Keeping it Real…

I am a foreign property owner: blog readers know I own a “snowbird” condo in Florida, where I spend most of the winter.

I am not alone.

Over a million Canadian snowbirds migrate to the U.S. each year.

They are not alone.

In my 16-unit garden condo building, there are eight permanent American residents, three Canadian owners, three US snowbirds, one South American and one Australian.

International home buyers spent $56 Billion on homes in the U.S. between April 2024 and March 2025 .. UP 33% from the year before. Foreigners spent $12.6 Billion to buy 19,500 housing units in Florida alone from 2022-2023.

True: some long-time Canadian snowbirds have been selling lately, not just because of Trump’s tariffs/insults/US immigration aggressivity, but also the low Canadian dollar and increasing Travel Health coverage costs. But even those who sell, their units are often sold to other US-state snowbirds.

And unlike the BC NDP government and the federal Liberal government, Florida legislators, city officials, businesses and even most residents welcome the “outsiders”.

So do the governments/businesses/taxpayers of Arizona, California, Hawaii, several other states and the countries of Mexico, Costa Rica, the Caribbean Islands, Spain, Portugal and others.

Why?

The obvious benefit is the hundreds of thousands of jobs (retail, restaurants, bars, entertainment, golf courses etc.) that out-of-state home/condo owners support during the months they visit.

But that’s just part of it.

There’s another little secret why so many governments love out-of-state property owners.

In Florida, for example, permanent home/condo owners qualify for reduced “Homesteader” property tax rates that remain forever based on their original purchase price: “outsiders” pay full taxes that increase as values rise..

So Floridians, unlike British Columbians, realize the huge benefit of having millions of people paying FULL property taxes for the FULL year, while using city/county services for only a few months … or not at all.

That includes schools, transit, social services, health programs/inspections, consumer protection enforcements, police, fire, Courts, environmental improvements, public administration, water/sewers, libraries, arts and culture facilities, public wifi etc. etc. … all HEAVILY paid for by outside investors, SUBSIDIZING to the tune of billions of tax dollars each year Florida government services.

Snowbirds also pay year-round condo fees that cover (subsidize) property maintenance costs, recreation facilities, security services etc. they use for only a few months.

Not to mention the billions in sales taxes they pay on goods services. food, entertainment, tourism when in town … plus all the jobs they provide.

In fact, snowbirds and visitors contribute so much revenue to Florida, there is no state income tax.

Think about that, BC and Canadian taxpayers!!!

Meanwhile in BC, thousands of already-built condo units sit empty (https://www.biv.com/news/real-estate/unsold-condos-piling-up-in-metro-vancouver-says-report-10532962) … and new projects have been postponed or cancelled … because of the federal Liberal government’s foreign-buyers housing ban and NDP Premier David Eby supporting that policy.

” We are not going back to the old model of doing things,” Eby was quoted in The Vancouver Sun two weeks ago. “Under the previous (provincial) government, the idea was if you welcome foreign investment into real estate, everybody’s going to benefit.

“And what we saw was real estate prices became completely detached from what people are actually able to earn in British Columbia, meaning that young people are priced-out of the housing market, and those prices are incredibly sticky.”

Eby did not explain how shutting out foreign buyers, developers not developing, architects not designing, builders not building, elevator suppliers not manufacturing and installing , electricians and plumbers not outfitting, furnishings and appliance wholesalers/retailers not providing … and the apartment stock not expanding will increase supply and bring down BC rental prices.

Or add billions of dollars to municipal bank accounts, from foreign investors who pay FULL municipal and regional property taxes, plus in many cases an Empty Homes Tax premium, to contribute to the costs of the few … or sometimes no … public services they actually use.

Harv Oberfeld

🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦 Check the labels! Buy Canadian! 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦

(Follow @harveyoberfeld on “X” for FREE First Alerts to new postings on this BC blog.)

Well, maybe we should at least be thankful, Prime Minister Mark Carney didn’t wave before the cameras … for the historical record … Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’ signed letter promising peace, democracy and disarmament.

But Carney was certainly impressed!

“I spoke today to President Abbas at length to reaffirm his commitment,” Carney told reporters Thursday in announcing Canada’s intention to recognize Palestine as an independent state at September’s meeting of the UN General Assembly.

That “commitment” Carney said, was from the Palestine Authority “to fundamentally reform its government, to hold general elections in 2026, in which Hamas can play no part and to demilitarize the Palestinian state”.

Most Canadians have long supported an eventual “two state” solution between Israel and the Palestinians, each living in peace and security, side by side. However, realities on the ground between the two longtime foes, including armed conflicts, terrorist attacks, illegal West Bank settlements, extremists on both sides refusing to recognize each other’s right to exist had prevented previous Prime Ministers/governments … and most other Western democracies … from formally recognizing a Palestinian state.

Carney decided not to wait.

“Representations have been made several times both publicly spoken and in writing to me as Prime Minister and representations that I pressed Mr. Abbas in a lengthy and robust call today to confirm his intentions and ability to do so,” Carney added.

He’s dreaming!

The Palestinian Authority is notoriously corrupt, millions of dollars in foreign aid has disappeared into the pockets of its officials and supporters and Abbas hasn’t held general elections since he was elected in 2006! (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corruption_in_Palestine)

Any commitment from Abbas to Carney that things will now will change … even in writing … in my opinion, isn’t worth the paper it is written on!

It reminds me of the historic photo of UK Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain in 1938 … waving his “Peace For Our Time” document signed by Herr Hitler himself … only months before the Second World War broke out.

How naieve can a Prime Minister be!

Well, you say, at least it’s worth a try: if Abbas/PA don’t fulfill their commitments, Canada will just not proceed with recognizing the Palestinian state.

Unfortunately, Carney got duped.

Canada’s intention, based on Abbas’ promises, is to recognize the Palestinian state FIRST ..in September. And then just HOPE Abbas/PA go ahead with their promised reforms and 2026 hold promised general elections and promised demilitarization.

And if they don’t, would Canada later withdraw its recognition? Of course not..

Carney was played … exposing his inexperience and naivete!

In fact, on the CBC News Network, less than an hour after Carney made his historical announcement, the Palestinian Ambassador to Italy (formerly the PA representative in Canada) Mona Abuamara shot down the idea of the PA holding elections.

“An election is not possible because of the occupation of East Jerusalem, so we wouldn’t be able to have elections without a capital, or in our capital and people from our capital being able to participate, not to mention anybody who is on the ballot would be in harms way of being arrested, so we need assurances of having those conditions met first before we are able to actually take on that course.”

In other words, for the PA to hold elections, Israel would first have to give up half of its capital, Jerusalem! ( Not bloody likely … any more than Canada would give up half of Ottawa to First Nations who have land claims for the Capital Region!)

So why did Carney make his announcement now?

First, there were the domestic considerations: rising anger in Canada over the terrible Gaza food situation and destruction; the increasing political power/influence of Canada’s 1.7 million Muslim population; mounting pressures from far left MPs within his own caucus; and the relentless anti-Israel pro-Palestinian one-sided reporting of the Gaza War on Canada’s media, especially the CBC.

Second, Carney caved to international pressures: France, with Europe’s largest Muslim population, 6.7 million, and President Macron’s own declining political popularity, became the first G-7 country to surrender to growing pressures/demonstrations and announce France will recognize Palestine as a state at the September UN meeting; then, the UK’s Keir Starmer, soon promised to do the same, unless Israel stops the war … and, thus, allow Hamas to survive/stay in power.

Carney, who has close relations with Macron and Starmer, decided to follow along, abandoning the long-held Canadian principle that a negotiated settlement/peace agreement should precede state recognition.

Carney blundered.

I agree with those who believe unilaterally recognizing a Palestinian state, while the war against Hamas continues and without a peace treaty, plays right into the hands of the terrorist groups..

“The decision of the Carney Liberals to recognize a Palestinian state now … without peace talks or a rejection of terror … rewards violence, not peace,” Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre commented after the announcement.

What other message could it possibly send to Arab populations, not just in the West Bank and Gaza, but in other vulnerable neighbouring states as well: TERRORISM WORKS!

In fact, that has already happened.

Hamas official Ghazi Hamad was interviewed in Lebanon interview Saturday following Carney’s announcement: “The initiative by several countries to recognize a Palestinian state is one of the fruits of October 7. We proved that victory over Israel is not impossible, and our weapons are a symbol of Palestinian dignity.”

“Without our weapons, no one would be looking in our direction,” Hamad added, according to the Foundation for the Defence of Democracies.

France, UK and Canada waving the white flag clearly is not working.

Germany had a better idea.

“Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, ahead of a two-day trip to Israel and the Palestinian territories, said his government won’t deviate from its goal of a two-state solution, adding that “for Germany, the recognition of a Palestinian state is rather the end of the process,” Bloomberg News reported Thursday.

Exactly!

Recognition of a Palestinian state should come AFTER the Gaza war ends, AFTER Abbas/PA bring in democratic reforms, AFTER the Palestinians hold elections, AFTER the Israelis do too; and then AFTER a negotiated peace agreement.

Carney/Starmer/Macron’s capitulation to set up a Palestinian state without a peace treaty and while Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the PFLP terrorist groups are still heavily armed and vow to fight on, will make things worse.

And not even Carney waving a copy of his “Peace For Our Time” letter, personally signed by Mahmoud Abbas, will help.

Happy BC Day! Happy Pride!

Harv Oberfeld

🇨🇦🇨🇦 Read the labels! Buy Canadian! 🇨🇦🇨🇦

(Follow @harveyoberfeld on “X” for FREE First Alerts of new postings on this Blog. No spam, just First Alerts to new postings on the blog.)