Nanaimo Home Taxes To Increase 3.2% This Year

Bestwick and Sherry
Only Two Looking For More Cuts

City Council officially adopted the draft budget, which is not final until May with a tax increase to home owners of 3.2%.

If your home is worth $350,000 this means another $56 per year in taxes, and you will also be seeing a further $21 hike for garbage and water.

There seems to be no real heart on this council to actually hold the line on tax increases.

The fact Nanaimo is quickly loosing it's industrial base with the decline in the forest industry is a future source of increased residential taxes. If someone does not get serious about continuing to tax and spend, Nanaimo will hit the tax 'wall' in a very few years.

Nanaimo Toilet Rebate Program

Toilet Rebate Program Popular

The City of Nanaimo Toilet Rebate Program is once again proving quite popular with a total of $27,175 having been rebated as of March 1st.

It is expected the funding for this program will be depleted in about another month, so if you are planning on taking advantage of some 'free money', don't delay.

If you are counting on the rebate, you should check with the city for funding status.

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board 2010

(Click Image To Enlarge)

Vancouver Island Real Estate Board
2010 President & Board Sworn In

NANAIMO, B.C. – Cowichan Valley REALTOR® Cliff Moberg has been sworn in as the 2010 President of the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board (VIREB).

Joining him will be President-Elect Jim Stewart, and Past President Ray Francis, who were installed during VIREB’s Annual General Meeting and Tech Fair, held February 26th, 2010 at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre in Nanaimo.

REALTORS® on the 2010 Board of Directors include Karol Power in Campbell River/North Island; Ray Francis and Marty Douglas in the Comox Valley; Jim Hoffman in Parksville/Qualicum; Lyle Price in Alberni Valley; Jim Stewart and Subhadra Ghose in Nanaimo; and Cliff Moberg, Jason Finlayson and Guy Bezeau in the Cowichan Valley.

Dignitaries at the AGM included; from the Canadian Real Estate Association, President-Elect George Pahud and Training and Marketing Coordinator Lynn St-Germain; from the BC Real Estate Association President John Tillie and Region III Director Jennifer Lynch; from the Real Estate Council of BC, County of Nanaimo (Broker Member) John Finlayson; from the Real Estate Errors and Omissions Insurance Corporation, Representative Randy Forbes and from the Victoria Real Estate Board President Randi Masters and Executive Officer David Corey.

VIREB represents approximately 1,070 REALTOR® members in more than 85 member offices on Vancouver Island (north of Victoria).

Nanaimo House Prices February 2010

Nanaimo Real Estate
Total Nanaimo Home Sales
Increase 31% Over '09
Prices Up By 14%

Total number of homes sold in Nanaimo for the month of Feb. 2010 numbered 81 which is a 31% increase over the 62 units sold in Feb. 2009.

The average selling prices edged up a total of 14% year to year from $326,301 in 2009 to an average price of $370,747 in Feb. 2010.

The prices on Vancouver Island seem to have not been subject to the same swings as other areas of the country. However, Nanaimo prices still have a way to go to reach their peak of $379,291 from Nov. 2008.

Remember this data is based on averages and does not necessarily reflect the true value of your Nanaimo real estate. For an accurate appraisal of the actual market value of your Nanaimo real estate contact one of the many professional realtors serving the Nanaimo real estate market.

Lotus Pinnatus Unique To Nanaimo

Nanaimo's New Emblem?

The local group 'Friends of Harewood Plains' would like the City of Nanaimo to officially adopt this rare flower as our city emblem.

Apparently the plant is quite rare with about 80% of all plants in Canada growing within the city limits of Nanaimo.

The city parks, recreation and culture department are considering the matter and their report is expected back at city council in the not too distant future.

The Friends of Harewood Plains have raised about $50,000 which they use in their efforts to protect this unique bit of local flora. They removed 13 abandoned cars from the Harewood Plains area in order to improve the plants natural environment.

What do you think? Should Nanaimo have this flower alongside our bathtubs and Bastion?

Midsummer Night's Dream

Click On Image To Enlarge

For more information use this Nanaimo Info LINK.

Protect Yourself From Scams

Don't Be A Victim Of Scams

To protect yourself from scams of all sorts but particularly those involving 'investments' you need to educate yourself and be able to identify the 'Red Flags' when you are considering an 'investment'.

Recently people have finally been exposed who were running ponzi schemes for years and years and have bilked investors of millions and even billions of dollars. The Island even has it's own scammer in Mr. Thow who recently was sentenced to 7 years for stealing an estimated $16 million.

The 'Invest Right' website is run by the British Columbia Securities Commission and is an excellent resource to help people educate themselves about the possible scams and illegal practices they may encounter in the area of investments.

To visit their website use this Nanaimo Info LINK. To check the 'Red Flags' simply click on the following icon.

Athletes 10 - Politicians 0

Why Canada Was
Lifted Up By The Olympics

I am personally not a sports fan, but have always become a hockey fan when Stanley Cup time rolls around, or a football fan on the day of the Grey Cup. However, that is the limit of my interest in sports. I don’t follow players, teams or statistics.

The Olympics was simply a large corporate promotion, put on at the taxpayers expense in my humble opinion and is more about selling product than it is about showcasing (what used to be) amateur sport.

The event is also the modern day version of ‘the circus’ which has been used by governments since at least Rome to distract and amuse the mob. Providing a loaf of bread, a jug of wine and the circus, has been a very effective means of controlling the masses and maintaining civil order for a long time. We simply are too smart and sophisticated in this present age to realize we are living in the same type of society having no real dimension or purpose to it.

We have become a nation of consuming ‘units’ which exist only to consume products we can’t afford. We are being led by leaders with no vision. The best any of them can do is keep juggling figures, spending money we don't have and raising taxes.

Our mundane existence gives very little to cheer about, so when someone we don’t know can hurdle headlong down an iced raceway 3/100th’s of a second faster than someone else, that is reason enough to get to our feet, sing the anthem, wave the flag and cheer our heads off!

Compare that to the excitement of having yet another politician be they municipal, provincial or federal explain why they have to dip their hand a little deeper into your pocket and it becomes evident why we get so excited about athletes.

Athletes clearly demonstrate they know what they are doing, and that they do it very well.

Now, if we could only say the same for our 'leaders'.

Transfer Paper Tickets To Experience Card

Paper tickets no longer have a
monetary value as of April 1, 2010

VICTORIA – With the successful launch of the BC Ferries’ ExperienceTM Card in the spring of 2008, BC Ferries has phased out its prepaid paper tickets for the minor routes.

Customers are able to transfer the value of the prepaid paper tickets onto a BC Ferries’ ExperienceTM Card until March 31, 2010. As of April 1, 2010, prepaid paper tickets will no longer have a monetary value and will not be accepted as a method of payment. BC Ferries advised customers about the March 31 deadline last year and the Company wanted to take the opportunity to remind passengers as the date approaches.

Some exceptions apply. BC Ferries will continue to sell and redeem prepaid paper tickets on the routes without a computerized point-of-sale system. These routes include: Mill Bay – Brentwood Bay; Langdale – Gambier Island – Keats Island; Denman Island – Hornby Island; and Quadra Island – Cortes Island.

The BC Ferries ExperienceTM Card is a wallet-sized electronic payment card, similar to a gift card. The card offers additional features to registered customers, such as loss protection, auto re-load and card pooling, which allows a secondary cardholder to share the primary cardholder’s balance. The BC Ferries ExperienceTM Card is as an innovative product which has replaced the old prepaid paper tickets.

Cruise Ship Terminal In Jeopardy?

Land Claim Could Stop Dock?

The local daily is reporting today that the new chief of the local band has filed a letter which could halt the development of the cruise ship terminal in the harbour.

The new chief ( a lawyer by trade ) apparently feels the development could infringe on some of their treaty rights.

The development stage of this $22 million project is well underway and it is expected they will be calling for tenders in the month of April. However, this latest development could prove to be the fly in the ointment.

Editor's Comment: It could be that stopping this project is not such a bad idea, since it would appear the cruise ship business is as reliable as the convention business. Last year Nanaimo hosted 10 large cruise ships and this year so far there are only 3 scheduled to visit Nanaimo.
Perhaps the business development gurus at city hall need to develop a different business strategy rather than "build it and they will come".

Nanaimo City Council Meeting Tonight

Participate in YOUR City

YOUR City Council will be meeting again tonight to decide policies which will directly affect YOU.

Tired of YOUR taxes always going up? Get involved with YOUR city and let YOUR City Council know what YOU think about how they are spending YOUR money.

Remember in the last civic election those on City Council got about 15% of the eligible vote, which means that 85% of the eligible voters said 'no thanks' to any of them.

Democracy has a much better chance of actually working when the citizens take the time to get involved, get informed and participate in the whole process.

You can attend the meeting in person (which is best), but you can also watch the meeting live either on Shaw Channel 4 or live from the City website using this Nanaimo Info LINK.

British Columbia Fishing Licences

TIME TO REEL IN YOUR
NEW ANGLING LICENCE

Environment Minister Barry Penner reminds British Columbians that another angling season is approaching, and that 2010-2011 Non-Tidal Angling Licences may be purchased before the season starts on April 1, 2010, by using this Nanaimo Info LINK.

The new season licences will be valid from April 1, 2010 through March 31, 2011.
To purchase licences, returning anglers will require their Angler Number, found at the top of their printed licence, date of birth and the phone number used at the time of registration.

If you require assistance in returning to your Angler Profile, please contact the Front Counter BC Call Centre at 1-877 855-3222.

Licences for the current year 2009-2010, which expire on March 31, 2010, will still be available for sale during this time. Anglers should ensure they select 2010-2011 for a new season licence purchase.

Anglers may access the 2009-2011 Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis as well as any in-season regulation changes using this Nanaimo Info LINK.

Hard copies of the synopsis may still be available at Visitor Information Centres throughout the province, although supplies are limited.

The Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC provides a stocking program and recreational fisheries support to encourage public sport fishing in British Columbia. To sign up for their newsletter featuring seasonal information on fishing opportunities, stories and tips on the best of fishing in B.C., go to their site using this LINK.

For more information about fresh and saltwater fishing in British Columbia use this Nanaimo Info LINK.

Canadian Housing Starts Increase

11,300 More Units Feb./Jan. 2010

The seasonally adjusted annual rate of housing starts reached 196,700 units in February 2010. This is an increase from an annual rate of 185,400 units in January 2010, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).

“The gain in February housing starts was concentrated in the multiple starts segment, particularly in Toronto,” said Bob Dugan, Chief Economist at CMHC’s Market Analysis Centre.

The seasonally adjusted annual rate of urban starts increased by 9.0 per cent to 179,100 units in February. Urban multiple starts increased by 19.1 per cent to 89,900 units while single urban starts increased by 0.5 per cent to 89,200 units.

February’s seasonally adjusted annual rate of urban starts increased by 28.6 per cent in Ontario, by 14.3 per cent in Atlantic Canada, by 10.8 per cent in the Prairie region and by 8.0 per cent in British Columbia. In Quebec, the seasonally adjusted annual rate of urban starts decreased by 14.1 per cent.

Piper's Lagoon Awash With Activity

(Click Photo To Enlarge)

If You Love The Great Outdoors & Nature
You Will Love Piper's Lagoon Park

Local shutterbug Sheryl Falls visited Piper's Lagoon Park over the past two lovely days and captured the abundance of activity caused by a lowly little fish.

While Piper's Lagoon will always reward the visitor with it's natural beauty and wildlife, right now there is more than usual activity as a result of the herring spawn.

The first two photos show how the kelp, rocks and everything else is simply covered in herring spawn, which is not just a gourmet delight with our Asian friends.

The air is literally full of gulls and terns who are amazing to watch and wonder how they avoid mid air collisions in such massive traffic.

The Great Blue Heron, American Oyster Catcher, Golden Eye and Mallard Ducks, Canada Geese and Eagles (to name a few) had the airways covered while several seals could be seen offshore patrolling the waters.

The weather on Saturday was perfect and those who went to Piper's Lagoon were not disappointed.