A new report has found that the percentage of empty homes fell nationwide for the first time in 20 years, and dropped in more than half of Canada’s most populous communities.
The report was prepared by real estate search company Point2Homes, using population and home occupancy data from Statistics Canada in order to calculate vacancy rates. Vacancy rates are defined at what percentage of private dwellings are not “occupied by usual residents.”
In 2001, the nationwide vacancy rate in Canada was 7.8 per cent, increasing to 8.4 per cent in 2006, 8.6 per cent in 2011 and 8.7 per cent in 2016. However, the 2021 vacancy rate was eight per cent.
Vacancy rates also fell in 87 of the 150 most populous cities in Canada in the last 10 years. The community that saw the biggest drop was Saanich, B.C. on Vancouver Island, were vacancy rates plummeted 53 per cent from nine per cent in 2011 to four per cent in 2021.
On the other end of the spectrum, St. Albert, Alta., located just outside of Edmonton, was the city that saw the highest increase in vacancy rate. The vacancy rate was two roughly per cent in 2011 and four per cent in 2021, marking an increase of 93 per cent.
The four communities that had vacancy rates above 10 per cent were Kawartha Lakes, Ont., Wood Buffalo, Alta., Fort Erie, Ont. and Innisfil, Ont.
Looking at Canada’s largest cities, the vacancy rates in Montreal, Calgary and Ottawa were largely unchanged between 2011 and 2021. Meanwhile in Toronto, the vacancy rate rose 36 per cent, from five per cent to seven per cent.
Vacancy rates in Vancouver, which had one of the highest rates in all of Canada, also dropped from eight per cent to seven per cent. Seven of the top 10 cities that saw the steepest drop in vacancy rates are located in B.C.
The drops in the vacancy rates in B.C. also coincide with the City of Vancouver and the B.C. government’s implementation of taxes on empty homes. Vancouver first introduced these measures in 2017 in an attempt to cool the city’s housing market, and the B.C. government followed suit with a provincial tax in the following year.
The City of Toronto also plans on introducing its own tax on empty homes in 2023, and the federal government held consultations last year on a proposed one per cent tax on vacant homes nationwide.
Advocates of these measures argue that a tax on empty homes would discourage real estate speculators from buying up houses as investments and keep more houses available for people looking for a place to live.
But despite these measures, housing prices have doubled in the Vancouver area. According to the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver, the typical price of a detached house in February 2012 was $1,042,900 while an apartment could be had for $373,300. In February 2022, the average price was $2,044,800 for a detached house and $807,900 for an apartment.
Point2Homes also says that StatCan’s definitions “have generated some discussions about what constitutes vacant dwellings.” For example, homes occupied by university or college students would be considered empty under StatCan’s definitions, as the agency defines the “usual residence” of students as their parents’ homes.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — No. 1 Texas will start Arch Manning at quarterback Saturday against Louisiana-Monroe while regular starter Quinn Ewers continues to recover from a strained muscle in his abdomen, coach Steve Sarkisian said Thursday.
It will be the first career start for Manning, a second year freshman. He relieved Ewers in the second quarter last week against UTSA, and passed for four touchdowns and ran for another in a 56-7 Texas victory.
Manning is the son of Cooper Manning, the grandson of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning, and the nephew of Super Bowl-winning QBs Peyton and Eli Manning.
Ewers missed several games over the previous two seasons with shoulder and sternum injuries.
The Longhorns are No. 1 for the first time since 2008 and Saturday’s matchup with the Warhawks is Texas’ last game before the program starts its first SEC schedule against Mississippi State on Sept. 28.
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Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette returned to the 10-day injured list Thursday due to a right middle finger fracture.
The move, retroactive to Wednesday, essentially ends an injury-plagued season for Bichette.
He had two hits and one RBI in a 13-8 loss to Texas on Tuesday in his return from a 52-game stint on the IL with a right calf strain.
Bichette also missed nine games due to the calf issue in June.
His latest injury was suffered Wednesday during infield practice. Bichette was a late scratch in a 2-0 loss to the Rangers.
Bichette hit four homers with 31 RBIs in 81 games this season. He posted a .225 batting average and a .322 slugging percentage.
The Blue Jays also recalled outfielder Jonatan Clase from Triple-A Buffalo. He was active for the series finale against the Rangers on Thursday afternoon, the team said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
Falcons wide receiver Drake London was penalized after catching a touchdown pass in the final minute of Atlanta’s 22-21 victory in Philadelphia on Monday night for pretending to shoot in the air, a violation of a longstanding NFL rule that prohibits violent gestures.
London immediately apologized on the sideline, according to Falcons coach Raheem Morris, and did it publicly on Wednesday.
“There’s a lot of stuff going around in the world with gun violence that I don’t think I should have displayed there,” London told reporters. “So, I’m not too happy with it, and (you) probably won’t see that again from me.”
The NFL has strict rules for celebrations and players are reminded annually that violations will result in unsportsmanlike penalties.
London’s 7-yard TD catch on a pass from Kirk Cousins tied the score at 21-21. His penalty pushed the extra point back 15 yards but Younghoe Koo made it from 48 yards out to give Atlanta a lead and Jessie Bates intercepted Jalen Hurts’ pass on the ensuing drive to seal the victory.
“We approach player celebrations as expressions of exuberance that are part of the excitement of the game. Rules were modified in 2017 that permitted group celebrations, including choregraphed demonstrations. Offensive demonstrations, celebrations that are prolonged and delay the game, and those directed at an opponent are still penalized,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in a statement. “Players are reminded annually and it’s part of the player manual that demonstrations that constitute taunting or unsportsmanlike conduct, or delays the game, will result in a foul against his team.
“Also prohibited acts that occur anywhere on the field or sideline include longtime prohibitions against throat slash; machine gun salute; sexually suggestive gestures; or stomping or demonstrations on a team logo.”
London’s celebration came 12 days after four people were killed in a shooting at Apalachee High School near Winder, Georgia. The Falcons hosted the school’s football team at their practice facility last week.
