Shortly after the Liberal Party announced that former Vancouver-mayor Gregor Robertson had been acclaimed as its candidate in Vancouver Fraserview—South Burnaby, the Conservatives went into attack mode. Read More
Gregor Robertson, who was mayor of Vancouver from 2008 to 2018, will run for the Liberals in Vancouver Fraserview—South Burnaby
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Shortly after the Liberal Party announced that former Vancouver-mayor Gregor Robertson had been acclaimed as its candidate in Vancouver Fraserview—South Burnaby, the Conservatives went into attack mode.
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The claim
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In a news release, Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives said Robertson’s “failed record” as mayor included increasing home prices 149 per cent in B.C.’s largest city and increasing housing taxes by 141 per cent.
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The Conservatives said this record should disqualify Robertson from running for office for the Liberals, led by new leader Mark Carney, who recently replaced Justin Trudeau as prime minister.
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Sunrise
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What we found
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This needs context.
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It is true that house prices and housing taxes increased in Vancouver during Robertson’s tenure as mayor, a period from November 2008 to October 2018.
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However, housing prices increased everywhere in Metro Vancouver during that time and there were many factors that accounted for the rise, many of which Robertson had no control over.
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According to data from Greater Vancouver Realtors, a professional association, the composite benchmark housing price that includes detached homes, townhomes and apartments rose 114 per cent in the east side of Vancouver while Robertson was mayor. The composite went up 111 per cent in the west side of Vancouver.
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But other municipalities were not immune from price hikes during the same period.
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For example, the composite price rose 120 per cent in Richmond, 107 per cent in North Burnaby, 100 per cent in Coquitlam, 98 per cent in Squamish and 93 per cent in North Vancouver.
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Home prices also rose in other parts of the country and worldwide during the same period.
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In Toronto, the price of a detached home rose 129 per cent and 102 per cent for condos.
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In Sydney, Australia, home prices doubled.
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It is also true that housing taxes increased.
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In this case, the Conservatives are pointing to development cost charges, paid by developers when they construct homes, and not property taxes paid annually by homeowners.
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In Vancouver, these development charges are used to help pay for affordable housing, parks, transportation and child care capital projects.