamloops RCMP again executed search warrants at the residences of Chappell and Erwin Dagle of Kamloops, BC. Within Chappell’s home, police located a large sum of Canadian currency resulting in a third charge of possession of property obtained by crime. Within Dagle’s home, police located and seized a large sum of Canadian currency, bulk supplies of cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl and carfentanil which has resulted in five counts of possession of a controlled
Drugs seized from Dagle’s residence on March 30, 2017.
substance for the purpose of trafficking and possession of property obtained by crime.
Additional operations were executed by the Kamloops Targeted Enforcement Unit following these events. These operations included the arrest of street level traffickers and the subsequent execution of a search warrant into a hotel room within Kamloops that led to additional bulk supplies of controlled substances being seized. These matters have been forwarded to Crown for charge approval against several other persons associated to this group.
On the evening of December 7, Chappell, 30, and Dagle, 23, were both arrested in Kamloops without incident.
An arrest warrant for Wilson, 29, remains outstanding. Chappell and Dagle are from Kamloops, while Wilson is from the Lower Mainland. All were previously known to police.
“Kamloops RCMP prioritize the investigation of violent organized crime groups who traffic drugs in our community. The investigations are lengthy and complex in nature as the targets are typically sophisticated and dedicate their full time to committing these crimes as secretly as possible. This case is an example of the motivated nature of those allegedly involved. Despite overt enforcement action, these drug activities continued on until those involved were eventually arrested and charged,” said Staff-Sgt. Simon Pillay.
Gangs and their associates have a callous disregard for the safety of others when disputes erupt, and potentially, it can place the public at risk, police said.
They noted that the issue of gangs and organized crime is one of the top policing priorities across the country and remains a top priority for Kamloops RCMP Detachment. “Our enforcement activities are intelligence-led. There is a high degree of information sharing amongst all agencies because we are united in our efforts to keep our communities safe and committed to holding those responsible for the violence, accountable,” they said.
THE B.C. Liberals said on Monday that the government’s decision to move forward with Site C ends months of uncertainty for over 2,000 families left waiting by the NDP to see if they would have jobs this Christmas.
“The NDP created another needless review that threatened more than 2,000 jobs, solely for political reasons – to ensure the Greens continue to prop up the NDP government,” said Mike Bernier, MLA for Peace River South. “Today, though, is a great day for the First Nations, communities and businesses that depend on Site C to make a living to support themselves and their families.”
It is clear that Site C is a vital infrastructure project that will provide clean, affordable power for 100 years, continued economic growth and play a significant part in the province meeting its climate change goals, said the B.C. Liberals.
“We will be watching carefully to make sure there are no unnecessary costs that British Columbians will have to pay for on this project like past NDP-led projects, such as the Island Highway which faced extra costs,” said Tracy Redies, BC Hydro critic and MLA for Surrey-White Rock. “The NDP now need to let BC Hydro and the thousands of workers on site do their jobs and finish this project so our province can have clean, reliable energy for generations to come and meet our climate action targets under the Paris accord.”
THE British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports that a total of 7,731 residential unit sales were recorded by the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) in November, an increase of 20.4 per cent from the same period last year.
British Columbia has the highest vacancy rate
