Unlicensed car dealers who pose as private sellers are a menace to buyers

BLAIR QUALEY
The Vancouver Sun

In May, Arthur Tong was stripped of his salesperson license and banned from selling cars by the B.C. Vehicle Sales Authority after he was found to have tampered with the odometers of many of the vehicles he sold.

Two months later, an undercover media investigation found the Richmond man was still hawking vehicles on Craigslist.

Though government, police, and regulatory bodies do everything they can to protect consumers, this incident highlights the real risk of buying privately.

Curbers — unlicensed car dealers who pose as private sellers — don’t adhere to the same strict standards as licensed dealers. This leaves consumers unprotected if something goes wrong with the vehicle or the sale. When you’re shopping for a new or used vehicle, a licensed dealer is always the safest choice.

Licensed salespeople must follow the many regulations set out by governing bodies to protect consumers. They receive special training to meet the legal requirements, and if they aren’t met, customers are compensated.

Some private deals may seem too good to pass up. If you’re considering buying privately but are concerned about being conned by a curber, there are things you can do to protect yourself.

First, watch for early warning signs. If the seller refuses to meet at their house, asks for cash only, or wants to know which car you’re phoning about, it’s best to back out. Another no-go is when more than one car is listed under the same phone number.

Once you take a look at a vehicle, make sure you’re getting what you pay for. Check the vehicle’s registration; the name on the registration should match the seller’s name and it’s perfectly acceptable to ask to see their ID to be sure. Also, the vehicle identification number (VIN), make, model and colour noted on the papers should match the vehicle being offered for sale.

A common curber trick is to turn back the odometer to raise a vehicle’s value. With any prospective vehicle, examine the odometer for scratches and cracks and make sure the numbers line up. Evaluate whether the seats or other parts of the vehicle show more wear and tear than the odometer suggests.

It also pays to shine a light on the vehicle’s history. Companies such as CarProof provide comprehensive reports that include information on whether the car has been in an accident, has any liens on it, or is stolen.

Finally, always have a shop you trust do a pre-purchase check on any vehicle you’re looking to buy. An experienced mechanic can not only diagnose current issues, but also point out potential future problems.

If you do think you’re dealing with a curber, make sure to file a consumer complaint through the Vehicle Sales Authority of B.C. website.

Although buying through a licensed dealer is the safest option, buying a quality vehicle from a private seller can still be a great investment.

Just make sure to do your homework.

© 2016 Postmedia Network Inc

Chuck Chiang
The Vancouver Sun

A Surrey man arrested in 2012 for running a Ponzi scheme has been sentenced to 27 months in prison, officials said.

The B.C. Supreme Court also ordered Roberto Castano to pay $1.5 million in restitution. Castano, who was charged in 2012, pleaded guilty to one count of fraud over $5,000 in February.

The court was told that Castano was arrested on April 2, 2012 by the B.C. Securities Commission’s criminal investigations team and the Surrey RCMP. He was charged with 10 counts of fraud over $5,000 and 10 counts of theft over $5,000.

Investigators say they began looking into Castano’s operations in 2009, when an unnamed financial institution alerted the Commission that the man was raising money through his company, Skyline Communications, to invest in the stock market.

During the three-year investigation, officials said they found Castano was running a Ponzi scheme, promising investors a five-per-cent-per-month return on their investment through stock market trading. Instead, Castano used some of the funds to repay principal repayments and pay interest to previous investors, as well as for personal expenses.

The restitution is to be paid to seven of Castano’s former investors, the court said.

© 2016 Postmedia Network Inc.

Many groups criticize ?silly? barriers to addressing labour shortages

? PETER O?NEIL
The Vancouver Sun

OTTAWA — The federal Liberal government is under enormous pressure from people like Langley resident Donalda Madsen as it stands poised to loosen restrictions to the controversial Temporary Foreign Worker program.

Madsen, who needs a caregiver for her severely disabled son, represents one small component of a plethora of interested parties who have either appeared before a parliamentary committee or privately lobbied officials in hopes of influencing the changes.

They include companies like Vancouver’s Lululemon as well as business, labour and human rights organizations.

Some believe the former Conservative government overreacted in 2014 to a string of media reports outlining abuses in a program that brought hundreds of thousands of workers to Canada, many to take work that Canadians shun in areas such as meat-packing, berry-picking, home care, and the fast-food and hospitality industries.

Immigration Minister John McCallum was quoted in a media report this week that he wants to remove some of the “silly” barriers that prevent companies from meeting labour shortages.

One of the most problematic of the 2014 changes for Madsen was the hefty increase in the fee, from $275 to $1,000, to obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) determination that confirms the job opening can’t be filled domestically.

That increased cost, as well as additional red tape injected into the LMIA process, have made it onerous for Madsen, 69, and her 74-year-old husband Peter as they try to care for their 50-year-old son Shane.

“Shane’s a wonderful, happy, kind man but he is quadriplegic and has about 40 words that people could understand,” said Madsen.

“He needs supervision 100 per cent of the time for safety and health reasons.”

Filipina nannies, whom she and her husband have been hiring since 1989, typically stay on the job for two to four years before they move on to different careers or to raise their own families in Canada, she said.

“So we’re always reapplying. And the cost is just going through the roof.”

Another of Madsen’s problems is the rule that she must pay her caregiver 17.50 an hour, whereas it would be $10.50 if Shane were under age 19. She noted that unionized Community Living B.C. workers who care for her son in a day program are only paid $15 an hour.

Madsen said the Tory changes have also driven more Filipinas into the black market. Shane’s caregiver has three friends working illegally in Vancouver in exploitative conditions, working 16 hours a day, seven days a week, for $10.50 an hour.

“The government knows about this and they’re not doing anything about it. It’s not right.”

The Tory changes, combined with the oil price slump, have resulted in the number of TFW approvals falling from just under 200,000 in 2012 to a little over 90,000 last year, according to government officials appearing earlier this year before the Human Resources committee.

Of that group, just 15,000 were for low-wage jobs, 22,000 for high-wage positions and the remaining 53,000 for a special program for the agriculture sector.

Among B.C. witnesses appearing before a parliamentary committee hearing this spring were Lululemon, the City of Vancouver on behalf of the city’s high-tech sector, and the Whistler Chamber of Commerce. They called for looser rules so they could recruit suitable overseas workers.

All said they need a more flexible program to fill a growing list of vacancies.

Chamber President Val Litwin said Whistler is particularly disadvantaged because it’s considered within the Lower Mainland region, which has an unemployment rate above six per cent. That means Whistler can’t get special dispensation under the 2014 reforms to hire foreign workers, even though its jobless rate is under two per cent.

Meanwhile, labour groups argue against a loosening of rules, saying that employers should instead boost wages and training.

Litwin, hower, said Whistler has already taken those steps.

“Despite our efforts on wage increases, Canadian recruitment and innovative housing practices, we have concerns that our inability to find Canadians is damaging our ability to maximize business opportunities,” he told the committee in May.

B.C. Conservative MP Bob Zimmer, vice-chairman of the committee studying the issue, said federal policy should ensure Canadians get the first opportunity at available jobs.

But he said the evidence shows there are many jobs “Canadians simply not applying for,” necessitating greater access to TFWs.

“Not many Canadians want to pick berries in the Fraser Valley.”

Some groups have called for an end to the requirement that TFWs work only a maximum of four years before being forced to return to their home country.

Those same advocates have argued that TFWs need a path to permanent residence status.

That ability to remain in Canada will reduce the leverage unscrupulous employers currently have over TFWs, thus reducing abuses and exploitation.

Zimmer said he’s concerned, though, that such a change could lead to an additional clogging up of an already-overburdened immigrant processing system.

And he warned that the attraction of permanent residency could be an incentive for scammers who charge foreigners thousands of dollars to obtain a LMIA for a minimum-wage job.

Jock Finlayson, chief policy officer for the B.C. Business Council, urged a cautious approach that loosens some restrictions but doesn’t reopen the TFW floodgates.

“There is not a strong case for enabling the retail and restaurant industries in urban areas to rely on TWFs to fill an ever-growing share of front-line service jobs, for example,” he said in an e-mail.

“But the situation is different when one looks at seasonal industries (agriculture, ski resorts), jobs in remote areas, and skilled occupations where there simply isn’t a sufficient supply of Canadian labour with the requisite qualifications.”

© 2016 Postmedia Network Inc.

Tuesday?s death of Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor, the 64-year-old sixth Duke of Westminster, elevates his 25-year-old son, Hugh Richard Louis Grosvenor, as the new duke and to a fortune pegged by Forbes at more than $15.5 billion. The family?s wealth include

Jeff Lee
The Vancouver Sun

ANNACIS ISLAND, GROSVENOR’S FIRST INTERNATIONAL FORAY

Annacis Island may be a secret shortcut for traffic-weary commuters trying to get onto the Alex Fraser Bridge, as well as being the home of Metro Vancouver’s main sewage treatment plant, but it had nobler beginnings, at least for Grosvenor. The family trust bought the 1,200-acre island in 1953 as its first international project. Annacis, once a former farming and fishing island in the middle of the Fraser River, became Canada’s first industrial park. The island is now fully developed as an industrial hub, but Grosvenor still owns 210 acres and nine industrial buildings covering 1.1 million square feet.

GROSVENOR’S METRO VANCOUVER HOLDINGS AND PROJECTS

Since Annacis, Grosvenor has diversified into residential and commercial property development. The company has a long list of completed projects in B.C., and has four active ones: the 57-unit Grosvenor Ambleside in West Vancouver; the 82-unit Connaught; the 212-unit Grosvenor Pacific at 1380-1382 Hornby St., including a heritage restoration of the 1888 Leslie House, once the home of Umberto Menghi’s Il Giardino restaurant; and a 60-townhome project on Oak Street between 46th and 49th avenues. Last November, Grosvenor also announced a $165-million financing partnership with Vancouver-based Kingswood Capital and Nicola Crosby Wealth Management to provide mezzanine financing for 10 condo projects in B.C. and the U.S., including Intracorp’s Belpark in Vancouver, Boffo Development’s Pitt River Development, and Millennium Development’s Gilmore project in Burnaby. “This is the largest pipeline of projects we’ve had in the last 30 years,” said Michael Ward, Grosvenor’s senior vice-president and general manager of the Vancouver office.

ROYAL REAL ESTATE

Grosvenor’s North American real estate properties are distinctly pedestrian compared to the origins and addresses of its original holdings. The family’s history reaches back nearly a millennium to William the Conqueror, and its wealth flows from the 1677 marriage of Mary Davies and Sir Thomas Grosvenor, which gave the family title to 500 acres of what would become central London. It still owns 300 acres there, including 190 acres in Belgravia, adjacent to Buckingham Palace, the land for which was also provided by the Grosvenors. They also retain their ancestral home, the 10,800-acre Eaton Hall estate. When the duke died on Tuesday, he was the 68th-wealthiest person in the world and the third-richest in the U.K.

WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE NEW DUKE

In a few words, not much. Hugh Grosvenor may now be the most eligible bachelor in the U.K., but he apparently has a somewhat humble childhood and is understandably private. He attended Newcastle, a public school, and works for bio-bean, a Londonbased green technology company that recycles coffee grounds into biofuels. His one bit of unwanted public attention was a massive five-million pound ($8.4-million) party his father hosted for him at Eaton Hall for his 21st birthday. His father made it clear early on that he might be extraordinarily wealthy some day, but that he had to earn his place in life. In 1993, when his son was two, the duke said in an interview that, “He’s been born with the longest silver spoon anyone can have, but he can’t go through life sucking on it. He has to put back what he has been given.”

People strolling along the seawall in Vancouver’s Harbour Green Park at Coal Harbour can stop and admire a peculiarly West Coast piece of public art, what looks like a silver boat shed on pilings. Liz Magor’s “LightShed” was commissioned and dedicated by the now-departed duke in 2003 to commemorate Grosvenor’s half-century of business in Canada. The family also has an elementary school and road in Surrey named after them. “We take a very long-term view of business, and Vancouver historically has given us our highest return in the Americas,” Gerald Grosvenor told The Province’s Ashley Ford after the dedication. Grosvenor Group would not say whether the new duke has ever been to Vancouver.

© 2016 Postmedia Network Inc.

? THEOPHILOS ARGITIS
The Vancouver Sun

Will Prime Minister Justin Trudeau double down on fiscal stimulus in the wake of Canada’s recent abysmal economic data? Don’t hold your breath.

Report after report is painting a dire picture for the country. It lost 31,200 jobs in July and its trade deficit rose to a record in June, Statistics Canada said Friday. Later this month, the agency will probably confirm the country’s economy shrank in the second quarter — the third contraction in 18 months.

It’s a situation much worse than economists predicted only a few months ago, when Trudeau’s Liberal government released a budget that forecast $120 billion in deficits over six years, including a $12 billion stimulus package for the current fiscal year.

But Trudeau, who could use his fall fiscal update to top up spending if he chose, is busy enough just trying to get existing stimulus money out the door.

Monthly spending data released by the finance department suggests funds are hardly being rushed out. In April and May — the first two months of the fiscal year, and the most recent in available data — the government spent 14.9 per cent of all budgeted program expenses. That’s the lowest proportion in five years, and below the 15.3 per cent average pace over the decadelong reign of the defeated Conservatives, who were notorious for leaving budget funds to lapse at the end of the year, never to be spent.

In the Conservative government’s 2009 stimulus budget, that two-month share was 16.1 per cent.

Trudeau’s pace of spending is more in line with what’s expected from a new government, as departments recalibrate spending to meet a new agenda and cabinet ministers get up to speed on decisions.

It also underscores the challenges that fiscal policy — particularly infrastructure spending — can face as a tool for stimulus. It’s tough for the federal government to disburse money because it often only releases funds once a project is fully underway, according to Bruce Carson, a top aide to former prime minister Stephen Harper and a key architect of the 2009 stimulus plan.

“There is a vast difference between (federal) money that is committed and money actually spent and in the hands of workers,” Carson said.

Of the $12 billion in additional stimulus pledged in Trudeau’s March budget, $4 billion is being allocated to infrastructure and $1.4 billion for housing. If finding ways to spend that money isn’t enough to preoccupy the finance department, government officials will also soon need to deliver a plan on how to spend tens of billions on additional infrastructure, as Trudeau has pledged $120 billion for such investment over 10 years.

In fact, transfers can be more effective when fine-tuning an economy and one thing certain to have a more immediate impact is the enhanced child-benefit funding that was released to households starting last month.

The program is worth about $4.5 billion in additional stimulus this fiscal year.

In total, Trudeau’s government estimates its 2016 measures will bolster growth by 0.5 percentage points, and that could be enough to lift the economy out of its slump in the second half. Investors, for example, don’t expect the Bank of Canada to come up with any more help on top of Trudeau’s fiscal push.

Trading in interest-rate derivatives shows the odds governor Stephen Poloz will cut before the end of the year moved higher after Friday’s reports — but are still only about 20 per cent.

The Liberals have also introduced a measure of prudence into their forecasts. The $29 billion projected deficit this year had a built-in $6 billion contingency for an even worse economic outlook than Canada currently faces. So, in a way, there is already reserve stimulus in the system.

Yet, the pressure for more stimulus will mount if things don’t improve. Trudeau’s economic narrative in last year’s election campaign centred around how Harper had left the country to languish in a state of slow growth. If anything, the situation has gotten worse.

The economy is adding jobs at the slowest pace outside of a recession since at least the mid-1970s as a slump in oil prices weakens exports and business investment. In the first seven months of this year, Canada has created just 12,400 new jobs. That’s the smallest sevenmonth gain outside of past recessions in data going back to 1976.

“They want to see how the second half of the year plays out,” said David Sloan, senior economist in New York at 4Cast Inc., in a telephone interview. “If they’re going to do further fiscal stimulus, then maybe do something next year.”

© 2016 Postmedia Network Inc.

Signs show Trudeau in no rush for stimulus

? THEOPHILOS ARGITIS
The Vancouver Sun

Will Prime Minister Justin Trudeau double down on fiscal stimulus in the wake of Canada’s recent abysmal economic data? Don’t hold your breath.

Report after report is painting a dire picture for the energy-producing nation. It lost 31,200 jobs in July and its trade deficit rose to a record in June, Statistics Canada said Friday. Later this month, the agency will probably confirm the country’s economy shrank in the second quarter — the third contraction in 18 months.

It’s a situation much worse than economists predicted only a few months ago, when Trudeau’s Liberal government released a budget that forecast C$120 billion ($91 billion) in deficits over six years, including a C$12 billion stimulus package for the current fiscal year.

But Trudeau, who could use his fall fiscal update to top up spending if he chose, is busy enough just trying to get existing stimulus money out the door.

Monthly spending data released by the finance department suggests funds are hardly being rushed out. In April and May — the first two months of the fiscal year, and the most recent in available data — the government spent 14.9 percent of all budgeted program expenses. That’s the lowest proportion in five years, and below the 15.3 percent average pace over the decade-long reign of the defeated Conservatives, who were notorious for leaving budget funds to lapse at the end of the year, never to be spent.

New Government

In the Conservative government’s 2009 stimulus budget, that two-month share was 16.1 percent.

Trudeau’s pace of spending is more in line with what’s expected from a new government, as departments recalibrate spending to meet a new agenda and cabinet ministers get up to speed on decisions.

It also underscores the challenges that fiscal policy — particularly infrastructure spending — can face as a tool for stimulus. It’s tough for the federal government to disburse money because it often only releases funds once a project is fully underway, according to Bruce Carson, a top aide to former Prime Minister Stephen Harper and a key architect of the 2009 stimulus plan.

“There is a vast difference between [federal] money that is committed and money actually spent and in the hands of workers,” Carson said.

Promised Spending

Of the C$12 billion in additional stimulus pledged in Trudeau’s March budget, C$4 billion is being allocated to infrastructure and C$1.4 billion for housing. If finding ways to spend that money isn’t enough to preoccupy the finance department, government officials will also soon need to deliver a plan on how to spend tens of billions on additional infrastructure, as Trudeau has pledged C$120 billion for such investment over 10 years.

In fact, transfers can be more effective when fine-tuning an economy and one thing certain to have a more immediate impact is the enhanced child-benefit funding that was released to households starting last month. The program is worth about C$4.5 billion in additional stimulus this fiscal year.

In total, Trudeau’s government estimates its 2016 measures will bolster growth by 0.5 percentage points, and that could be enough to lift the economy out of its slump in the second half. Investors, for example, don’t expect the Bank of Canada to come up with any more help on top of Trudeau’s fiscal push. Trading in interest-rate derivatives shows the odds Governor Stephen Poloz will cut before the end of the year moved higher after Friday’s reports — but are still only about 20 percent.

The Liberals have also introduced a measure of prudence into their forecasts. The C$29 billion projected deficit this year had a built-in C$6 billion contingency for an even worse economic outlook than Canada currently faces. So, in a way, there is already reserve stimulus in the system.

Worsening Outlook

Yet, the pressure for more stimulus will mount if things don’t improve. Trudeau’s economic narrative in last year’s election campaign centered around how Harper had left the country to languish in a state of slow growth. If anything, the situation has gotten worse.

The economy is adding jobs at the slowest pace outside of a recession since at least the mid-1970s as a slump in oil prices weakens exports and business investment. In the first seven months of this year, Canada has created just 12,400 new jobs. That’s the smallest seven-month gain outside of past recessions in data going back to 1976.

“They want to see how the second half of the year plays out,” said David Sloan, senior economist in New York at 4Cast Inc., in a telephone interview. “If they’re going to do further fiscal stimulus, then maybe do something next year.”

©2016 Bloomberg L.P.

China-based credit card association accepted broadly this side of Pacific

CHUCK CHIANG
The Vancouver Sun

A quick stroll through many of Metro Vancouver’s retail outlets and shopping malls will reveal a growing number of ubiquitous red, blue and green parallelograms on display.

The presence of the logo for UnionPay, the Shanghai-based credit card association that enjoys a virtual monopoly in the Chinese market, shows the rapid rise in the acceptance of the payment method, both in B.C. and throughout the world.

Stores near tourist areas, such as the increasingly popular Alberni Street upscale shopping district, tend to see the most use of UnionPay, alongside established brands such as Visa and MasterCard. On Alberni, a majority of stores either prominently display the UnionPay logo on their storefronts or clearly state that they accept the card as a payment option.

“It is definitely an important payment instrument used by our customers,” said Oleg Minchenko, the Vancouver-based CEO of De Beers Diamond Jewellers Canada, whose flagship store is on Alberni. “We don’t keep percentage record of how big it is for us, but I can say it is growing.”

LFX Lao Feng Xiang Canada, the historic Shanghai-based jeweller with a store also on Alberni, sees as much as 56 per cent of local transactions completed using UnionPay, according to LFX Canada vicepresident Katherine Xu.

“I’m not surprised to see the increase in CUP (China UnionPay) users as there are more and more Mainland Chinese customers shopping on Alberni Street,” Xu said. “With control of transferring funds out of China, CUP seems to be the easiest way to shop (for Chinese consumers).”

In a written statement, UnionPay International’s Canadian division said the card has reached 85 per cent coverage at ATMs throughout Canada since being introduced in 2009.

The statement said four major banks (RBC, Scotiabank, BMO and CIBC) all accept UnionPay, and adoption is starting to branch beyond retail sectors to areas like higher education, where more than 20 schools are now accepting the card to make tuition payments.

“There are more than 70,000 stores (in Canada) where UnionPay clients can make purchases using their cards,” UnionPay International said. “The range not only includes duty-free stores, department stores, brand-name retailers and jewellers, but also many convenience stores and food-service providers.”

UnionPay recently added T&T Supermarket, Canada’s largest Asian foods market chain, to the list of businesses accepting transactions.

The card’s Canadian growth mirrors its global expansion. It was announced in late July, in a report by U.K.-based banking research firm RBR, that UnionPay surpassed industry giant Visa as the top credit card in 2015, with the Chinese association now at $21.6 trillion US in annual transactions, 37 per cent of the global total. (Visa and MasterCard accounted for 32 and 20 per cent, respectively.)

Chris Herbert, senior associate with RBR and an industry expert on cards and payments, noted that UnionPay’s global share falls to nine per cent — far lower than Visa’s 48 per cent and MasterCard’s 29 per cent — when it comes to the number of transactions.

“I would not expect (UnionPay) to establish a significant presence other than in Hong Kong in the short term,” Herbert said, noting Japan, South Korea and Kazakhstan as other key markets. “I would not expect UnionPay to attain a share to rival that of Visa or MasterCard in the majority of countries.”

UnionPay’s Canadian branch said clients tend to be tourists, students or new immigrants, a fact verified by LFX’s Xu (who noted she has not seen Westerners using the card). UnionPay says its key goals for the next five years include getting more uptake from Canadian banks, and seeking an expanded coverage area.

“Using UnionPay in Vancouver and Toronto is quite convenient, but we are also seeing gains in Montreal, Calgary, Banff, Edmonton, Ottawa and Quebec City,” a UnionPay statement said.

“In the case of Montreal and Calgary especially, with the launch of direct flights to China from those cities, the number of Chinese tourists there will grow. We’ll be looking hard for ways to expand our presence there through several avenues.”

Herbert said UnionPay can expect more acceptance as local businesses tap into the Chinese consumer market, but he is skeptical that Canadian banks will sign on in any significant way.

“Its growth is likely to be more significant on the acceptance than issuance side over the next few years,” he said.

“This would involve persuading large numbers of issuers around the world to offer UnionPay rather than their current schemes, which is unlikely to happen on a large scale.”

© 2016 Postmedia Network Inc

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The countries with the highest quality of life have been announced by the not-for-profit organisation Social Progress Imperative.

Scandinavian nations scored highly in the “Social Progress Index,” but more surprising are the very large countries which came lower down the list — suggesting that a strong GDP per capita is not the only gauge for a high standard of living.

Despite this, all of the top 19 countries are developed nations — so having a strong economy clear has an impact.

The “Social Progress Index” collates the scores of three main indexes:

• Basic Human Needs, which includes medical care, sanitation, and shelter.
• Foundations of Wellbeing, which covers education, access to technology, and life expectancy.
• Opportunity, which looks at personal rights, freedom of choice, and general tolerance.

The index then adds the three different factors together, before giving each nation a score out of 100. You can see the countries with the highest quality of life below.

19. United States — 84.62. The US scraping into the top 20 may surprise some, and the report does call it a “disappointment,” saying the country’s huge economy does not translate into social progress for many of its citizens.

18. France — 84.79. For many France is a liberal bastion, but it scored low on “tolerance and inclusion” in the report, while a poor score in “opportunity” keeps it further down the list than it perhaps should be.

17. Spain — 85.88. One of the most popular holiday destinations in Europe, Spain has a strong welfare system and work life balance, but high youth unemployment has hurt the standard of life for many of its citizens.

16. Belgium — 86.19. The HQ of the European Union scores highly on social progress and demonstrates that sometimes being a smaller country makes it easier to look after all your inhabitants.

15. Germany — 86.42. Another country which might be a bit lower down than some people would expect, Germany scores highly for inclusiveness after taking in more than a million refugees over the past few months, but some wonder if the infrastructure can handle it.

14. Japan — 86.54. The ‘Land of the Rising Sun’ has made great strides in social progress in the last decade, particularly in women entering the workforce. It still has a very small immigrant population, though, and suicide rates for under-30s remain high.

13. Austria — 86.60. Vienna is a cultural capital of Europe and Austrian ski slopes attract people from all over the world. Having the 14th biggest economy in the world, according to the IMF, does not hurt standard of living either.

12. Ireland — 87.94. Brits scrambling for Irish passports in the wake of the vote for a Brexit may be pleased to discover it scores very high on meeting “basic human needs,” and the potential investment of companies moving from the UK will only make things better.

T-10. New Zealand — 88.45. New Zealand’s tourist board calls it “the youngest country in the world,” and it is certainly one of the most beautiful. “Opportunity” is where it scores really high, as a low population means jobs are in abundance.

T-10. Iceland — 88.45. Speaking of beautiful countries, Iceland scores very well in social progress, particularly in the “basic human needs” index and GDP per capita. Its football team has proven itself a force to be reckoned with too.

9. United Kingdom — 88.58. The NHS is big part of the UK’s high placing, with “basic medical care” scoring almost 100% on the report. Education scores almost as highly, with free access to quality schools.

8. Netherlands — 88.65. The Netherlands is famously one of the most tolerant countries in the world, so its position in the top ten should be no surprise. It is one of the highest-scoring countries on “personal freedom and choice.”

7. Norway — 88.70. Get used to seeing Scandinavian nations in the top ten. Norway is big on “nutrition and basic medical care,” and its “access to basic knowledge” is strong too. Many have said the Norway model is one to follow for a non-EU UK.

6. Sweden — 88.80. “Water and sanitation” may be taken for granted in developed economies, but it is not enjoyed everywhere. Luckily it is an area Sweden nails, scoring 99.77. The country also picks up high scores in “nutrition” and “personal rights.”

5. Switzerland — 88.87. Switzerland may have some of the most expensive cities in the world to live in, but its citizens get value for money. According to the Social Progress Report, “medical”, “nutritional” and “access to basic knowledge” is where the country shines.

4. Australia — 89.13. There is a good reason so many people want to start a new life “down under.” Austrailia has fantastic education, job opportunities and a strong sense of personal freedom. Its “tolerance and inclusion” score could be higher though.

3. Denmark — 89.39. Denmark has one of the best social mobility and income equality rates in the world, so no surprise it makes it into the top three on this list. “Basic human needs” is where the country scores particularly highly, though its “health and wellness” stats such as life expectancy could be higher.

2. Canada — 89.49. For such a huge nation, Canada only has 35 million citizens, and they are some of the best looked after in the world. Canada’s healthcare is what stands it above the rest. Education and opportunity in the country are also impressively strong.

1. Finland — 90.09. Everyone says Nordic nations have the highest standard of living, and now Finland has made it official. It scores highly on almost every index on the report, from basic needs, foundations of wellbeing and personal freedoms. If you move there just make sure to bring warm coat — temperatures can reach minus 50 celsius​ in the winter!

Copyright © 2016 Business Insider Inc.

?No justification? for Liberal plan, alternatives needed: regional district

KELLY SINOSKI
The Vancouver Sun

Metro Vancouver directors are raising concerns about the planned $3.5-billion bridge to replace the George Massey Tunnel, saying the proposed 10-lane crossing will negatively affect everything from transit ridership to salmon and birds in the Fraser River estuary.

Port Coquitlam Mayor Greg Moore, chairman of the Metro board, said there’s no justification for the bridge, which was proposed by the B.C. government.

He called on the province and TransLink to find other mutually acceptable solutions to reduce congestion on the Highway 99 corridor, saying “you can’t reduce congestion by simply building more roads.

“This project represents an expansion of car-oriented infrastructure and diverts crucial funds from transportation projects that support the regional growth strategy,” he said.

The regional district plans to send a letter outlining its concerns to the B.C. minister of transportation and infrastructure, the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office, Premier Christy Clark, and the federal ministry of environment and climate change. The move follows an earlier request by the Metro board that the federal minister of environment and climate change order an environmental assessment review process in which the regional district can participate.

Metro is already involved in the provincial environmental assessment review. However, a report from Metro Vancouver released Wednesday argues the province hasn’t considered alternatives to a 10-lane bridge, or the potential ecological disruption to the Fraser River estuary and Deas Island Regional Park, or financial impacts to moving Metro water and sewer lines, which could affect $500 million to $1 billon worth of regional infrastructure once the tunnel is removed and the area dredged.

The mayors have also raised concerns with the lack of transparency and consultation regarding the bridge’s design and business case, which was only released last December — two years after the project was announced.

“We know there’s a congestion problem on that corridor,” Moore said, but noted the regional district believes it should have a say in the scope of the project to ensure it doesn’t have massive effects on issues such as air quality, climate change, utilities, parks and the environment.

“It is our job to comment on the aspects of (the project) that will affect those areas we do have responsibility for. We have to look at this with a regional perspective.”

However, Delta Mayor Lois Jackson, the lone supporter of the bridge, said Metro is not considering all regional views, noting that a larger bridge is needed to handle the increased traffic volumes now clogging up the four-lane tunnel. She maintains Metro has been debating the merits of the bridge in secret and not giving her any chance to rebut their claims.

More than 40 per cent of traffic going through the tunnel in the morning comes from Surrey and White Rock, she said, while 60 per cent of those drivers go to jobs in Richmond. Yet those cities aren’t in support of the bridge.

“They’re not looking regionally anymore. The province understands what’s at stake here with goods movement and getting people to and fro and not sitting for two hours in a lineup,” Jackson said. “This is all about politics and all about money. I don’t like going through that tunnel at any time, day or night.”

Premier Christy Clark maintains the tunnel needs to be replaced, saying in 10 years time it will no longer be safe to navigate. If there were an earthquake of more than magnitude 7.0, she said, the tunnel “risks failing completely, which means Tsawwassen and Delta and communities on the other side of the river would be completely cut off.”

Transportation Minister Todd Stone added a bridge will remove “the worst traffic bottle neck in B.C .” and include 200 lane-kilometres of new, improved and rehabilitated highway to relieve congestion.

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