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Tag: Canada

  • Festac77@40: Over 45 countries to participate

    Festac77@40: Over 45 countries to participate

    No less than 45 African countries had indicated their interests to participate in the forthcoming celebration of Festac77 @ 40 that would start on April 1 across the country.

    Dr Ferdinand Anikwe, the Director-General, Centre for Black Arts and Africa Civilization (CBAAC) disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos.

    Anikwe said that: Japan, Canada, the United States of America, China and other developed countries outside Africa had also shown interests in participating.

    NAN reports that Festac 77, also known as the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture, was held in Lagos from Jan.15, 1977 to Feb.12, 1977and 59 countries participated.

    The month-long event celebrated African culture and showcased to the world African music, fine art, literature, drama, dance and religion.

    Several countries showcased their artworks at the National Theatre, the Nigerian National Museum and some places around the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), then.

    According to Anikwe, activities marking the celebration will hold simultaneously in no less than 10 states including the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja) where one of the anniversary’s mascots will be unveiled on April 1, 2017.

    “The anniversary’s mascots will be unveiled simultaneously on April 1 in Abuja, Abeokuta and Addis-Ababa in Ethiopia.

    “That of Abuja will take place at the International Conference Centre, which would be the opening ceremony.’’

    He said that the event would kick off on April 1 to end in December, adding that different cultural displays would be held in some states: Katsina, Enugu, Ogun, Kaduna, Akwa- Ibom and more.

    “ We are going to have a Durbar display in Katsina, there will be masquerade festivals in Enugu and the rolling out of 40 drums in Abeokuta, which is the symbol of Festac 77.

    “ All ethnic chanters will be on the ground and there will be the recitation of poems, staging of plays, and the singing of indigenous songs.

    “This celebration will coincide with former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s 80th birthday anniversary that is why Abeokuta is playing a leading role.’’

    NAN reports that General Olusegun Obasanjo was the military head of state in 1977 when Nigeria hosted Festac 77.

    Anikwe said that CBAAC had been sensitising hotel operators the across the cities where the events would hold to upgrade their facilities.

    They should also ensure that during the celebration, their charges should be affordable for local and international tourists and we have gained their consent, he said.

    Anikwe said that the organisation had involved all the security agencies to ensure utmost security of lives and properties during the period.

    He added that CBAAC had designed uniforms for the security agencies which they would adorn then for easy identification by officials, tourists and visitors.

    There would also be uniforms for children, artists and organisers made from Nigerian indigenous fabrics as part of promoting the made-in-Nigeria fabrics, he said.

    The D-G said that the event was going to be one of the most spectacular cultural events in the history of the country as participants would be transported from designated airports to their choice destinations.

    “There are plans for international tourists to be transported from the airports to their desired destinations during the celebrations because there will be activities in all the parts of the country.

    “ I am so glad to be among those that are planning for Festac77 at 40 because in 1977 was when I wrote the West African School Certificate Examinations (WASCE).  I can’t forget that in a hurry,” Anikwe said.

  • Canada woos Nigerian students

    Very soon, Nigerians will be able to undergo foundation programmes that would allow them continue second year studies in universities in Canada.

    The Canadian Foundation programme to be implemented by Westerfield College, Yaba, is scheduled for launch at the Eko Hotel and Suites Tuesday next week.

    CEO of Westerfield College, Mr Mike Dosunmu, said at a press conference on Monday that the programme is being funded by the Canadian government to woo more Nigerian students to the  country.

    “The government of Canada is giving us money to run this programme. The government is interested in getting more Nigerian students to study in Canada.  We will be offering all courses apart from Medicine,” he said.

    Dosunmu said the college has a track record in preparing students for second year of the university having run foundation programmes of many universities in the United Kingdom and other countries.  He added that the college has qualified teachers, Nigerians, who are well grounded in their fields.

    “We have been a school that has produced students who went on to be first class graduates of the universities they attended abroad.  We have been in existence for six years now.  Our lecturers are well qualified.  What we actually offer is post secondary education to our students,” he said.

    Dosunmu said the programme would save Nigerian parents up to 50,000 Canadian Dollars that would have cost their wards to travel to Canada for their first year.

    “Parents would be saving up to 50,000 CAD if their children pass through the foundation programme here in Nigeria in the first year rather than go to Canada.  The average cost of tuition per year is about 20,000 CAD.  Then there are other expenses,” he said.

  • ‘We must use beauty for positive change’

    ‘We must use beauty for positive change’

    Cynthia Olajumoke Sapara, 24, is a multitasking young lady. Tall, slender and soft-spoken, she combines a tough resume of a BTech Engineer, Chemistry graduate, beauty pageant, model, ex-beauty queen and currently adding charitable deeds to her career profile. She speaks with JOKE KUJENYA on her fundraising venture on the platform of her not-for-profit organisation, Cynthia Sapara Foundation (CSF), based in Canada, to alleviate the sufferings and supplement the efforts of several others towards making life a little better for the IDPs scattered across Nigeria.

    Tell us about Cynthia Adesuwa Sapara

    I’ll probably call myself a renaissance woman, well at least, people regularly call me that nowadays. I have a Bsc in Chemistry & Mathematics from the University of Alberta in Canada and a Bachelor of Technology in Chemical Engineering (BTech Eng) from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, Canada. I still intend on going to medical school in a few years.
    I am also a model and an ex-beauty queen. I am a professional model in Canada and I have done a couple of pageants. Currently one of the runners up for Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria. I have represented Nigeria for Top Model of the World in 2013 when I became the first runner up for Miss Global Nigeria.
    Aside from that, I just started my clothing line, called Garnet, which would be launched during summer of 2017 in Canada. It will comprise ready to wear pieces as well as couture. Nowadays, any cloth you probably see me wear is from my clothing line. My intention is to create beautiful pieces using very skin friendly materials that would make my clients stand out amongst others, very chic and elegant.
    I am very meticulous and could sometimes come off as a perfectionist. I try not to be though because being a perfectionist could be very overwhelming. However, some personalities and traits are in-built, and so, could be very hard to tame. This innate trait also makes me very observant, so I am sort of an introvert. People that find that an irony, especially because I am into modelling and fashion. But, that is where a lot of people misunderstand the whole purpose of my involvement in those areas. I do like fashion and apparently so take good pictures and have the physique and face for a model. So I just decided to use that for something that would make an impact in the world. That is the main reason I contested for Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria. Winning the pageant would have given me an opportunity to represent Nigeria in the Miss World contest competing with about a-hundred of other beautiful girls to win and work with an organization bent on making the word beautiful purposely.

    From beauty pageant to charity work; what changed?
    Undoubtedly, we have both the good and bad side. We were created that way. But I believe in the ability to contain one’s bad attribute. If God has given me a physical beauty that I am able to compete in international pageant and other pageants, I could easily let that get into my head, believing I am way too beautiful. However, that is not the reality. The reality is that beauty is meant to be used to empower a cause, leading to a positive change. For example, I believe in the ability to end poverty and oppression, with the act of being selfless. Like I said, we have the ability to contain our bad attributes that affects others. I visit Nigeria at least once every year ever since I left at age 11. The contrast between Western and Africa democracy is massive. In the aspect of Nigeria, there is indeed a promising future for her. We all just individually have to understand that the democracy here is different especially because globalization plays a huge role in this. This is why we can’t live in isolation in the modern world. We need a global view on issues, especially when it comes to healthcare, education, and poverty. We have the government trying to understand the problem as well as trying to find a solution. Then we are left with the majority of the populace, whose social responsibility should be to help find a solution. That is the way I think. However, I do get some of my fellow Nigerians who would respond to that saying that there aren’t incentives by the Nigerian government to encourage them in doing this and I totally understand that. But personally, I have always wanted to help the most vulnerable Nigerians in any way I could. You know not everyone has a humanitarian attribute. That is why people who do, have to create awareness and the capability to convince others. I have honestly used my beauty pageant platform to acknowledge my beauty, knowledge and humanitarian attribute.

    When precisely did you go into charity activities?
    I have always treasured the core value of humanity, which includes but not limited to equality, justice, human health, love, peace and freedom. Right from high school, I was always involved in charity work, mostly volunteering in charity organizations. In my high school in the United Kingdom. I volunteered with Oxfam several times on their projects and even in their stores. I also helped out in the children hospital and the Manchester Stroke Rehabilitation Ward, amongst others.
    When I moved to Canada for my university educations, I became part of Habitat for Humanity as a volunteer. They help build homes for low income people and the homeless to eradicate homelessness. It’s a huge international non-profit organization. After my MBGN pageant last year, I basically wanted to help out in many different causes. It can be quite over-reaching, but I am taking baby steps and the more help I can get, the better.
    Already, I officially registered my own not-for-profit organization, ‘Cynthia Sapara Foundation’ (CSF). When I return to Canada, I would organise more fundraising event specifically focusing on the Internally Displaces People (IDPs) in Nigeria affected by Boko Haram, mainly to raise money to provide them with the resources they need as well as to create awareness about this issue in Canada. A lot of people over there don’t know so much about Boko Haram and the affect effect it has had on the victims. Even a number of Nigerians over there don’t know that the victims are residing in various camps across the country, especially in the north, requiring help because of the limited resources they have.

    Why are you raising funds for the IDPs in particular when there are others in similar needs?
    You will agree with me that their case is more pathetic. They are in a situation that is not informed by the decisions they make. They are suffering just because they reside in a particular region. I know it is not so extreme, but their case is only slightly different from what is going on in some parts of Syria and people are displace. I particularly choose to organize a fundraiser this year in Canada during summer in June under the United Nations High Commission for Refugee (UNHCR), rather than working under my own NGO because it is my first fundraiser. It was paramount I did this in partnership with an organization that is more recognized over there; particularly to create trust and build relationship between myself and the amazing donors. With the help of my cousin Temi Tayo and other close friends, we worked as a team on the theme “Fashion for Purpose” and we had amazing sponsors who gave out their time and products towards the cause.
    I choose to raise funds for IDPs in Nigeria mainly because it is an issue on every Nigerian’s lips and not just a northern problem. To me, caring for one another is a core value of humanity.

    When do you hope to retrieve the fundraiser money currently with the UNHCR Int’l for onward transfer to their Nigeria office for its actual use?
    Yes, the money is with the UNHCR Int’l in Canada to be transferred to the UNHCR Nigeria as that was the agreement between us. I specifically wanted to work directly with the UNHCR Nigeria so that the funds can be rightly channelled to the IDPS. I also felt that would help for proper monitoring of what the funds were used for in the camps so that I would be able to know what more would be needed because every project needs to be analysed before embarking on it. Failure to this this would lead to project failure. Unfortunately, the one-way communication between myself and the UNHCR Nigeria has put some level of constrain in the execution of the project. This is a fundraiser event. I must be accountable to my donors. However, the communication chain with the UNHCR Nigeria has not consistent. I experienced dropped calls, no replies of emails, frequent interruptions of the phone signal and concurrent communication between both parties deterred the flow of conversation. Yet, I have to return to Canada.

    As you know, all IDPs have been relocated up-north; when will you visit Nigeria again for the task of giving them what you have for them?
    I will visit Nigeria hopefully in the spring time between April and June. By that time, the UNHCR Canada should have transferred the funds I sent to them, and which they acknowledged, either to the UNHCR Nigeria or we make alternative arrangement. I need to be given the contact number of the exact person to relate with so that I can access the funds with the UNHCR Nigeria so we can directly work together henceforth. From my research, different camps have different resources. For example, I realise that the WASH project is focused on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene project in Yobe State. I was given access to this data by the UNHCR and from the analyses, Kukareta Camp is composed of the largest amount of IDPs and the sanitation in that camp is extremely appalling. The demands of shower and hand-wash facilities compared to the amount of what is being provided is not realistic. I observed that a number of crude latrine, that is open defecation is being practiced, which limits the promotion of good sanitation and hygiene, encouraging the spread of diseases and bad health. So basically, I intend to directly work with a project coordinator specially allocated to the issue of IDPs in Nigeria.

    Is any of these tasks, clashing with your educational pursuits?
    It cannot clash with my educational pursuit even when I go to medical school. It will only extend my scope of operations. How can you get tired of helping the vulnerable? Having a career that requires me to help people in whatever way I can is what I strive to achieve. Helping people with my career is more of a blessing to me than having the career myself.

    So, you are returning to Canada on December 30th, what are your plans to raise more funds for the IDPs or other aspects of charity activities?
    The next fundraiser in 2017 would be under my charity organization specially for a health-related cause. It is important to understand the problem just as much as finding the solution. Health issues have no border. There are health issues in Canada just as much as in Nigeria. I would have to understand to the health care system here in Nigeria in order for me to pick a particular health care issue I would want to focus on.

  • Ogbonna confident of Falconets revival

    Ogbonna confident of Falconets revival

    Falconets defender, Glory Ogbonna, has vowed that the team will fight on and revive their FIFA U20 FIFA World Cup trophy hopes as well as redeem Nigeria’s image in Papua New Guinea.

    Smarting from the shocking defeat on Sunday, Ogbonna, who plays for Ibom Angels, noted that the Japan experience is a wake up call to all the players to gird their loins for the Canada challenge. Fondly called ‘dependable’ by her teammates, the central defender stated that Nigeria’s footballing prowess and pride at the U20 Women level is at stake, vowing that Falconets would fight like wounded lionesses against Canada on Wednesday.

    “Collectively as a team we have accepted the fact that we started badly against Japan, but it doesn’t mean that we have given up because all hope is not lost. I believe that the reason for Sunday’s defeat was a clarion call for us as a team to wake up to the harsh realities on ground. If we had won or drawn that game, apparently, the whole team would feel that we have arrived.

    “Canada is a must-win for us and it is not negotiable. We have learnt our lessons in a bitter and humiliating way. I want to promise all Nigerians that we must redeem our image and march on in this tournament.”

    Nigeria will face Canada in their second Group B match on Wednesday, at the Bava Park Stadium in Port Moresby. Both countries are at the bottom of the table with no point.

  • Falconets down but not out – Dedevbo

    Falconets down but not out – Dedevbo

    Falconets Coach, Peter Dedevbo, has remained bullish despite the 6-0 walloping by Japan in Nigeria’s first match at the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Papua New Guinea on Sunday.

    Dedevbo, who acknowledged the superiority of the Japanese side, insisted that the Sunday’s result will not mark the end of the road for Nigeria in the tournament.

    He is optimistic that his girls will bounce back to pick maximum points from the remaining two matches in the group stage, and charged the players to put behind them the horror of the first game and focus on the Canada and Spain challenge.

    “We are down but not out, and this is the time for us to fight till the end of the competition. It would be fool –hardy for us to start feeling sorry for ourselves because it will affect our focus for the remaining games in the tournament.

    “I must acknowledge the fact that the Japanese side was good, even though I didn’t envisage the goal margin. The outcome means that we will return to the trenches and re-strategize.”

    Japan powered to victory through strikes from Mami Ueno and Yuka Momiki, who netted a hat -trick and brace respectively. The duo’s attacking force resulted in an own goal by Nigerian defender Mary Ologbosere. Yuka Momiki was named the Live Your Goal player of the match.

  • Ahead of FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup: Falconets depart for Papua New Guinea

    Ahead of FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup: Falconets depart for Papua New Guinea

    Nigeria’s Falconets have left the country for Papua New Guinea, a country 160km north of Australia on Monday.

    The team is placed in Group B alongside Spain, Canada and Japan and will play their first match against Japan on November, 13.

    Nigeria alongside four other countries have made it to all editions of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. However, the Super Falconets have lost in the finals in 2010 and 2014.

    In between, Nigeria finished fourth after losing the semi-finals to USA and the play-off to Japan. In 2002 and 2004, they were unable to make a mark in the group stages, while they were beaten in the quarter-finals in 2006 and 2008.

  • Canada promises assistance for exporters

    Canada promises assistance for exporters

    Canada has expressed willingness to provide a “match-making” assistance to Nigerian businessmen willing to export goods to Canada to take advantage of its business opportunities.

    It promised to link the Nigerian exporters with the right buyers for their goods and services.

    The Deputy Canadian High Commissioner on Trade to Nigeria, Mr. Marc Andre Savage gave this assurance yesterday in Lagos at an interactive forum with members of Association of Business people and Investors of Nigeria and Turkey (ABINAT).

    “We can assist Nigerian investors or local purchasers find the right buyers in Canada.

    “What we do is that we note all the information you are looking for and basically check our data base to see if there is a perfect match with what you are looking for and provide a list of several companies in Canada and let you decide on which one you want to transact with.

    “Therefore, we support companies who want to export to Canada and also assist business men to find the right companies of their choice,” Savage explained.

    The envoy expressed his country’s capability to assist Nigeria in the area of technology, mechanized farming and livestock production.

    He also urged Nigerians to engage in the exportation of rice to the country.

    Chairman of the occasion Chief Ochai Emmanuel noted the interaction is timely considering the rising rate of global economy and the need to share trade information among countries.

    He said: “Today, the world economy is rising steadily and the trend towards globalization has sharply accelerated.

    “We are more concerned of building a healthy trade environment which in turn will be a profitable venture towards economic globalization and facilitation of trade not only in Nigeria and Canada in a higher volume but by extension Turkey.”

  • ‘Canada, Tinubu committed to SDGs’

    ‘Canada, Tinubu committed to SDGs’

    The Private Sector Summit of the ongoing United Nations Global Assembly kicked off with focus on the role of business in advancing sustainable development goals (SDGs) to prevent global instability.

    Speaking at the forum on the theme: Securing the way forward, the Group Chief Executive of Oando Plc, Wale Tinubu said education, innovation, and good governance are key facets to sustainable long term socio-economic growth.

    “Education remains the most powerful empowerment tool within a community. Through our Foundation, we are addressing the issues of access and improving the quality of teaching and learning outcomes in primary schools, with a focus on the girl child. This has led to infrastructure projects primed to impact over 75,000 children nationwide, scholarship programmes aimed at enhancing over 9,700 lives, ICT centres geared towards over 170,000 direct beneficiaries, and teacher training programmes designed to support the lives of over 1.2 million pupils.

    “In line with the SDGs these efforts have addressed goals of quality education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation and partnerships. However, we have much more to do, our hope is that alongside the government and partners we will create a sustainable and equitable educational system to ensure the empowerment of every child,” he said.

    Tinubu was one of eight international speakers and the only African invited to speak at the UN Private Sector Summit.  Other speakers who pledged their support included RT. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, who spoke on: Realising Opportunity: A Story of Partnership and actor and UNICEF ambassador Ewan McGregor who spoke on: Inspiring Momentum – Accelerating Change, as well as, Simona Scarpaleggia, CEO, IKEA Switzerland, Carolyn Miles, President and CEO, Save the Children, Richard Curtis, SDG Advocate; Screen Writer, Producer and Film Director, Mats Granryd, Director General, GSMA and Kaan Terzioglu, CEO Turkcell.

    Tinubu is part of a high profile list of attendees from the Nigerian public and private sectors including President Muhammadu Buhari, First Lady Aisha Muhammadu Buhari; Aliko Dangote, President & CEO,  Dangote Group; and Jim Ovia, Zenith Bank Chairman.

    “Increased indigenous participation in varying projects across sectors is accompanied by greater accountability by all of us to ensure Africa fulfills its enormous potential. My commitment to help fulfil the SDGs is unwavering,” he said.

    Tinubu also addressed African corporates’ dedication towards effectiveness, accountability and transparency—key SDG pillars for building a responsible organisation focused on good corporate governance.

    Attendees at this year’s UN Global Assembly included top government officials, private sector leaders, UNICEF ambassadors, and humanitarians including UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon; Lise Kingo, Executive Director, UN Global Compact; H.E. Peter Thomson, President of the seventy-first session of the UNGA; President Barack Obama of the United States and for the first time Theresa May the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party.

  • US, France, UK, Canada assisting with technology to track Chibok girls—Minister

    US, France, UK, Canada assisting with technology to track Chibok girls—Minister

    Nigeria has been receiving technological assistance from the United States of America (USA), United kingdom (UK) France and Canada, among others, in tracking the location of the abducted Chibok girls, Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed said yesterday.

    Mohammed, who was responding to questions from newsmen after detailing efforts by the federal government to have the girls released from the  Boko Haram captivity  said the military’s containment of the terror sect  was being under celebrated in this country.

    He said:  “You know if the matter were that simple, it would have been resolved a long time ago. Let me start like this, you find out that in my address I said that many friendly countries have availed us of their technological and material resources and I am talking about advanced countries like US, UK, France, Canada, so it is not really as simple as you have said.

    “I will tell you this, when they say Sambisa Forest, what do you think it is Sambisa Forest. It is about 300 kilometres stretch; you know this is not Jabi Lake or Jabi Park. And in some of these areas we can’t even fly any helicopter because of the  density of  the forest.

    “More importantly, even if you identify the location of the girls, you will not want to open fire on them. And we know from all intelligence that these girls are kept in several places. If you attack one place where they are being kept, they may slaughter the others.”

    The minister insisted that the military was winning the war against Boko Haram.

    He added: “As for the efforts of winning the war, I think I have had occasions to say that the success of Nigerian military in winning this war of terrorism is rather under celebrated in this country.

    “I think those who live in the North East appreciated better what the government has achieved in the North East in the last couple of months.

    “Before now, nobody could travel to Maiduguri, Damaturu, Konduga, or Gwoza. Today, because we have liberated those areas, everybody can go there. Before we came, 14 out of the 20 local government areas of Borno alone were under the sovereignty of Boko Haram, but today not one single local government area is under their sovereignty.

    “Before now, it was with regularity that Boko Haram struck; now they have been dismantled, they have been decapitated, and all they do now is probably marauding.

    “Now, there are three ways by which insurgency might end, it is either insurgents overrun the government, and instill their own government; you know where it happened in many places in the world. Or both sides will be weary of war and sign a peace agreement. You saw what happened in Colombia recently.

    “Or the very rare case, where the government will wipe out insurgency and this is what is happening in Nigeria. So I think we must give that credit to Nigeria, to this administration for being able to deal decisively with Boko Haram insurgency.”

    On the activities of Bring Back Our Girls Group (BBOG), the minister said the group had legal right to protest within the ambit of the law.

    He said the group comprises intelligent people and the IGP warning to BBOG was only meant to protect security within the precincts of the Presidential Villa, but not to denigrate the campaigners.

    He said it was wrong to allege that the government had used and dumped the BBOG leaders.

    He said: “Now as to your question of using BBOG and dropping them, I think this is extremely, extremely unfair allegation. The BBOG, those people involved are Nigerians and many of them voluntarily joined BBOG, some of them were in PDP, some of them in APC, it was their choice.

    “Does it mean the fact that because one of them who was far more political, who was also involved in BBOG, has been given an appointment, we have now picked some and dropped some?

    “I don’t think so and we did not use anybody and dump anybody. Absolutely, it is not correct. I think it is an unfair way to look at the episode unfolding.  And you see they are very intelligent people.

    “From my understanding, the IGP was more concerned about securing the Villa. Every Nigerian has the right to protest under the ambit of the law.”

    Mohammed pleaded for understanding on the case of Chibok girls because hostage-taking and liberation require much time.

    He said: “In 1978 when Iranian students  held some Americans hostage in the embassy, how long did it take for the negotiation and for the release? In that situation, they were kept within the embassy of the US in Tehran.

    “These girls were kidnapped in April 2014; we didn’t come in until May 2015, one full year after which the trail had gone very, very cold.

    “We are not trading blame, but we are saying that is it really, morally right for you not to appreciate the efforts we have made, between 2015 and today when there is no absolute record of any effort that was made for a whole one year?

    “And please you must understand that you are dealing with the lives of very young girls. Within one year, terrorists had the opportunity of hiding them anywhere in the world.

    “We tell you here that these were the efforts we have made in 2015; these are the ones we have made in 2016. And, of course, I will not be here and tell you precisely what we have done in 2016, because that will jeopardize investigations. As I speak to you, of course, they are also listening, they read newspapers.

    “On the issue of credible people, of course, you follow every lead, but you make sure that you know who you are dealing with. Like I said in my preamble, some of the lists we got were credible and some were not so credible and some were completely out of track.

    “And you see when you are in this type of situation, trying to release hostages, it is not like the Olympic Games where you can tell them that you have won one gold today and another one tomorrow, anybody can watch it. It is extremely, extremely covert operations.”

     

  • Canada slams extra 15% property tax on foreign buyers

    A new tax for foreign property buyers is being introduced in British Columbia in Canada in an attempt to cool escalating house prices.

    The 15 per cent foreign buyer tax came into effect  at a time when prices in the province’s capital city, Vancouver, are escalating.

    Indeed, the latest global cities index from international real estate firm, Knight Frank, showed that prices in the city have increased by 17.3 per cent in the mainstream market and by 26.3 per cent in the prime market in the year to March 2016.

    Policy makers have been looking at ways to cool price inflation in recent months and the new tax will relate to residential purchases in Metro Vancouver, an area that extends from Bowen Island to Maple Ridge/Langley Township.

    According to Knight Frank, in real terms the new tax will result in an extra $300,000 in property transfer tax based on a property bought for $2 million by a foreign citizen. This figure will rise to $1.5 million for a $10 million home.

    The latest government data shows foreign buyers, mainly from China, purchased more than $1 billion worth of property in British Colombia between June 10, 2016 and July 14, 2016 of which around 86 per cent was located in the Lower Mainland.

    The foreign buyer tax will also apply to corporations that purchase residential real estate and the British Columbia Government has the power to examine the citizenship status of directors and the beneficiaries of corporate profits in deciding whether to add taxes. The resulting revenue from the new tax will be spent on housing affordability projects.

    However, Knight Frank points out that some loopholes exist and details as to how it will be policed remain unclear. For example, the tax itself relies on buyers self reporting their nationality and providing a social insurance number, backed up by new auditing procedures and penalties. However,  it is unclear whether a resident with citizenship could buy a property by proxy for a family member living abroad.

    “There is no doubt that the new law will cool sales volumes and prices as foreign buyers absorb the additional cost implications. It is worth noting that the planned legislation also allows the BC cabinet to alter the foreign tax rate by between 10 per cent and 20 per cent at a later date and expand it to outside the Lower Mainland,” the firm explained.