Nathan Lauster
@lausterna.bsky.social
UBC sociologist, demographer, housing & urban regulation scholar, author, immigrant, blogs at https://homefreesociology.com/
"Basically what the court has said to Mississauga is...you have to go through the exercise, as a government, to figure out what is actually the threat here, what is actually the risk? What is the thing we need to stop?"
Many such cases!
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Many such cases!
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
A Mississauga man took the city to court over not mowing his lawn — and won | CBC News
A Mississauga man has won a Superior Court challenge against the city over a weed control bylaw that prevents homeowners from growing some plants and grass over a certain height.
www.cbc.ca
January 10, 2026 at 7:20 PM
"Basically what the court has said to Mississauga is...you have to go through the exercise, as a government, to figure out what is actually the threat here, what is actually the risk? What is the thing we need to stop?"
Many such cases!
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Many such cases!
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
"Victim of Nanaimo, B.C., RV fire faces long and painful road to rehabilitation" www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Reminded by this story of how those unsheltered in the Vancouver Homeless Count results were MOST likely to report they "felt safe" if they stayed in a vehicle.
Reminded by this story of how those unsheltered in the Vancouver Homeless Count results were MOST likely to report they "felt safe" if they stayed in a vehicle.
January 9, 2026 at 6:02 PM
"Victim of Nanaimo, B.C., RV fire faces long and painful road to rehabilitation" www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Reminded by this story of how those unsheltered in the Vancouver Homeless Count results were MOST likely to report they "felt safe" if they stayed in a vehicle.
Reminded by this story of how those unsheltered in the Vancouver Homeless Count results were MOST likely to report they "felt safe" if they stayed in a vehicle.
Reposted by Nathan Lauster
🧵In my expert opinion as a researcher of vehicle ramming attacks, what has been publicly described in the video evidence does not support the claim that Renee Nicole Good was attempting a deliberate ramming attack when she was shot in Minneapolis on January 7, 2026. 1/7
January 8, 2026 at 9:13 PM
🧵In my expert opinion as a researcher of vehicle ramming attacks, what has been publicly described in the video evidence does not support the claim that Renee Nicole Good was attempting a deliberate ramming attack when she was shot in Minneapolis on January 7, 2026. 1/7
(these are provincial party polling, of course!)
January 8, 2026 at 1:41 AM
(these are provincial party polling, of course!)
No knock on Liaison in particular (where I can't find x-tabs by age & gender), but I really don't trust anyone's polling of the 18-34 group. I highlight some of the variation we keep seeing when I teach grad stats. FWIW, here's Angus Reid on gender x age for BC, where 55+ had much bigger variation.
January 8, 2026 at 1:40 AM
No knock on Liaison in particular (where I can't find x-tabs by age & gender), but I really don't trust anyone's polling of the 18-34 group. I highlight some of the variation we keep seeing when I teach grad stats. FWIW, here's Angus Reid on gender x age for BC, where 55+ had much bigger variation.
Reposted by Nathan Lauster
This year the BC government set the wealth test for the HOG at above $2M, while renters get income tested at around $65k (adjusted net family income) for the full tax credit and get less money than the HOG for e.g. my condo.
(Yes, this is my annual call to get rid of the HOG)
(Yes, this is my annual call to get rid of the HOG)
January 7, 2026 at 5:33 AM
This year the BC government set the wealth test for the HOG at above $2M, while renters get income tested at around $65k (adjusted net family income) for the full tax credit and get less money than the HOG for e.g. my condo.
(Yes, this is my annual call to get rid of the HOG)
(Yes, this is my annual call to get rid of the HOG)
They have other sources of revenue, and they definitely don't just tax dwellings. Lots of other private property!
e.g. Here's City of Vancouver budget revenues (right) & you'll also notice a redistribution of property tax levied AWAY from dwellings (left). council.vancouver.ca/20250415/doc...
e.g. Here's City of Vancouver budget revenues (right) & you'll also notice a redistribution of property tax levied AWAY from dwellings (left). council.vancouver.ca/20250415/doc...
January 7, 2026 at 1:59 AM
They have other sources of revenue, and they definitely don't just tax dwellings. Lots of other private property!
e.g. Here's City of Vancouver budget revenues (right) & you'll also notice a redistribution of property tax levied AWAY from dwellings (left). council.vancouver.ca/20250415/doc...
e.g. Here's City of Vancouver budget revenues (right) & you'll also notice a redistribution of property tax levied AWAY from dwellings (left). council.vancouver.ca/20250415/doc...
Reposted by Nathan Lauster
I cannot emphasize enough what a bad assumption this is
January 6, 2026 at 9:47 PM
I cannot emphasize enough what a bad assumption this is
Reposted by Nathan Lauster
The cities that built the most new housing consistently saw the biggest price drops in older rental units. What can it mean?!?1?
www.statesforum.org/january-book...
www.statesforum.org/january-book...
January 6, 2026 at 9:13 PM
The cities that built the most new housing consistently saw the biggest price drops in older rental units. What can it mean?!?1?
www.statesforum.org/january-book...
www.statesforum.org/january-book...
Reposted by Nathan Lauster
NEW POST
While cities across North America struggle with housing shortages, Edmonton is proving that zoning reform works.
In 2025, for the first time in history, the number of homes permitted in 5-8 unit rowhomes surpassed detached homes. 🧵
#yeg #yegcc #yimby
www.jacobdawang.com/blog/2026/zb...
While cities across North America struggle with housing shortages, Edmonton is proving that zoning reform works.
In 2025, for the first time in history, the number of homes permitted in 5-8 unit rowhomes surpassed detached homes. 🧵
#yeg #yegcc #yimby
www.jacobdawang.com/blog/2026/zb...
2025: The year Edmonton built the missing middle – Jacob Dawang
Edmonton’s zoning reform is working. In 2025, newly legalized eight-home rowhomes drove a record increase in homebuilding, achieved by redeveloping only 0.39% of properties in mature neighbourhoods.
www.jacobdawang.com
January 5, 2026 at 5:00 PM
NEW POST
While cities across North America struggle with housing shortages, Edmonton is proving that zoning reform works.
In 2025, for the first time in history, the number of homes permitted in 5-8 unit rowhomes surpassed detached homes. 🧵
#yeg #yegcc #yimby
www.jacobdawang.com/blog/2026/zb...
While cities across North America struggle with housing shortages, Edmonton is proving that zoning reform works.
In 2025, for the first time in history, the number of homes permitted in 5-8 unit rowhomes surpassed detached homes. 🧵
#yeg #yegcc #yimby
www.jacobdawang.com/blog/2026/zb...
I have way too many thoughts on the FCM advocacy paper on why property taxes aren't enough for municipal revenue: fcm.ca/en/resources...
But wanted to highlight the $107k "municipal investment per dwelling" metric for weirdness (p. 19-20). Like, that's not just supporting dwellings, folks!
But wanted to highlight the $107k "municipal investment per dwelling" metric for weirdness (p. 19-20). Like, that's not just supporting dwellings, folks!
January 6, 2026 at 7:29 PM
I have way too many thoughts on the FCM advocacy paper on why property taxes aren't enough for municipal revenue: fcm.ca/en/resources...
But wanted to highlight the $107k "municipal investment per dwelling" metric for weirdness (p. 19-20). Like, that's not just supporting dwellings, folks!
But wanted to highlight the $107k "municipal investment per dwelling" metric for weirdness (p. 19-20). Like, that's not just supporting dwellings, folks!
The only successful gritty Robin Hood
a cartoon of a fox wearing a hat and sunglasses holding a mug
Alt: Disney's Fox Robin Hood pretending to beg for change
media.tenor.com
January 5, 2026 at 6:48 PM
The only successful gritty Robin Hood
If you're up for run-on funny, Catherynne Valente literally wrote a book called Space Opera which I really enjoyed.
January 4, 2026 at 5:53 AM
If you're up for run-on funny, Catherynne Valente literally wrote a book called Space Opera which I really enjoyed.
New year, new bog.
January 4, 2026 at 1:04 AM
New year, new bog.
Huh. Mild winter so far, so I guess we're doing a little lavender bloom to bring in the New Year?
December 29, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Huh. Mild winter so far, so I guess we're doing a little lavender bloom to bring in the New Year?
"Hey buddy, don't you think you've had enough?" I say to the starling pecking at the suet feeder, while working through my third butter cookie of the morning.
December 26, 2025 at 7:33 PM
"Hey buddy, don't you think you've had enough?" I say to the starling pecking at the suet feeder, while working through my third butter cookie of the morning.
The tall evergreens really stand out like Christmas trees against Vancouver's skyline now, with the latest snow blending to sky in the mountains beyond.
For its part, Sen̓áḵw (under the crane) continues to look like a present nearly ready to be unwrapped. senakw.com
For its part, Sen̓áḵw (under the crane) continues to look like a present nearly ready to be unwrapped. senakw.com
December 24, 2025 at 12:17 AM
The tall evergreens really stand out like Christmas trees against Vancouver's skyline now, with the latest snow blending to sky in the mountains beyond.
For its part, Sen̓áḵw (under the crane) continues to look like a present nearly ready to be unwrapped. senakw.com
For its part, Sen̓áḵw (under the crane) continues to look like a present nearly ready to be unwrapped. senakw.com
To be fair, I attended a Lutheran church in Plano for a little while as a kid (probably AELC), and I don't remember anything like this.
Though I do distinctly remember a plague of black crickets covering the church once.
Though I do distinctly remember a plague of black crickets covering the church once.
December 19, 2025 at 11:20 PM
To be fair, I attended a Lutheran church in Plano for a little while as a kid (probably AELC), and I don't remember anything like this.
Though I do distinctly remember a plague of black crickets covering the church once.
Though I do distinctly remember a plague of black crickets covering the church once.
Nice.
Can you do a quick zoom in on the North Pole?
Can you do a quick zoom in on the North Pole?
December 19, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Nice.
Can you do a quick zoom in on the North Pole?
Can you do a quick zoom in on the North Pole?
Good question.
Fortunately for everyone, that's mostly not my job (I suspect I'd be terrible at it, though I do sometimes get pulled into specific program reviews).
But it definitely should be somebody's job.
Fortunately for everyone, that's mostly not my job (I suspect I'd be terrible at it, though I do sometimes get pulled into specific program reviews).
But it definitely should be somebody's job.
December 19, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Good question.
Fortunately for everyone, that's mostly not my job (I suspect I'd be terrible at it, though I do sometimes get pulled into specific program reviews).
But it definitely should be somebody's job.
Fortunately for everyone, that's mostly not my job (I suspect I'd be terrible at it, though I do sometimes get pulled into specific program reviews).
But it definitely should be somebody's job.
This was always the right approach.
Target the predatory private colleges feeding off international students as part of BROADENING Canada's welcome to those students rather than curtailing it.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Target the predatory private colleges feeding off international students as part of BROADENING Canada's welcome to those students rather than curtailing it.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
B.C.'s Pacific Link College shut down for misleading international students | CBC News
The province has revoked Pacific Link College's certification — just weeks after students came forward to CBC News alleging the school required them to participate in a political campaign for course c...
www.cbc.ca
December 19, 2025 at 5:47 PM
This was always the right approach.
Target the predatory private colleges feeding off international students as part of BROADENING Canada's welcome to those students rather than curtailing it.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Target the predatory private colleges feeding off international students as part of BROADENING Canada's welcome to those students rather than curtailing it.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
"She says that some people who live on their boats do so because they lost their jobs and couldn't afford to live elsewhere..." but those tossed on the shores were mostly abandoned.
Either way, oof. It was a rough night for folks living on their boats. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Either way, oof. It was a rough night for folks living on their boats. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Boats run aground in False Creek after overnight windstorm | CBC News
A number of boats ran aground in Vancouver's False Creek early Wednesday morning amid a windstorm, and it's led to calls for governments to step up and deal with the problem of derelict boats along th...
www.cbc.ca
December 18, 2025 at 3:31 AM
"She says that some people who live on their boats do so because they lost their jobs and couldn't afford to live elsewhere..." but those tossed on the shores were mostly abandoned.
Either way, oof. It was a rough night for folks living on their boats. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Either way, oof. It was a rough night for folks living on their boats. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
December 18, 2025 at 1:47 AM
Reposted by Nathan Lauster
New quarterly population projections are in today, quick update looking at BC. Net interprovincial migration turned positive again, but net overall migration including international migration turned negative for the first time since COVID due to strong net NPR outflows.
December 17, 2025 at 4:34 PM
New quarterly population projections are in today, quick update looking at BC. Net interprovincial migration turned positive again, but net overall migration including international migration turned negative for the first time since COVID due to strong net NPR outflows.