VANCOUVER, B.C.: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation called for a property tax freeze during a presentation to Vancouver’s Standing Committee on City Finance and Services today.

“Vancouver taxpayers can’t afford massive tax hikes from the city,” said Carson Binda, the CTF’s B.C. Director. “Council must freeze taxes instead of taking more and more money from struggling taxpayers and businesses year after year.”

City council has hit Vancouver taxpayers with tax hikes of more than 20 per cent over the past three years.

Mayor Ken Sim submitted a motion to the standing committee on finance calling for a tax freeze in the upcoming municipal budget.

“Higher property taxes would make it even more expensive to put a roof over a family’s heads,” Binda said. “High taxes also make it harder for local businesses to keep their doors open and create jobs for their neighbours.”

Homeowners in Vancouver now pay the highest average municipal property taxes and fees in the region.

The median Vancouver homeowner paid $8,360 in municipal taxes and fees in 2024, compared to $7,340 in Surrey, $6,390 in Burnaby or $5,670 in Delta.

“City council must cut wasteful spending to keep costs down for taxpayers,” Binda said. “Every dollar that’s wasted on six-figure severance packages, million-dollar signs, or FIFA World Cup matches is money that isn’t going towards core services and tax cuts.”