VANCOUVER, B.C.: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on Vancouver’s mayor and council to reject a 9.7 per cent property tax hike released in the most recent budget proposal. 

“This budget proposal includes lots of plans to spend more, but no plans to make life more affordable for taxpayers,” said Carson Binda, B.C. Director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. “Metro Vancouver already has some of the highest housing costs in the country and raising taxes will make homes even more unaffordable.” 

This year has seen record-breaking demand for food banks in Vancouver, as one-in-five Canadians report having to skip meals because of high food prices.

“Too many Vancouverites are staying up at night worrying about the cost of housing” said Binda. “Mayor Ken Sim and the new council weren't elected to make their tax bills bigger.”

Vancouver already has the most expensive rental market in the country. Homes in Vancouver are also expected to increase in assessment value this year, leading to even higher tax bills for many Vancouver homeowners. 

The total city operating budget is $1.96 billion, in 2023. The budget is $213 million more than the city spent in 2022 and $447 million more than the city spent in 2019. 

The city is planning to leave taxpayers on the hook for half a million dollars for every minute of playtime that Vancouver hosts the FIFA World Cup in 2026. 

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