I am American, and thank you for your viewpoint. Does a 'Canadian attitude to government' translate into enforceable legislature? Even in the US, it's a mix of attitudes, but one consistent law needs to prevail.
I have lived overseas for 8 years, and in Montreal for a year. As a libertarian I do believe you should be free to do things, unless those things impinge on somebody else's freedoms.
Being priced out by foreign investment does not seem to be a reason to have government intervention. Empty houses en masse should lead to big drops in property values after the initial buying spree spike.
Keeping your home up to code and paying taxes is one thing, but enforcing occupancy is another. How about if you travel 6 months out of the year for work? Why should you be penalized/fined for not staying home?
What is the period of occupancy - 4 days a week; 1 week per month; 2 months per year? Who decides, and how to gauge it?
I always think of the following ab adsurdum-like argument: Most crimes occur at night. Government is responsible for everyone's safety. Curfew is mandated for your own good from sundown to sunrise. Just a thought.
There are many places in the world that have close to none in property taxes. You just a flat rate city services / council tax. Property tax was partially created to incentivize the usage of unused land to reduce the externality of it.
I have lived overseas for 8 years, and in Montreal for a year. As a libertarian I do believe you should be free to do things, unless those things impinge on somebody else's freedoms.
Being priced out by foreign investment does not seem to be a reason to have government intervention. Empty houses en masse should lead to big drops in property values after the initial buying spree spike.
Keeping your home up to code and paying taxes is one thing, but enforcing occupancy is another. How about if you travel 6 months out of the year for work? Why should you be penalized/fined for not staying home?
What is the period of occupancy - 4 days a week; 1 week per month; 2 months per year? Who decides, and how to gauge it?
I always think of the following ab adsurdum-like argument: Most crimes occur at night. Government is responsible for everyone's safety. Curfew is mandated for your own good from sundown to sunrise. Just a thought.