Canada’s World Cup win brings playoff matches closer to Vancouver; Karin and Eby announced a $3.2 billion plan to buy unsold condos; Premier Eby called a possible “Vancouver Whitecaps” move to Las Vegas a tragedy.
Canada’s World Cup win boosts the odds of playoff matches in Vancouver
Canada’s resounding group-stage win over Qatar at the FIFA World Cup not only brings the team closer to a historic trip to the knockout rounds, but also significantly increases the likelihood that fans in Vancouver will see even more games featuring the host nation.
As reported by Castanet, if the Canadians draw or beat Switzerland on Wednesday at BC Place, the same venue will also host a playoff match featuring the Canadian team on July 2. If BC Place delivers a second straight success, it will also be the site of the round of 16 game on July 7.
These meetings could become some of the biggest sporting events Vancouver has ever hosted on the international stage. They are being compared to the 2010 Olympic hockey tournament final, though football’s global scale could give them even wider reach. Ahead of Canada’s decisive match against Switzerland, Vancouver will also host a Sunday group-stage game between Egypt, led by superstar Mohamed Salah, and New Zealand, the tournament’s weakest team.
British Columbia Premier David Eby admitted that he “lost his voice” cheering on Canada during their rout of Qatar 6-0, and said he hopes for even more games featuring the hosts in Vancouver. “We were hoping for the win, and the team exceeded all our expectations. Now we just want more,” he said at a press conference on Friday. Eby added that the atmosphere in Vancouver was electric, and the province wants more.
For context: playoff matches are elimination games, where the losing team is sent home. As a result, the Canadian team—which had never previously made it out of the group—now has a real chance not only to clear that hurdle, but to deliver an unforgettable knockout-round spectacle for fans in Vancouver.
$3.2 billion to buy unsold homes: Carney and Eby unveil a plan to rescue B.C.’s housing market
Canada’s prime minister Mark Carney, together with B.C. Premier David Eby, announced a major support program for developers. It includes both direct subsidies for construction fees and the purchase of unsold condos to turn them into affordable housing. The announcement was made in Vancouver amid towers where two-bedroom units cost nearly $1.1 million.
At the core of the initiative is “unfreezing” the province’s housing market, which has been hit by a record number of unsold new builds and, at the same time, a crisis in affordability for ordinary residents.
The federal government will provide $1.6 billion over 10 years, while the province will add the same amount—bringing the total to $3.2 billion. The money will go toward reducing the so-called Development Cost Charges (DCCs) for apartment buildings in “priority communities.”
The charges can be cut by up to 50%, for savings of as much as $40,000 per condo. Right now, DCCs are the fees developers pay to regional municipalities for infrastructure development—water, sewage, and roads. In effect, taxpayers will shoulder part of costs that previously fell to developers.
Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley, who voted against a similar subsidy at the Metro Vancouver level, called it “devil in the details,” and pointed to the principle that “growth should pay for growth.” However, Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West supported the measure as a compromise in the face of more radical calls to scrap DCCs altogether.
Carney explained that Development Cost Charges “have reached a level where they started pushing people out of the market.” He described the program as a way to “prove this model at scale,” and promised to monitor whether the savings truly make it to buyers rather than ending up in developers’ pockets.
BIV journalists asked the prime minister directly whether he wants further declines in Vancouver home prices. Carney responded evasively: the key is to build more and to ensure housing matches people’s incomes.
But the most controversial part of the plan is the purchase of unsold condos. Carney said the government will “go and buy” empty condominiums that “will sit there for a couple more years,” and then, through the federal corporation Build Canada Homes and BC Housing, turn them into affordable rental housing. The plan targets more than 2,200 vacant units in priority growth areas.
The mechanism involves buying at market prices and stretching the financing using the government’s borrowing rate, which would make it possible to set rents at levels affordable for families. “It’s a way to clear that overhang off the books,” Carney said, referring to the surplus of unsold properties. Detailed “models” are promised for the fall.
In addition, an extra $2.5 billion over 10 years has been announced for transit projects, including an extension of the SkyTrain Surrey-Langley line, on top of the already allocated $852 million. Taken together, the Carney-Eby program is an attempt to tackle, at the same time, the problem of excess supply in the new-build market, support developers burdened with debt, and create social housing by purchasing those same condos.
Critics note that the subsidies are funded by general taxes rather than property taxes, and that the key question—whether the price reduction will actually reach the end buyer—remains unanswered.
Material is based on an article by Business in Vancouver: Carney and Eby announce $3.2B developer subsidy; plan to buy unsold B.C. condos.
B.C. premier calls a possible “Vancouver Whitecaps” move to Las Vegas a “tragedy”
In recent days, the possible move of the Vancouver Whitecaps football club from MLS to Las Vegas has been a hot topic across Canada’s sports scene. B.C. Premier David Eby has weighed in publicly, calling the scenario a “tragedy” for the city and the entire region. In his commentary for CTV News, he stressed that losing a professional soccer team would be a major blow to Vancouver’s sports community.
While the premier’s official remarks were brief, they reflect the depth of concern: for many in the province, “the Whitecaps” are not just a club—they are part of the city’s identity.
The idea of a “tragedy” here is multi-layered. It is not only about fans’ emotional attachment, but also about the economic cost: MLS teams bring millions of dollars into the local economy, create jobs, and attract tourists. A move to Las Vegas—which has already become home to several professional franchises—could be beneficial for the club’s owners from a market and television-contract perspective.
However, for Vancouver it would mean repeating a painful experience. In 2011, the city already lost an NBA team, the Memphis Grizzlies, which relocated from Vancouver to Tennessee. At the time, the departure of the basketball franchise left a deep mark on local fans.
There is still no official confirmation that relocation talks are underway. Even so, the rumours are fueled by the fact that Las Vegas is actively expanding its presence in professional sports—from hockey to American football. If the Whitecaps were to leave British Columbia for real, it would pose a serious challenge for local authorities, who would then have to find ways to keep other teams and attract new ones.
For fans, though, who remember the club’s triumphs and setbacks since joining MLS in 2011, the prospect of saying goodbye to the team sounds like a bitter irony: soccer in Canada is growing, but one of its flagship sides could leave for the American South. So far, Premier Eby has only expressed hope that the situation will be resolved in Vancouver’s favor—but only time will tell how much his words will influence real-world decisions.
