I recently found relevance in an article on the financial post relating to the volatile nature of Vancouver’s real estate market. As a Vancouverite, I have a growing concern for the rapidly climbing house prices. The influx of foreign buyers has driven house prices in “the 2-5 million range up by 49% since 2009”. Large amounts of foreign buyers utilize the security of the housing industry to invest their money outside of their country of residence. Although this is perfectly legal, it appears to be a flaw in the system. All of the benefits go to people without Canadian citizenships. For the people of Vancouver, all this does is it makes the purchasing of homes extremely difficult. As of now “Angell Hasman and Associates. Hasman said Asian buyers accounted for roughly 90% of sales of properties costing $5 million and more.” I believe there should be some sort of screening process for the legitimacy of the buyer. If a large amount of these real estate “investors” are spending next to no time in their homes, let alone the country, then I believe there should be an extra charge on the purchase of the home. This would make the higher priced housing market of Vancouver more advantageous to Canadian citizens. If industry growth rates continue, I will unfortunately be living with my mom for longer than expected. 

Post-secondary employment has become far from guaranteed. The hundreds hours of studying required to graduate provide, without certainty, a “chance” to get a job. Competition has reached a new level, and university graduates are paying the price.

Cecile Ouillet’s blog mentions “Post-secondary education is now a requirement for most careers.” I would even go as far to say that, without some sort of internship or experience in ones given field, direct employment is unlikely. CBC’s article underlines three key factors to the high rates of youth unemployment (13%-15% for people 15-24 years old): sense of entitlement, education and stalled careers. I believe all three of these are related. Most believe that with a post-secondary education, companies will want them. The truth is that 75% of people under 30 have the same credentials, and that is the root of the problem.

Cecile argues that the article is false in its assumption that universities teach knowledge instead of work-place know-how. I would have to disagree with Cecile, as I believe the article is correct. The things that one learns from university must be applied, in order to achieve a higher level of learning. That is why companies look for students with real life experiences. A vast majority of applicants will have education, but to land that first job one must have that extra piece of differentiation.

If it hasn’t become evident thus far, I am a sports nerd and I am quite certain this will not be my last sports related blog. Fortunately, for the validity of my blog, sports over the years have become less about the games being played, and instead are about the money being made.

Last December, us Canadians saw this take place right in front of our eyes. Rogers and the NHL closed a 12-year 5.2 billion dollar deal. Blogger Duane Rockerbie, attempts to explain how this was a wise move from the NHL, selling the Canadian TV rights in an “all or nothing auction”. I would have to disagree with Rockerbie. Hockey in Canada is a culture, and by monopolizing the industry the NHL will loose their fan connection. 60 years of Hockey Night In Canada is rapidly approaching its end, and Rogers will continue to make hockey a pay-per-view event by adding more channels.

Hockey is evolving in to a “rich person” sport. I believe over the next few years there will be a major rise in OHL and CHL demand, simply because the prices are so much lower. Smaller leagues also don’t have ongoing labour disputes, which the NHL has been struggling with over the last few years. For the NHL, these issues are the ones that could hurt them in the long run.