Stephen
@stephenrouse.bsky.social
Economist (one of the good ones)
New housing that's so luxurious you get to pay for your neighbour's sewage upgrades www.burnabynow.com/local-news/r...
Refunding ‘unethical’ Burnaby sewer extension fee will cost $1.8 million
Sewer extension bylaw repealed, but some people will still be charged $11,000 fee
www.burnabynow.com
June 12, 2025 at 9:30 PM
New housing that's so luxurious you get to pay for your neighbour's sewage upgrades www.burnabynow.com/local-news/r...
Was the last one even free and fair? Elon was openly flaunting the few American laws about election spending, and Russia shut down a bunch of battleground polling stations with bomb threats
June 12, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Was the last one even free and fair? Elon was openly flaunting the few American laws about election spending, and Russia shut down a bunch of battleground polling stations with bomb threats
Everything is setup perfectly for when they rebrand all their ferries/routes as cruises
June 5, 2025 at 5:25 AM
Everything is setup perfectly for when they rebrand all their ferries/routes as cruises
It is truly amazing how collaborative & welcoming Conservatives are in Canada: www.ipolitics.ca/2025/04/25/f...; vancouversun.com/news/three-c...
Ford-Poilievre rift on full display as federal race upended by strategic leaks - iPolitics
“If Poilievre loses his seat? He’s done. He’s gone,” said one Conservative source. “And so is Jenni. And if the Liberals win a majority, the knives will be out for Jenni as well. There’ll have to be a...
www.ipolitics.ca
June 4, 2025 at 11:44 PM
It is truly amazing how collaborative & welcoming Conservatives are in Canada: www.ipolitics.ca/2025/04/25/f...; vancouversun.com/news/three-c...
Unfortunately we're only allowed to nation-build pipelines and mines
June 4, 2025 at 3:33 AM
Unfortunately we're only allowed to nation-build pipelines and mines
No, cities all across BC have dramatically increased DCCs recently. For example, Metro Van doubled their regional DCCs in January, and in 2026 the rates will be triple what they were in 2024 (metrovancouver.org/about-us/bud...)
Development Cost Charge Revisions | Metro Vancouver
Metro Vancouver is revising development cost charges for regional water and liquid waste infrastructure, and introducing a DCC for regional parkland acquisition.
metrovancouver.org
June 2, 2025 at 6:09 PM
No, cities all across BC have dramatically increased DCCs recently. For example, Metro Van doubled their regional DCCs in January, and in 2026 the rates will be triple what they were in 2024 (metrovancouver.org/about-us/bud...)
Because they lack market power. So another developer can just undercut them.
May 23, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Because they lack market power. So another developer can just undercut them.
Some local Metro Van politicians like to pretend they're master negotiators, when they really just don't understand the economics of housing
May 13, 2025 at 5:45 AM
Some local Metro Van politicians like to pretend they're master negotiators, when they really just don't understand the economics of housing
Awesome project & write-up! Thanks for sharing
May 8, 2025 at 6:20 AM
Awesome project & write-up! Thanks for sharing
Flashing back to the night of the BC election
April 29, 2025 at 1:18 AM
Flashing back to the night of the BC election
It's been hard for them to resist the mythical allure of Common Sense
April 25, 2025 at 9:09 PM
It's been hard for them to resist the mythical allure of Common Sense
If only there was some kind of tax they could implement to exclusively target the land value
April 22, 2025 at 4:41 PM
If only there was some kind of tax they could implement to exclusively target the land value
But who pays the DCCs now? Total combined DCCs can be more than 100k/unit. Private developers aren't eating those costs, they're just passing them down to new homebuyers
April 22, 2025 at 4:21 PM
But who pays the DCCs now? Total combined DCCs can be more than 100k/unit. Private developers aren't eating those costs, they're just passing them down to new homebuyers
but also United in their Division
April 22, 2025 at 1:49 AM
but also United in their Division
There's a huge shortage that they need to overcome. Every year that goes on is critical, since the rest of the economy is being held down by the ridiculous cost of housing in the meantime
April 21, 2025 at 10:38 PM
There's a huge shortage that they need to overcome. Every year that goes on is critical, since the rest of the economy is being held down by the ridiculous cost of housing in the meantime
Yep exactly. I think the key is to show how much the housing shortage has affected other areas of the economy that directly impact incumbents. Like healthcare staffing issues and more traffic (cause ppl can't live close to where they work/study)
April 17, 2025 at 3:39 AM
Yep exactly. I think the key is to show how much the housing shortage has affected other areas of the economy that directly impact incumbents. Like healthcare staffing issues and more traffic (cause ppl can't live close to where they work/study)
The things I could say...
April 16, 2025 at 7:00 PM
The things I could say...
This Nick Sylvester guy seems super cool
April 16, 2025 at 4:54 AM
This Nick Sylvester guy seems super cool
We need more mom and pop hotels in Vancouver, run by millionaires living in SFHs
April 15, 2025 at 12:07 AM
We need more mom and pop hotels in Vancouver, run by millionaires living in SFHs
BC Cons' 2028 Platform: Canada 👏 needs 👏 more 👏 wellness 👏 workers
April 14, 2025 at 6:21 AM
BC Cons' 2028 Platform: Canada 👏 needs 👏 more 👏 wellness 👏 workers
I get what you're saying, but the original statement still comes off as a bit much. You have a lot more than 30 "experts" who appreciate the work you put in all the time (and especially this week!). Otherwise, they wouldn't be subscribers!
April 13, 2025 at 9:30 PM
I get what you're saying, but the original statement still comes off as a bit much. You have a lot more than 30 "experts" who appreciate the work you put in all the time (and especially this week!). Otherwise, they wouldn't be subscribers!
The updated stretch of the BC Parkway in New West looks so much better!
April 13, 2025 at 3:47 AM
The updated stretch of the BC Parkway in New West looks so much better!
A template that might be helpful here: tinyurl.com/3ft9usr9
tinyurl.com
April 13, 2025 at 1:52 AM
A template that might be helpful here: tinyurl.com/3ft9usr9