Commentary
Tune in regularly to Commentary on BIV.com, where you can find the latest insight into issues facing Vancouver, British Columbia and Canada
Social housing proposal aims wrecking ball at long-established development guidelines
It is an extraordinary proposal: 12-storey rental housing extensively in Vancouver, with no public hearings. Under the guise of expanding the supply of “social housing,” Vancouver council is...
Support for separated bike lanes remains strong in Vancouver
Just over 12 years ago, Vancouverites who drove downtown first found out that some of the parking spaces they relied upon would disappear and give way to new cycling infrastructure. At the time,...
Proposed broadcast regulation legislation not ready for prime time
In an earlier age – when water was free and you paid for music – there was some reason for a broadcast regulator. Today: not so much, and in the expansive proposal now before Parliament, not at...
Innovation cultivation a key competitive edge in the global market
“Through this pandemic, we’ve become a truly innovative and agile company.” I’ve probably heard that statement 100 times in the last six months. Most of these companies witnessed significant...
Canadians split on idea of bringing back death penalty: poll
In the year 2020, the justice systems of at least 18 countries around the world allowed a human being to be executed for a crime. Most of these individual instances where capital punishment was...
Why B.C. should be embracing the looming longevity economy
What if we embraced aging? The pressure to be ageist is all around us. We live in a youth-minded culture with false limitations imposed on older people and especially on women. Older adults seldom...
Editorial: Evaluating the value of real brand value
Corporate brand value is hard won but easily lost. The COVID-19 pandemic has magnified that reality by exposing weak links in product and service delivery. There are several ways to measure...
City fumbles park community, cultural potential during pandemic
We have in Vancouver 230 ways to deal with the languid, incessant pandemic. They are called parks. They, and we, are waiting and waiting and waiting for civic leaders to recognize and invest in...
Work, money matters continuing to keep Canadians awake at night
In late 2019, when Research Co. and Glacier Media originally reviewed the nightly habits of Canadians, we learned that many of us were not meeting the recommended guidelines about sleeping seven to...
COVID data leak highlights B.C. public’s right to ‘no’
Last week I used the province’s freedom of information law to ask the B.C. Office of the Premier for any records to support, even justify its 30% budget increase this fiscal year. I will a) fall off...