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Wednesday, May 14, 2025

BC NDP’s latest 2,600 homes announcement are “glorified rentals” explains realtor

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa, True North Wire
-
Source: Facebook

Premier David Eby’s latest housing announcement ahead of the election has drawn mixed reactions with some realtors expressing doubt about whether the plan to offer “glorified rentals” in the form of long-term leases will address British Columbia’s housing crisis. 

In an interview with True North, Vancouver realtor and housing expert Jay Coupar raised concerns about the pricing and long-term value of the 99-year leasehold homes being billed as a “homeownership dream” by the BC NDP government. Coupar also hosts a YouTube channel where he discusses housing in Canada at length. 


The BC government said taxpayers will subsidize 40% of the home’s cost with the stipulation that buyers pay back the financing upon resale of the property or after 25 years of ownership in the form of a second mortgage. The deal was done in partnership with MST Nations, on whose land the homes will be constructed. 

The government has priced one-bedroom units in the development at $850,000, with subsidies bringing the cost down to $510,000 for qualifying buyers. Two-bedroom units are priced at $1.3 million, and three-bedrooms at $1.5 million before subsidies. According to Coupar, these prices are too high for a leasehold property, which doesn’t offer the same value as freehold ownership.

“I wouldn’t pay those prices. You can get a good-quality, freehold one-bedroom for mid-$700,000, maybe $800,000 brand new,” said Coupar. “Unless you’re getting a 50% discount, it’s not worth it. The only leasehold I ever sold was for a client whose son was going to UBC. Money wasn’t an issue for him.”

One of the main concerns is the nature of the leasehold agreements, which give buyers ownership of the building but not the land it sits on. The land remains under First Nations ownership for the 99-year lease period.

“It’s a 99-year lease, so you don’t fully own the property,” said Coupar. “I always steer clients away from leasehold.”

According to Coupar, leaseholds often appreciate more slowly than freehold properties, leading to what Coupar calls a “glorified rental” rather than a long-term investment.

Securing a mortgage for a leasehold property can also be more difficult. Banks typically require larger down payments, and buyers may face additional hurdles when applying for financing.

“It’s tougher. You usually need a larger down payment,” said Coupar. “The issue is that leaseholds don’t appreciate the same way freeholds do. So while they market it as a 40% discount, it’s more like a glorified rental.”

Some have compared the announcement to Singapore’s housing model, where many residents lease their homes. Some NDP supporters have pointed to Singapore as an example of how affordable housing can be managed, but Coupar remains unconvinced.

“I had an interesting comment from an NDP supporter yesterday. They mentioned the Singapore model for affordable housing, but I just had a client return from Singapore, and he said housing is insanely expensive there, even more so than in Vancouver,” said Coupar. “In Singapore, 90% of people lease their homes, and only the ultra-wealthy can afford freehold properties. So, it’s not a silver bullet for affordable housing.”

Additionally, buyers will be burdened with further costs not fully disclosed in the initial announcement by the BC government. 

“There will definitely be strata fees. Who knows what it’ll be by the time these developments are completed,” he said.

Murder rates up in five of Canada’s nine largest cities last year: report

By
Quinn Patrick, True North Wire
-
Source: Facebook

Canada’s major cities are becoming increasingly dangerous places to live as they continue to see increases in sexual assault and violent crime rates, according to a new study from the Macdonald Laurier Institute.

The Canadian think tank released its Urban Violent Crime Report on Tuesday, which revealed that the country’s city streets are becoming increasingly unsafe.

The report used police-reported violent crime data recorded from 2014 to 2023 and found that murder was up in five of Canada’s nine biggest urban population centres in 2023.

“We analyze 10 years of police-reported violent crime data on homicide, aggravated assault, sexual assault, and robbery in order to explore violent crime trends in nine major cities that comprise one-third of the Canadian population,” reads the report.

Those cities include Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Peel Region, Toronto, York Region, Ottawa, and Montreal.

There has been a sharp rise in violent sexual assaults in the Greater Toronto Area in recent years, with the rate nearly doubling in York Region from 2016 to 2023, increasing from 28 to 55.2 per 100,000. 

Peel Region also saw over a 30% rise in sexual assaults, going from 38 to 52 per 100,000. 

However, it was Edmonton and Winnipeg that had the highest level of sexual assaults in Canada, with over 100 per 100,000. 

“Sexual assaults were up in every city we looked at,” the report’s co-author Dave Snow told National Post in an interview. “This was by far our most consistent finding.”

There was a major crimesurge in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, including violent acts of robbery, such as carjacking and muggings, which steadily increased into last year. 

Every major city across the country saw a jump in robberies last year except for Vancouver.

However, Snow says, “we can’t blame (the spike in robberies) on COVID anymore” as pandemic lockdowns were lifted in March 2022, while the trend of increased personal thefts only became exacerbated the following year.

That spike was most felt in Winnipeg, which was home to a robbery rate that nearly tripled the rate of any other major city last year, with 305.9 of 100,000 residents falling prey to the city’s growing problem.  

According to the report, Winnipeg was Canada’s most dangerous city last year, with a  murder rate of 5.97 per 100,000.

However, Edmonton reported the most aggravated assaults of anywhere in the country, at 38.72 per 100,000.

Excluding Toronto, city crime trended upward in a westward fashion, as western cities saw the highest levels of crime. 

MacDonald-Laurier Institute deputy director of domestic policy Peter Copeland said the report’s statistics should have policymakers rethinking sentencing guidelines in regard to violent offences.  

“While governments need to address various factors affecting crime — such as improving rehabilitation programs — stronger sentences for the most serious crimes are also an important aspect of criminal justice reform,” Copeland told the National Post. 

He also addressed the fact that courts have become more likely to overturn mandatory minimum sentences in recent years.

“In the absence of judicial or sentencing reform, a future federal government may consider the use of a tool like the notwithstanding clause,” said Copeland. 

Federal firearms buyback cost rises by tens of millions with zero guns collected

By
Isaac Lamoureux, True North Wire
-
Source: pm.gc.ca

The Liberals’ firearm buyback program has seen its cost rise by the tens of millions but has still failed to collect a single gun.

Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Don Plett, shared a post to X on Thursday where another senator questioned Minister of Public Safety Dominic LeBlanc about the program.

Plett revealed that the buyback program has cost Canadian taxpayers at least $67 million so far. Of that price tag, $11.5 million of taxpayer dollars have been spent on consultants the Liberals refuse to identify.

When Plett asked the government representative in the Senate Marc Gold whether he would table the contracts, Gold refused.  

“This is an incredible amount of money to spend on a program that doesn’t yet exist, which ultimately targets licensed, trained, law-abiding gun owners – not criminals,” said Plett. 

CEO and executive director of the Canadian Coalition for Firearms Rights, Rod Giltaca, told True North that the problem with the Liberals’ use of consultants is nothing new.

“I think Canadians have become desensitized to the numbers they see, but this cost alone could have made a difference in public safety if it were used responsibly,” he said. 

LeBlanc saw things differently.

“I don’t share your view that we’re targeting law-abiding gun owners,” he said. “Canadians support these measures. We’re proud of the program that we’re going to launch. It was a commitment we made to Canadians in an election, and we’ve done a lot of good work in getting this ready, and I look forward to launching the details of the buyback program in the coming weeks.”

True North has been covering the Liberals’ buyback program since 2021, following the federal government’s order-in-council banning 1,500 types of firearms in May 2020. While the cost has risen by the millions and tens of millions per year, no guns have been collected. The Liberal government’s failed long gun registry from the 1990s was supposed to cost $2 million and ended up costing $2 billion.

The Parliamentary Budget Officer calculated in 2021 that the buyback program would cost over $750 million to compensate firearm owners. 

Giltaca said that the Liberals’ approach to gun control has been destroying the relationship between law-abiding gun owners, the federal government, and the RCMP.

“The Liberals’ approach to firearm-related violence couldn’t have been worse. Firearm-related violence has gone through the roof; the data is very clear,” said Giltaca.

“Contrary to what the Liberal government, the NDP, the Bloc, or anti-gun groups say, 95% of everything the Liberals have done since 2015 affects exclusively licensed gun owners and has no effect on the lives or operations of criminals,” he said. “No serious expert would dispute this.”

The cost of the gun buyback program reached $42 million back in Mar. 2024. 

The federal government enlisted the Canadian Sporting Arms and Ammunition Association to assist in retrieving banned firearms from retailers. However, the CSAAA has criticized the Liberals’ understanding of firearms, describing it as limited in scope.

Canada Post refused to collect firearms under the Liberals’ buyback program. 

Giltaca said that the buyback is an enormous undertaking and the fact that the Liberals have failed to implement it is not a surprise.

“The surprising part is that they haven’t been able to complete the retailer buyback. These are willing participants that possess invoices for exactly what they paid for these firearms, and the government knows where all these businesses are as they are licensed,” said Giltaca. “I’m sure there’s more to the story than what we see on the surface.”

The Liberals previously extended the amnesty order for owners of prohibited firearms until Oct. 30, 2025, just weeks before the latest possible date of the next federal election.

Giltaca said that he doesn’t think the Liberals will complete the buyback before an election or whether they’ll even complete the retail aspect before they leave office.

“The Liberals will attempt to pivot their failure into an election promise,” said Giltaca. “It’s bait and red meat for their base at the same time.”

The Alberta Roundup | Can Alberta handle Trudeau’s mass immigration policies?

By
Isaac Lamoureux
-
Source: Facebook

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith delivered her Fall 2024 address this week, announcing more emergency school funding to address the influx of immigrants into the province. However, she’s warning Albertans that this emergency funding may still not be enough to keep up with the Trudeau government’s mass immigration policies.

Plus, is Calgary’s Green Line LRT salvageable? Due to poor planning, the project costs have somehow increased to $6.2 billion and the LRT route has been slashed in half. The original cost of the project, which was spearheaded by former Calgary mayor and now NDP leader Naheed Nenshi, was $4.65 billion.

And all eyes are on Premier Smith as she decides whether or not to allow Jennifer Johnson back into the UCP caucus. Johnson has made global headlines this week, as her confrontation with a transgender individual went viral.

These stories and more on The Alberta Roundup with your new host, Isaac Lamoureux!

Alleged terrorist did not raise red flags for federal officials 

By
Quinn Patrick, True North Wire
-
Source: CPAC

A Pakistani man who was arrested in Quebec near the US border over an alleged terrorist plot earlier this month is said to have raised no red flags for immigration officials, according to records presented during a parliamentary inquiry on Thursday. 

Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, a 20-year-old foreign student residing in Canada was arrested on September 6 in Ormstown, Quc. as he attempted to enter the US border with plans to carry out an Islamic State-inspired terrorist attack against Jews living in New York.

Khan’s arrest was on a U.S. extradition warrant, which led to him being charged with attempting to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization.

The F.B.I. later confirmed that Khan had told undercover officers that he intended to “slaughter” Jews in New York City on or around Oct. 7, marking the anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel. 

Following his arrest, the Conservatives called on the Trudeau government to explain how a Pakistani man arrested over an alleged ISIS terror plot was allowed into Canada to begin with. 

“Given what we’ve recently learned about one alleged ISIS terrorist being let into Canada, the Trudeau Government must be open and transparent with Canadians to answer how and when Muhammad Shahzeb Khan was able to gain entry to Canada and whether there were any early warning signs,” Conservative Deputy Leader Melissa Lantsman told True North earlier this month. 

The parliamentary inquiry began on Thursday and saw government officials presenting a declassified chronology of Khan’s immigration file before the House of Commons national security committee. 

The committee gathered to also discuss a separate case involving Ahmed Eldidi and his 26-year-old son Mostafa Eldidi were arrested by the RCMP and charged with conspiring to commit a terrorist attack on behalf of the Islamic State in July. 

The two planned a terrorist attack in Toronto which was thwarted following a tip by French authorities, who warned the Canadian Security and Intelligence Service about the plot. Both had previously immigrated to Canada from Egypt.

“Your government has brought in a student visa holder from Pakistan who is alleged to be a terrorist,” Conservative MP Raquel Dancho said to Immigration Minister Marc Miller on Thursday,. 

Miller said that despite these immigration processes now being under bureaucratic review, “we are confident in our security screening.”

The legislative committee voted in favour of exploring both these cases in public and at greater length, with plans to summon federal security and immigration officials to testify at upcoming hearings.

However, according to the declassified chronology documents, Khan’s initial security assessment “did not identify any risk indicators,” to federal immigration officials.

This led to Khan’s application not being “referred for comprehensive security screening by Canadian Security Intelligence Service and Canada Border Services Agency.”

Canada’s security agencies only began to regard him as an imminent threat recently after “the RCMP and CSIS received information about the subject’s alleged intent to carry out a terrorist attack in the U.S. As a result, a criminal national-security investigation was initiated,” the chronology reads.

Khan’s counterterrorism probe was still in its early phases at the time of his arrest.

“The subject was apprehended by Canadian law enforcement authorities while attempting to illegally cross southbound from Canada to the United States between the ports (i.e. not at an official border crossing point),” the documents reads. 

OP-ED: Why Israel cannot afford to lose the War in Gaza

By
Dotan Rousso
-
Source: Unsplash

The stakes in Israel’s ongoing conflict with Hamas extend far beyond the immediate battlefield. The consequences of losing this war are profound and multi-faceted, threatening not only Israel’s security but its very existence.

A defeat in Gaza would embolden Israel’s adversaries, transforming the long-held vision of eliminating Israel from a distant aspiration into a feasible strategy. For decades, groups like Hamas and Hezbollah have harboured the goal of Israel’s destruction. While this vision has often seemed far-fetched, a clear defeat would give these enemies reason to believe that their dreams of annihilation are achievable.

As Winston Churchill aptly noted during World War II, “Victory at all costs…for without victory, there is no survival.” For Israel, this sentiment rings especially true. A loss would signal weakness and invite further aggression from those who wish to see the end of the Jewish state.

The psychological impact of a defeat would be equally damaging. The people of Israel place their trust in their government and military to safeguard their lives. The horrific events of October 7th, where hundreds of civilians were brutally murdered by Hamas, have already shaken this trust. If Israel were to lose the war, it would likely lead to a severe erosion of confidence in the state’s ability to protect its citizens.

The fear of ongoing vulnerability could drive many Israelis to consider emigration, leaving behind a homeland they no longer believe can provide the safety they need.

Moreover, if Hamas remains in power following a defeat, the implications for future security are dire. Hamas would view such an outcome as a significant victory, likely leading them to escalate their attacks and enhance their capabilities. The October 7th massacre, already a dark chapter in Israel’s history, could be surpassed by even more devastating acts of violence. The cycle of violence would continue, with Israel facing an ongoing threat of larger and more brutal attacks.

A loss in Gaza would also jeopardize the delicate process of peace-building with Arab nations. Countries like Saudi Arabia, which have been contemplating normalization of relations with Israel, may reconsider their positions. They could perceive a weakened Israel as an unreliable partner and choose to align themselves with other regional actors. This shift would undermine the progress made toward peace and stability in the Middle East, potentially leading to greater regional instability and a more entrenched conflict.

Finally, a defeat would set a dangerous precedent, potentially encouraging other militant groups to adopt similar tactics. The October 7th attack was not merely a military operation but a calculated act of terror intended to demoralize and destabilize Israel. If such tactics are seen as effective, they could become a more common strategy among Israel’s enemies, leading to increased bloodshed and further destabilization in the region.

In sum, the stakes in the conflict with Hamas are extraordinarily high. Israel cannot afford to lose this war. The potential consequences—a strengthened adversary, a loss of public confidence, an emboldened Hamas, jeopardized peace efforts, and the normalization of terror tactics—are too severe to ignore.

As Churchill’s words resonate, Israel’s goal must be clear: “Victory at all costs.” For Israel, this is not merely about winning a military conflict but about ensuring the continued survival and stability of the state.

Dotan Rousso was born and raised in Israel and holds a Ph.D. in Law. He is a former criminal prosecutor in Israel. He currently lives in Alberta and teaches Philosophy at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT).

Canada Post suspends employees who refused to deliver flyers opposing child sex-change operations 

By
Quinn Patrick, True North Wire
-
Source: X

Two Canada Post employees in New Brunswick have been suspended for their refusal to deliver a flyer calling for a provincial “child sex-change ban,” according to a union representative. 

Shannon Aitchison, a mail carrier in the Saint John area said she was suspended without pay for five days for refusing to deliver material from Campaign Life Coalition, a registered national lobbyist group that has been distributing postcards across the province ahead of the New Brunswick election. 

The postcards have accused teachers of “pushing transgenderism” and described gender-reassignment surgery as “chemical and surgical mutilation.” 

Campaign Life Coalition’s most recent postcard said that “no child is ‘born in the wrong body,’” and that “God doesn’t make mistakes.” 

Aitchison, who is the mother of a transgender child herself, told Brunswick News that “the third flyer was straight-up nonsense. God doesn’t make mistakes,’ so you’re telling me my child is a mistake?”

“I just looked at (the postcard) and thought I’m not giving this to people,” she said. 

Although certain material may be objectionable to the organization, its staff or customers, Canada Post is still required to carry it. 

Canada Post said that the content of the postcards didn’t meet the threshold of “non-mailable matter,” meaning the Crown corporation is still obligated to deliver them.

However, five Saint John-area Canada Post carriers opted not to deliver the most recent postcard last week, according to Aitchison, who also serves as the recording secretary for the local postal workers’ union.  

Two of those five carriers were suspended while the status of the remaining three is still in limbo. 

According to Aitchison, two additional carriers used paid personal days to avoid working the window where the postcards were to be delivered, following management recommendation.  

Campaign Life Coalition threatened legal action against Canada Post last month after the national postal workers’ union claimed that some of its employees in New Brunswick had been granted the “option” not to deliver its initial postcard. 

The union has since denied giving workers that “direction” while Canada Post wouldn’t confirm nor deny if it had granted such an option. 

“I am glad that Canada Post, as a federal government agency, is taking seriously its obligation to provide services equally to all Canadians. How it accomplishes that service obligation is up to CP,” said Campaign Life Coalition spokesperson Jack Fonseca, reacting to news of the suspensions. 

He added that Canada Post “simply does not have the right to engage in viewpoint discrimination.”

However, Aitchison argues that the flyer violates the Crown corporation’s Anti-Racism and Anti-Discrimination Charter, which Canada Post employees and customers must adhere to under a zero-tolerance policy.  

“Whoever vet this (postcard) did not do a good job,” said Aitchison, who is now back to work and has been informed that she’ll be reimbursed for her days off.

Canada Post spokesperson Valérie Chartrand responded to claims that its Anti-Racism and Anti-Discrimination Charter had been violated by the postcards by saying that “internal policies cannot supersede our responsibility as the national postal service to deliver items.” 

“Our important and longstanding role to deliver the country’s mail should not be seen as tolerance or support for the contents of any mailing,” Chartrand said. “We are a neutral third party regardless of our views, with limited regulated exceptions on what can be mailed in Canada.” 

TikTok accounts advertise human smuggling from Canada into US 

By
Quinn Patrick, True North Wire
-
Source: Unsplash

TikTok users are now advertising their easy ability to illegally smuggle Indian temporary residents and others from Canada into the US using unofficial points of entry. 

Radio-Canada recently conversed with one of these accounts anonymously using WhatsApp in Punjabi to get more information on the illicit service. 

“We do it every day. It will take one hour to arrive at the destination. From there you need to walk 40 minutes through the jungle,” said the anonymous user, who confirmed that they resided in Brampton, Ont. 

“Is it safe?” asked Radio-Canada.

“Yes brother. It is not our first time,” they replied, before elaborating that the trip would be a “40 minutes through the jungle.” 

There are at least a dozen TikTok accounts currently advertising the illegal service of guiding Indian temporary residents from Canada into the US, promising safe passage via Montreal, Brampton or Surrey, B.C.

The smugglers offer the service for anywhere between $1,500 to $5,000, which can be paid after arrival and some accounts even offer group rates.  

One of these accounts boasts over 360,000 followers on TikTok and appears to be geared primarily toward Indian students living in Canada.

Some videos contain testimonials from previous customers in the comment section. 

“Brother, we have come to the U.S. from Canada. And we have just arrived. We have come through brother Harry. His [service] is outstanding. We have come through very easily,” said one man in Punjabi, covering his identity with a Canadian flag.

Another past customer who crossed into New York State through Montreal in August said that they reached their destination “absolutely safe.”

“Brother Harry made us cross and we reached [our destination] absolutely safe. The way was safe. After walking for around 25 minutes, we reached our destination comfortably. We paid all the money later,” she said.

Such TikTok accounts emerge as the number of irregular entries into the U.S. from Canada has grown exponentially in recent years.

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol recorded 189,402 migrant encounters at the Canada-U.S. border in 2023, up 73% from the previous years and 597% from 2021 when there were only 27,180 such encounters.

US authorities released a statement condemning the practices being carried out by “transnational criminal organizations” that are “claiming the borders are open and offer the northern border as a way to enter the U.S.”

“Smugglers and bad actors continue to spread falsehoods and show complete disregard for the safety and well-being of vulnerable migrants,” said Steven Bansbach, a spokesperson for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

“[The U.S. Department of Homeland Security] is removing Indian nationals without a legal basis to remain, including via charter removal flights.”

The bulk of those apprehended at the border are Indian or Bangladeshi, who were previously living in Canada on either student or tourist visas. 

Parental rights protesters descend on Durham District School Board headquarters

By
Clayton DeMaine, True North Wire
-
Source: Clayton DeMaine

Counterprotesters showed up in force to oppose a parental rights protest outside of the Durham District School Board headquarters in Whitby, Ont. causing police to break up an altercation between the two groups.

A parental rights protest group called DDSB Concerned Parents organized a One Million March for Children protest Friday outside of the school board headquarters to ask the government to give parents more of a say about what’s being taught in publicly funded schools.

The group asked attendees to sign two petitions, one intended for the House of Commons, which can be accessed online, and the other for the provincial government of Ontario, which was hand-signed by attendees.

The petition asked the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to conduct an audit of the education system to ensure “neutrality” of the curriculum by ensuring that “ideological theories are not presented as undisputed facts.”

The group also demanded that teachers who are not licensed professionals not deliver psychological services to children and that parents be fully informed of any changes that affect their children in the curriculum or health-related issues.

As documented regularly by Chanel Pfahl on X, children in the DDSB have been made to identify various sexuality flags, how to use prefered pronouns in French, and writing affirmations such as “My body is the gender and sex I say it is.”

“Education is supposed to prepare young people for success in life,” a spokesperson for Back2Basics Durham, a group participating in the protests, told True North. “Ideologies are for adults to play around with, not to expose children at the most vulnerable time of their lives when they’re away from the care and protection of their parents. It should not be happening in schools.”

Police broke up an altercation arising after LGBT counter-protesters attempted to take parental rights activists’ signs as the event was wrapping up.

LGBTQ activist Matthew Katarincic, 29, spoke for the counterprotesters. Katarincic claimed that without sexual orientation and gender idealogy education in schools, youth who identify as trans’ lives are at risk.

“(The protesters) are completely erasing the existence of queer identities within schools. I am not for parents not being involved in the decisions being made in their children’s lives, but the protection of the children needs to come first,” Katarincic said. “And what we have to acknowledge is that the number of families, especially with the intersectionality of this movement, disenfranchised families, specifically indigenous and black queer people, they go to homes that are not safe for them.”

Katarincic argued that by keeping parents in the dark, schools are shielding children from potentially abusive families.

Lisa Robinson, Pickering City Councilor, was in attendance and believes that while in some cases children need to be protected from their families, parents generally need to be involved in life-changing decisions made with their children.

“To sit there and try and go behind the parent’s back and keep secrets, saying ‘your parents are not going to understand,’ I think a lot of that is a complete lie in a policy,” Robinson said. “We don’t need to be teaching our children in Junior Kindergarten to Grade 5 about somebody’s sexuality. There’s no reason why an adult should be involved in a child’s sexuality.”

Robinson argued that both sides just want to protect children but have different ways of going about it, and the status quote is not the way to do it.

Katarincic believes that it’s the entire “community’s” responsibility to ensure that children are “protected, safe and being their authentic selves,” but not the role of parents alone.

A DDSB student spoke at the rally and claimed she was told to keep her gender identity change secret by the school, a gender identity change she later turned back on, saying it was just a phase.

“I ended up completely ruining my relationship with my mother. And then I decided, okay, well, actually, I am a female, so I’m gonna go back to using those pronouns. And I’m so glad I didn’t switch over, because I feel like if I was in this school generation, they would have switched me over immediately. I wouldn’t have been able to go back on my decision,” she said.

The student now believes that gender transitioning should be limited to consenting adults. Another student agreed and shared an anecdote of her cousin feeling pressured by social media to change gender identities.

Michelle Goodwin, a transgender person and activist, said that if a child says they want to keep their gender identity from their parents, that should be enough for Canadians to know that those children are in danger.

Goodwin said that being trans is not affected by social environment and that trans people are born transgender. Goodwin said if parents are concerned about what’s being taught in schools, they should send their kids to a private school.

In a story True North reported on in September, the York Catholic District School Board concealed that a girl was changing her gender identity at school parents in 2022. In 2023 she de-transitioned saying she was swept up in a “social fad.”

Counter-protesters such as Goodwin and Katarincic believe that gender is a spectrum and fluid and see no issue with not disclosing to parents about a child’s gender idealogy even if the child decides later that they were never transgender.

Premier Eby touts new 99-year strata leases as “home ownership” dream

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa, True North Wire
-
Source: Province of British Columbia (Flickr)

With the provincial election a month away, British Columbia Premier David Eby dangled the “dream of home ownership” in front of voters with a plan to subsidize 2,600 homes available for purchase on a 99-year strata leasehold on First Nations land in Vancouver.

In partnership with MST Nations, the province announced on Thursday a development of the homes at an “initial 40% below market value” with the expectation that the portion the government finances is to be paid back upon resale of the property or after 25 years in the form of a second mortgage.  

“The dream of home ownership has been out of reach for too many, for too long, especially here in Vancouver,” said Premier David Eby. 

“This innovative initiative – delivered in partnership with MST Nations – will help thousands of middle-class people break into the housing market, while allowing government to recoup its financial contribution.”

Buyers will be able to pay a 5% deposit on 60% of the home’s “market value” for studio, one, two and three-bedroom homes on a 99-year strata leasehold. Unlike a freehold purchase agreement, the purchaser will not own the land where the property is situated – meaning the land title will remain with the First Nations. 

The BC government evaluated “market price” for one bedrooms at $850,000, two bedrooms at $1.3 million and three bedrooms at $1.5 million. With the government’s finance scheme, the leases will cost $510,000, $780,000 and $900,000 respectively. 

“We jumped at the opportunity to partner with the MST Nations in this Initiative, and we’re going to keep working to put home ownership within reach and provide more affordable housing options for people,” said Minister of Housing Ravi Kahlon in a press release. 

Stipulations of the agreement state that 40% of the market price will be financed by taxpayers via the Affordable Housing Initiative which must be repaid after 25 years or upon resale. If the buyer chooses to resale, they will be able to acquire up to 60% of the original purchase equity interest and appreciation if they live more than four years in the residence. 

Purchasers will be required to show that they have a net household income below $131,950 as of 2024 and net household assets below $150,000 for studio and one bedrooms. That threshold increases to $191,910 annual household income and $250,000 in assets for two or more bedroom homes. 

Buyers are also required to be Canadian citizens or permanent residents and have resided in BC for 24 consecutive months.

The BC government also prohibits anyone who owns “an interest in any other property anywhere else in the world” from the purchase agreement although no details were provided on how buyers will be vetted. 

True North reached out to the Ministry of Housing for comment but did not receive a response.

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