Canada's 'housing bubble' deemed close to bursting

[crazycrazydoesdoes]

Originally Posted by dleung

Lol but I did answer his question, he just ignored it cuz it didn't fit into his butthurt narrative. In fact I was way more generous to his interrogation than Robert Downey jr was the other day

So sensitive! Can't you see that cornholio is merely "stating facts" such as your family is probably up to no good and doesn't contribute to Canadian "society"

[crazycrazydoesdoes]

Originally Posted by cornholio

You will never get the truth. Trust me. All just hard working middle class folk.

Tin foil hats, everyone!

[lio45]

Originally Posted by whatnext

LOL, hardly a "firestorm" and what controversy existed resulted from the revelation that the squeaky clean green image of Mayor Moonbeam hid just another sad middle aged perv who ditched his wife of many years for a plaything half his age.

Oh, and his squeeze, Wanting Qu (I kid you not) turns out to have a tiger mom just busted on anti-corruption charges in Mainland China. How apropos.

Thanks for the info. Interestingly, st7860 just again took something that wasn't about race and transformed it to make it about race.

If my grandpa dumps my grandma for a stripper in her 20s, there WILL be controversy in the family, and the race of the stripper is irrelevant. If you try to bring the focus on the race of the stripper, then you're actually the "racist" one -- the person to whom race seems to matter more than various other factors.

[st7860]

Originally Posted by crazycrazydoesdoes

So sensitive! Can't you see that cornholio is merely "stating facts" such as your family is probably up to no good and doesn't contribute to Canadian "society"

Just because (When there was still a Futureshop there) some (but not all) people could get anything at Futureshop at Park Royal mall, tax free, does not mean there is a licence to complain about it and name that group;.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by lio45

Thanks for the info. Interestingly, st7860 just again took something that wasn't about race and transformed it to make it about race.

If my grandpa dumps my grandma for a stripper in her 20s, there WILL be controversy in the family, and the race of the stripper is irrelevant. If you try to bring the focus on the race of the stripper, then you're actually the "racist" one -- the person to whom race seems to matter more than various other factors.

The Mayor of Vancouver's inamorata is not a stripper, she's a pop star. I'm not sure why or how her existence created a "firestorm".

[st7860]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

The Mayor of Vancouver's inamorata is not a stripper, she's a pop star. I'm not sure why or how her existence created a "firestorm".

She wasn't born in Canada so that sparked a lot of derogatory comments and hate speech, and it didnt help things that the mayor was only recently separated from his wife.

[lio45]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

The Mayor of Vancouver's inamorata is not a stripper, she's a pop star. I'm not sure why or how her existence created a "firestorm".

Yes, of course. My analogy was just to illustrate that just because there IS a controversy, AND the dated individual happens to be of a certain race, does not automatically means the controversy is about race.

If (and that's a big if) a "firestorm" was ever created, I can guarantee that what was frowned upon by the Van public was way more "dumping his wife of many years for a much younger woman" than "dating a Chinese woman". That's the point.

[st7860]

This board is a relatively clean board except this thread lol. Other boards contain plenty of hate speech regarding the Mayor's dating choices.

[lio45]

Originally Posted by st7860

Just because (When there was still a Futureshop there) some (but not all) people could get anything at Futureshop at Park Royal mall, tax free, does not mean there is a licence to complain about it and name that group;.

You guys are REALLY close-minded if you think "there isn't a license to name that group" if there indeed IS a group that can factually be identified.

We fought for free speech in this country. I intend to keep using it. I dislike censorship.

[lio45]

Originally Posted by st7860

This board is a relatively clean board except this thread lol. Other boards contain plenty of hate speech regarding the Mayor's dating choices.

Except this thread? If you think this thread is hate speech, then no wonder you see it everywhere else too.

Plenty of Vancouverites openly complained that the Mayor was dating a non-Caucasian and you are confident that they all would have been okay with him dumping his wife of many years for a much younger white woman?

[rousseau]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Yeah. On this I like post 18 here by kool maudit.

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?p=7002486#post7002486

I mean, we're in a world where it's considered insulting to point out differences, where sports announcers refer to the colour of boxers' shorts in order to distinguish them when one is black and one is white, or one is Asian and one is European.

Saying that ''Canada is mainly white" or ''Germany is German'' or ''most people are straight'' is somehow akin to saying we are going to put together a mob to kill everyone who does not fit that description. Given a lot of the history I can understand why some people are sensitive but sometimes just relaxing can be a good thing too.

Good post by kool and I agree with you, except the record scratches to a halt with this:

"...where sports announcers refer to the colour of boxers' shorts in order to distinguish them when one is black and one is white, or one is Asian and one is European."

Did you miscalibrate on this? Because it's hardly political correctness gone mad for a sports announcer to use the colour of a boxer's shorts to differentiate him instead of his race. Are you actually suggesting that in a more "relaxed" world you'd watch a boxing match on TV where the announcer would say "and the black guy lands a hard right on the Puerto Rican"?

They would be using their last names during the fight anyway. It would only be at the start where they'd say that the one guy is in the white shorts, and the other guy is in the black shorts.

I can't imagine any sporting event where the announcers would say something like "Man United's black back four are just passing it between themselves, but here come Chelsea to force the issue," or "it looks like the Celtics' white players are taking over in the third quarter, Jim."

That can't possibly be what you mean, can it?

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by rousseau

Good post by kool and I agree with you, except the record scratches to a halt with this:

"...where sports announcers refer to the colour of boxers' shorts in order to distinguish them when one is black and one is white, or one is Asian and one is European."

Did you miscalibrate on this? Because it's hardly political correctness gone mad for a sports announcer to use the colour of a boxer's shorts to differentiate him instead of his race. Are you actually suggesting that in a more "relaxed" world you'd watch a boxing match on TV where the announcer would say "and the black guy lands a hard right on the Puerto Rican"?

They would be using their last names during the fight anyway. It would only be at the start where they'd say that the one guy is in the white shorts, and the other guy is in the black shorts.

I can't imagine any sporting event where the announcers would say something like "Man United's black back four are just passing it between themselves, but here come Chelsea to force the issue," or "it looks like the Celtics' white players are taking over in the third quarter, Jim."

That can't possibly be what you mean, can it?

No, I didn't mean that they should be referring to the "Chinese guy" or the "black guy" throughout the entire match. But I am not sure it should be verboten as it sometimes is (with some people anyway) to call up an office and ask to talk to "rousseau" (knowing that he's black for example) and have this conversation:
- "Well, there are two rousseaus here, you wouldn't happen to know his last name?"

- "Hmm, no. But the rousseau I am looking for is black, if that helps you".

There shouldn't be any awkwardness for stuff like that. Anymore than pointing out that rousseau is, say, a redhead.

[rousseau]

Originally Posted by Acajack

No, I didn't mean that they should be referring to the "Chinese guy" or the "black guy" throughout the entire match. But I am not sure it should be verboten as it sometimes is (with some people anyway) to call up an office and ask to talk to "rousseau" (knowing that he's black for example) and have this conversation:
- "Well, there are two rousseaus here, you wouldn't happen to know his last name?"

- "Hmm, no. But the rousseau I am looking for is black, if that helps you".

There shouldn't be any awkwardness for stuff like that. Anymore than pointing out that rousseau is, say, a redhead.

Is it? I'm not aware of that, but I don't work in an office. But I can't imagine that this scenario is something that people encounter all that often.

Probably people err on the side of caution by not blurting out "yeah, I'm looking for Frank, the black guy," because that does sound crude in light of the fact that for some much of our history Frank would have been called all kinds of other things.

If it really came down to someone at the other end of the phone asking me to describe someone, I suppose I would say something like he's "a black man about six feet tall." Now and then I've asked people in shops if they've seen my wife, a "tall Asian woman," and there's never any hesitation if they have (being that my wife looks so distinctive due to her height). In most places in Canada you can really narrow someone's identity down if they're a minority.

Funny, this actually brings to mind an interesting situation I experienced a few months ago. I went to a Tim Horton's in Kitchener to meet a guy to buy something he was selling on Kijiji. It was busy, so I went in, sat down, and texted him like this: "brown leather jacket white guy at entrance."

I don't know why I added "white guy" at the time, it just sort of came to me as an identifier. Kitchener isn't exactly Brampton or Mississauga, so chances are a random encounter with an online buyer/seller is going to involve another white person unless you can see that the name is Asian.

The seller turned out to be black. I couldn't help but find it a bit awkward, and hoped that he hadn't taken been taken aback by my wording. I was afraid he was wondering to himself: "how did he know I was black?" Because why else would I identify myself as white in lily-white Kitchener unless I'd seen or somehow knew that he was black, right? Maybe he thought I was trying to be amusing, i.e. "you're black, I'm white!"

Or maybe he didn't give it a second thought. There's a classic Chinese saying to describe my thinking in this situation: "You think too much!" It basically means "don't sweat it."

Which, I think, is essentially what you, Acajack. And I agree.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Acajack

No, I didn't mean that they should be referring to the "Chinese guy" or the "black guy" throughout the entire match. But I am not sure it should be verboten as it sometimes is (with some people anyway) to call up an office and ask to talk to "rousseau" (knowing that he's black for example) and have this conversation:
- "Well, there are two rousseaus here, you wouldn't happen to know his last name?"

- "Hmm, no. But the rousseau I am looking for is black, if that helps you".

There shouldn't be any awkwardness for stuff like that. Anymore than pointing out that rousseau is, say, a redhead.

I know exactly what you are saying. I guess people are hyper-conscious over doing anything that could be perceived as bigoted or intolerant, so they steer clear of saying anything that could be interpreted as racially charged, even if it is 100% benign ("I want to talk to the black rousseau, please")

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by rousseau

Is it? I'm not aware of that, but I don't work in an office. But I can't imagine that this scenario is something that people encounter all that often.

Probably people err on the side of caution by not blurting out "yeah, I'm looking for Frank, the black guy," because that does sound crude in light of the fact that for some much of our history Frank would have been called all kinds of other things.

If it really came down to someone at the other end of the phone asking me to describe someone, I suppose I would say something like he's "a black man about six feet tall." Now and then I've asked people in shops if they've seen my wife, a "tall Asian woman," and there's never any hesitation if they have (being that my wife looks so distinctive due to her height). In most places in Canada you can really narrow someone's identity down if they're a minority.

Funny, this actually brings to mind an interesting situation I experienced a few months ago. I went to a Tim Horton's in Kitchener to meet a guy to buy something he was selling on Kijiji. It was busy, so I went in, sat down, and texted him like this: "brown leather jacket white guy at entrance."

I don't know why I added "white guy" at the time, it just sort of came to me as an identifier. Kitchener isn't exactly Brampton or Mississauga, so chances are a random encounter with an online buyer/seller is going to involve another white person unless you can see that the name is Asian.

The seller turned out to be black. I couldn't help but find it a bit awkward, and hoped that he hadn't taken been taken aback by my wording. I was afraid he was wondering to himself: "how did he know I was black?" Because why else would I identify myself as white in lily-white Kitchener unless I'd seen or somehow knew that he was black, right? Maybe he thought I was trying to be amusing, i.e. "you're black, I'm white!"

Or maybe he didn't give it a second thought. There's a classic Chinese saying to describe my thinking in this situation: "You think too much!" It basically means "don't sweat it."

Which, I think, is essentially what you, Acajack. And I agree.

That awkwardness may not be super common but it certainly does exist out there.

BTW I've taught my kids to say ''le monsieur noir'' in such situations, which is literally ''the black gentleman'', although it sounds a bit less stuffy in French.

[ssiguy]

Mistercorporate asked "what is the end game"...................the answer is quite simple, there isn't one.

Vancouver will continue along its path of extreme social, political, and economic stratification.

The demolitions will only increase and the destruction of the city's unique architecture will continue at an alarming rate. What many outside Vancouver don't realize is that many of the demolitions are gorgeous houses that have a lot of history and architectural integrity both in and out. Most of the homes being demolished are very attractive and there is no way in hell they would be torn down anywhere else just to be replaced with another house.

Are there complaints, yes, a lot but that will make no difference. There was a recent article about a woman in West Vancouver who was upset the home next to her was to be demolished and an ugly monster house would take it's place. She then however said she was dead set against any limitations on housing demolitions as it would devalue her 1960 suburban house when she sells.

In Vancouver it has become a trap............people don't like the demolitions but will not support stopping them or even slowing them down or even a demolition tax because it would hurt the value of their own property. Everyone knows that if their house is more than 30 {or even 20} years old it will never sell unless it can be ripped down.

The Chinese want big houses that are fung-shui positive {no I'm not kidding} and if coming right from China they will buy the house always with cash and build a new one as it is a very easy way to clean dirty money. The city and its economy have become addicted to real estate flipping and the wholesale destruction of literally thousands of homes to keep the Ponzi scheme going.

The city has built it's economy on real estate in the last 25 years and now it is too late to turn back. Real estate flipping and housing construction/demolition has become so intertwined with the city's economic fortunes that trying to stop it would be like the mayor of Windsor wanting to close all the auto plants so the city is no longer reliant on one industry.

Vancouver is not only a low wage city but a also a branch plant one with no head offices and the high real estate guarantees that it never will be as relocating to Vancouver for a business or person is, financially speaking, a stupid decision.

City Hall and the Province will do absolutely anything to make sure that the real estate speculation continues and along with it housing demolitions in order to maintain its economy.

In Edmonton and Calgary the recent real estate booms have been due an underlying strong economy but in Vancouver it has been the cause of it.

[Spring2008]

What happens when interest rates finally go up? Many real estate and other final asset markets are in a major bubble. Private and public debt skyrocketing, middle-class eroding and the greedy bankers are getting fatter. But nobody wants to talk about that though.

[st7860]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-co...s-reveal-city-s-racist-history-1.2747924
To many people, Metro Vancouver stands for diversity, but there's a dark history behind how some local neighbourhoods and property owners dealt with minority groups.

Early immigrants to B.C. faced not only the hardship of settling into a new home, but also seemingly racist policies — Chinese and Indo-Canadians did not have the right to own property and only got the right to vote in 1947.

In Vancouver, West Vancouver and Victoria, owners tried to use restrictive land covenants to keep minorities from buying land — and many of those covenants remain in place to this day.

Realtor Wayne Hammil recently spotted a covenant in a land title dating back to 1928 when he was putting a Vancouver home up for sale.

"One of the clauses in the restrictive covenant makes reference to not selling to certain ethnic minorities in the world," said Hammil.

[1overcosc]

I don't think such covenants are legally enforceable in today's times, even if they still technically exist.

[st7860]

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

I don't think such covenants are legally enforceable in today's times, even if they still technically exist.

That's right. Its mostly just paperwork and phone calls(ie: a formality) to get them removed or bypassed.