The Vancouver Business Thread - Page 52

rofina · #**1021** Posted **Dec 11, 2017, 4:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by zahav

Sorry for the late post, but the November jobs report came out last week. Continuing postive reports. Year over year, BC had the fastest labour force growth (+2.4%), largest gain in employment (+3.8%), largest decrease in unemployment (-19.6%), and lowest unemployment rate amongest the provinces (4.8%). Canada as a whole has shown great numbers, especially the last 6 months, but BC has definitely stood out. Will be interessting to see what 2017 year end GDP #s are, they are predicting Alberta to the largest % growth (coming off two years of recession), with BC 2nd. But BC could still come out on top. Alberta's employment #s, retail sales, building permits & starts, homes sales, etc have been lower than BCs all year, so if they still do come out on top for GDP growth, it will really show how important oil prices are to their figures. Oil prices have risen this year compared to last, so likely that is why economists are expecting high GDP numbers, because the reality on the ground with all the other economic measures mentioned above are still lukewarm

Given Alberta's reliance on oil revenues for households and government I am astonished at how well the Province weathered the storm.

Real Estate too - hardly a blip down for the level oils been at for years.

WarrenC12 · #**1022** Posted **Dec 11, 2017, 5:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by rofina

Given Alberta's reliance on oil revenues for households and government I am astonished at how well the Province weathered the storm.

Real Estate too - hardly a blip down for the level oils been at for years.

If only Albertans understood this, instead of making Notley and Trudeau to both be 1) responsible, and 2) completely incompetent.

LeftCoaster · #**1023** Posted **Dec 17, 2017, 3:56 AM**

Really?

DOn't let the GDP numbers fool you, it's still a tough time in Alberta.

The GDP 'growth' numbers are merely a reflection of oil going from the low 40s to mid to high 50s. That's about a 30% growth in the price of their biggest GDP component.

s211 · #**1024** Posted **Dec 17, 2017, 6:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

Really?

DOn't let the GDP numbers fool you, it's still a tough time in Alberta.

The GDP 'growth' numbers are merely a reflection of oil going from the low 40s to mid to high 50s. That's about a 30% growth in the price of their biggest GDP component.

I'm with you on that front. Economically, it's nasty bad in Alberta right now. Talk to any major office landlord, and they're on the front lines of seeing all the hurt.

bluefox · #**1025** Posted **Dec 17, 2017, 10:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by s211

I'm with you on that front. Economically, it's nasty bad in Alberta right now. Talk to any major office landlord, and they're on the front lines of seeing all the hurt.

I think the point being made is that the left will always be a scapegoat for "bad times" even if they're not to blame.

At best, the NDP are doing a better job than people give them credit for in Alberta. At worst, who's in power has little to nothing to do with how well or poorly an economy performs. Policies can have an effect but I look at Alberta as an example of self-fulfilling prophecy — people are convinced the economy is bad because the NDP are in power so the economy doesn't perform or recover.

Though I will say *in general* Alberta continues to miss opportunities to diversify its economy beyond fossil fuels so that recessions don't disproportionately affect the province like they have, and only recently under Notley has any attempt beyond lip service been made.

But, of course, by conservatives' logic, the average Albertan should look past the 44 years they were in power and just focus on the two years the NDP have held the reins. It also helps that it's a new party that has absolutely nothing to do with the PCs that governed for so long. (sarcasm)

Feathered Friend · #**1026** Posted **Dec 28, 2017, 6:02 AM**

http://council.vancouver.ca/20171212/documents/a1.pdf

Approved at the last regular council meeting is a new BIA for the Olympic Village and "Mount Pixel" Industrial Area.

s211 · #**1027** Posted **Dec 30, 2017, 6:39 PM**

Mount Pixel. Honest?

If they can get away with that, then I demand that Gastown be renamed the Beard District.

Migrant_Coconut · #**1028** Posted **Dec 31, 2017, 4:09 AM**

"Mount Pixel" sounds like a map from The Sims. Who comes up with this crap???

Quote:

Originally Posted by s211

If they can get away with that, then I demand that Gastown be renamed the Beard District.

Relevant.

rofina · #**1029** Posted **Jan 2, 2018, 5:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

Really?

DOn't let the GDP numbers fool you, it's still a tough time in Alberta.

The GDP 'growth' numbers are merely a reflection of oil going from the low 40s to mid to high 50s. That's about a 30% growth in the price of their biggest GDP component.

I don't doubt it still rough for many Albertans - however, for real-estate specifically I did not see the type of opportunities I was expecting given the level of pain.

Surprising resilience is how I would describe it.

SpongeG · #**1030** Posted **Feb 2, 2018, 9:09 PM**

Motorola to buy Vancouver-based Avigilon for US$1 billion

The US$1 billion deal to acquire Avigilon comes after the company went public in 2011, raising C$25 million at the time

By Tyler Orton | February 2, 2018, 8:28am

Shares of Avigilon Corp. (TSX: AVO) are surging after Motorola Solutions (NYSE: MSI) announced late Thursday (February 1) it's purchasing the Vancouver-based tech firm for US$1 billion cash.

Shares were trading at C$26.94, up 18%, on the TSX Friday morning after the American telecommunications company said it would acquire all of Avigilon’s outstanding shares for C$27 a share.

The deal, which is expected to close by the end of the second quarter of 2018, will see Motorola Solutions take on Avigilon’s net debt.

The Vancouver-based tech firm, which ranks 66th on BIV’s 2017 Top 100 Most Profitable Companies in B.C. list, develops software and hardware for video surveillance.

"This acquisition will bring Avigilon's advanced video surveillance and analytics platform into public safety, while expanding our portfolio with new products and technologies for commercial customers," Motorola Solutions CEO Greg Brown said in a statement

...

https://biv.com/article/2018/02/moto...on-us1-billion

LeftCoaster · #**1031** Posted **Feb 2, 2018, 9:38 PM**

Hopefully they keep the Avigilon brand and operate it as a separate business unit based out of Vancouver. At the very lease hopefully this means they keep the jobs here.

jollyburger · #**1032** Posted **Feb 3, 2018, 3:50 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

Hopefully they keep the Avigilon brand and operate it as a separate business unit based out of Vancouver. At the very lease hopefully this means they keep the jobs here.

That's what they did with Airwave in 2016:

https://www.airwavesolutions.co.uk/about/

s211 · #**1033** Posted **Feb 5, 2018, 6:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpongeG

Motorola to buy Vancouver-based Avigilon for US$1 billion

The US$1 billion deal to acquire Avigilon comes after the company went public in 2011, raising C$25 million at the time

By Tyler Orton | February 2, 2018, 8:28am

Interesting. I seem to recall that the GWL acquisition of the Avigilon building has still not closed yet.

whatnext · #**1034** Posted **Feb 6, 2018, 7:44 PM**

ICBC changes announced today: minor injury claims to be capped at $5,500, however the amount for care and recovery will be increased. A lot of lawyers will be crying tonight.

GenWhy? · #**1035** Posted **Feb 6, 2018, 10:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Feathered Friend

http://council.vancouver.ca/20171212/documents/a1.pdf

Approved at the last regular council meeting is a new BIA for the Olympic Village and "Mount Pixel" Industrial Area.

We're in this catchment area and we did not hear about this. Weird. Thanks for the info though.

GenWhy? · #**1036** Posted **Feb 6, 2018, 10:09 PM**

Apparently it sounded like they only were able to engage 15-25% of those business / stakeholders in the area?

whatnext · #**1037** Posted **Feb 23, 2018, 6:07 PM**

The Government China has seized control of the Anbang Insurance Group, meaning they are now the owners of BC largest chain of retirement homes.

The Chinese government on Friday seized control of Anbang Insurance Group Co Ltd and said its chairman had been prosecuted, a dramatic move that highlights Beijing's willingness to curtail big-spending conglomerates as it cracks down on financial risk.

Anbang had violated laws and regulations which "may seriously endanger the solvency of the company," the China Insurance Regulatory Commission (CIRC) said in a statement announcing the seizure, without giving details...

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/repo...ticle38084877/

officedweller · #**1038** Posted **Feb 23, 2018, 7:07 PM**

Interesting.

Quote:

Originally Posted by whatnext

The Government China has seized control of the Anbang Insurance Group, meaning they are now the owners of BC largest chain of retirement homes.

Anbang also announced it was buying out the remaining owners of Bentall Centre a year ago - unless that deal hasn't closed.
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/repo...ticle30168440/

Do they own any other local assets?

s211 · #**1039** Posted **Feb 23, 2018, 7:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by officedweller

Interesting.

Anbang also announced it was buying out the remaining owners of Bentall Centre a year ago - unless that deal hasn't closed.

Closed quite some time ago. Anbang now has 100%. I wonder if the property will eventually be liquidated.

supercanuck · #**1040** Posted **Feb 24, 2018, 7:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by whatnext

ICBC changes announced today: minor injury claims to be capped at $5,500, however the amount for care and recovery will be increased. A lot of lawyers will be crying tonight.

They should also place "reasonable and customary limits" on how much places like Craftsman can charge. >$1500 to repaint a bumper seems ridiculous to me.