Our Jordan Bateman gives you the heads-up on BC’s housing naughty list, Alberta cities’ $1 billion ask, and the fallacy of government EV targets.
🏠 After years of study, and identifying 10 BC municipalities on their “Naughty List,” the Eby Government finally got around to announcing how many housing units they expect those 10 cities (ranging from tiny Oak Bay to huge Vancouver) must build over the next five years. The answer: just a fraction more than they did over the past five years. Oh, and no commitment to those cities for more infrastructure dollars. This feels like a nothing burger… And now we have breaking news from the Trudeau Government that they are backing off on housing accelerator fund dollars for two Lower Mainland projects, because Metro Vancouver is jacking up Development Cost Charges.
💰 Meanwhile, Alberta Municipalities are meeting in Edmonton and are asking for $1 billion from the Smith Government for infrastructure. Says St. Albert mayor Cathy Heron: “It’s either raise taxes significantly, or stop building, stop maintaining, stop repairing.” Premier Smith speaks Friday morning, but no word if she’s bringing the Alberta chequebook with her.
⚡️ On the heels of hearing Vaclav Smil debunk the west’s ability to get to net zero carbon emissions within decades, comes this Fraser Institute study showing how Prime Minister Trudeau’s and President Biden’s electric vehicle goals are completely unachievable. Trudeau wants 60% EVs by 2030, and 100% by 2035. Biden wants 67% by 2032. NOT GONNA HAPPEN, FOLKS, when we’re at 6.5% today, and the USA is at 3.4%. Drivers are gravitating toward hybrids, and no amount of government intervention – not even billions in subsidies – is changing that.
