Latest news with #Cathcart
Global News
15-05-2025
- Business
- Global News
Canadian real estate market entering a ‘transition period,' says CREA
The latest data suggests Canada's housing market may be showing a sense of calm amid an uncertain trade war, and that things may be starting to slowly pick up. According to the latest report from the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), April saw actual home sales fall 9.8 per cent compared to the same period in 2024. 'Actual' in this sense means the data counts the total number of sales recorded in the month. However, on a seasonally-adjusted basis, the report for April showed national home sales were virtually unchanged from March of this year, with a drop of 0.1 per cent. This 'seasonally-adjusted' method of analysis is preferred by most economists because it eliminates seasonal variations and highlights the underlying economic picture. 'Sales have been falling rapidly, really since January 20th, when the tariffs were first announced, we could see it in daily data,' says senior economist Shaun Cathcart at CREA. Story continues below advertisement 'And so as of March, we were 20 per cent down from just November, and that's huge. What stood out in April was that we didn't fall at all, just sort of paused. So in that sense, I guess flat is the new up.' 4:10 Pressure for the Bank of Canada to lower interest rates The report also shows the number of new properties added to the real estate market fell by one per cent in April compared to March, and the MLS Home Price Index (the average listing price) fell 1.2 per cent. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Compared to 2024, listing prices fell an average of 3.6 per cent across Canada, and the actual sale price was down 3.9 per cent compared to April of last year. 'So sellers are definitely willing to give a little bit, understanding that it's not the same market that it was four years ago, but it's not to the point where prices are in free fall,' says Cathcart. Story continues below advertisement 'It's still a negotiation, and I think people are still coming to a mutually agreed upon result at this point.' 4:55 New cabinet role puts former Vancouver mayor back in the spotlight The outlook for the trade war has many buyers and sellers waiting on the sidelines to see how tariffs will develop, as well as interest rates determined by the Bank of Canada which affects mortgage rates for home buyers. This new data from CREA suggests the real estate market may have already seen the worst of the impacts. 'Right now we're in the transition period between uncertainty and the certainty that this (trade war) is going to be damaging to our economy,' says Cathcart. 'I think that the fear, the risk is if we have massive layoffs, then you'd get a lot of people that have to sell and can't wait and can't negotiate and just have to get rid of that asset. We're not there yet, but certainly that's the risk of this trade war.'
Calgary Herald
15-05-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Canadian home sales drop almost 10% from last year in return to 'quiet market'
Home sales in Canada were down almost 10 per cent from last year in April, but were unchanged from the month before, the first month without a decline since the beginning of the year, the Canadian Real Estate Association said Thursday. Article content National home sales were -0.1 per cent in April compared to the previous month, in which they declined 4.8 per cent from February. Actual, not seasonally adjusted monthly activity was 9.8 per cent below the same month last year. Article content Article content 'Given the increasing potential for a rough economic patch ahead, the risk going forward will be if an average number of people trying to sell their homes turns into a large number of people who have to sell their homes, and that's something we have not seen in decades,' said Cathcart. Article content The number of newly listed properties fell one per cent from March. Article content Home prices, based on the MLS home price index, were down 1.2 per cent month-over-month and 3.6 per cent year-over-year. The actual national average sale price was down 3.9 per cent on a year-over-year basis. Article content The report said 183,000 properties were listed for sale on all Canadian MLS® Systems at the end of April 2025, which is up 14.3 per cent from last year but still below the long-term average of around 201,000 listings for this time of the year. Article content
Cision Canada
12-05-2025
- General
- Cision Canada
Electrical Safety Authority Reminds Ontarians to Keep a Safe Distance from Powerlines
Powerlines are unforgiving and deadly; ESA shares lifesaving tips this Powerline Safety Week MISSISSAUGA, ON, May 12, 2025 /CNW/ - To mark Powerline Safety Week (May 12-18), the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) is reminding Ontarians to keep a safe distance from powerlines and avoid distractions when working near them, both at home and at work. Always stay at least three metres away from overhead powerlines and 10 metres away from downed powerlines. Powerline contacts are the leading cause of electrical facilities in Ontario, with 22 deaths and over 1,400 incidents in the past decade. In 2024, four more lives were lost due to electrical contact. "Too many Ontarians stray too close to powerlines, putting their safety and lives at risk," said Patience Cathcart, Director of Data Science and Public Safety Officer, Electrical Safety Authority. "It's critical to stay alert and avoid distractions when working near powerlines. The simple act of answering a call or text message could cause you to lose focus and lead to an accidental contact. Minimizing distractions could save your life." Most powerline incidents are reported between May and October, when construction season is underway, and more people are doing outdoor projects. According to the latest Ontario Electrical Safety Report, in the last five years, 50 per cent of non-occupational electrical fatalities were due to powerline contacts. Despite the real danger posed by powerlines, many people are not careful enough around them. In fact, 27 per cent of Ontarians say they rarely or never identify overhead powerlines before doing outdoor chores. "Powerlines are unforgiving and deadly," says Cathcart. "Failing to locate powerlines or coming in contact with them through tools or equipment can lead to tragedy. Reduce the risk of the serious injury by always keeping yourself and equipment three metres away from overhead powerlines and 10 metres away from downed powerlines." Here are some essential tips to stay safe around powerlines: KEEP 3 METRES AWAY FROM OVERHEAD POWERLINES. You don't have to touch a powerline to get a deadly shock. Electricity can jump or "arc" to you or your tools if you get too close. Stay about the length of a 10-step ladder away from powerlines, and if you're carrying a ladder or an extended tool, hold it horizontally. KEEP 10 METRES AWAY FROM DOWNED POWERLINES. If you see a downed powerline, always assume it is live and deadly – it doesn't have to move to be energized. A downed powerline can electrify the ground around it, so stay at least the length of a school bus away. If you see a downed line, call 911 and the local electrical distribution company to report it. LOCATE POWERLINES. Before starting any outdoor work or debris clean up, locate all powerlines nearby. Look up for overhead powerlines and for those buried underground. Before digging, contact Ontario One Call to locate all utility-owned underground infrastructure. You may also require a private locate for underground wires that are not utility-owned. ELIMINATE DISTRACTIONS. Remove any potential distractions, like your phone, before working near powerlines. A text message, call or notification can easily distract workers, leading to risks of a serious injury or death. You can find more powerline safety tips at About the Electrical Safety Authority The Electrical Safety Authority's (ESA's) role is to improve public electrical safety in Ontario. ESA is an administrative authority responsible for administering specific regulations under the Electricity Act, 1998 (Part VIII) related to the Ontario Electrical Safety Code, the licensing of Electrical Contractors and Master Electricians, electricity distribution system safety, and electrical product safety. ESA works extensively with stakeholders throughout the province on education, training and promotion to foster electrical safety across the province.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Spokane overhauls homeless strategy after camping ban struck down by state Supreme Court
This story was originally published on The City of Spokane is overhauling its strategy regarding its homeless population after the Washington State Supreme Court struck down the city's camping ban last month. Mayor Lisa Brown announced a new comprehensive homeless plan Thursday, which includes adding housing units at all income levels, expanding home ownership, and increasing healthcare access in the city. 'We have needed a plan for years, and now we have one,' Brown said. 'Some of that is rental assistance, some of that is working with people to prevent evictions, some of that is connecting them with resources they're qualified for but they don't even know it.' The plan has been dubbed 'Home Starts Here.' Under this plan, if officials discover an encampment, the housing outreach team would have seven days to connect that unhoused person with services provided by the city, according to KXLY. If they remain after a week, police can remove the tent, but officers still would have to work to connect these people with services for housing or treatment. The City of Spokane wants to avoid homeless people 'just (moving) from one area to the next.' Proposals responding to the rejection of Proposition 1 will be discussed in upcoming city council meetings. Spokane's Proposition 1, which outlawed homeless people from setting up campsites within 1,000 feet of schools, parks, and childcare facilities throughout the city, with a few designated areas established in the outskirts, was overruled by the state Supreme Court. The decision came despite approximately 75% of Spokane voters approving Prop. 1 last November. The 2018 Martin v. Boise federal court decision was cited in the decision. That case led to the ruling that cities could not criminalize a homeless person sleeping on public property unless shelter space was available. Council members Jonathan Bingle and Michael Cathcart, who represent the conservative minority of Spokane's city leadership, claimed they were left in the dark with this decision. 'The majority loves to leave out the word majority; they do this consistently,' Cathcart told The Center Square after Brown made her announcement. 'They act as though something has been collaborated with all of the council, and it's simply not true. There was no conversation with myself.' Brown and other officials held a briefing with local media outlets last week so they could ask questions ahead of the announcement of 'Home Starts Here.' Bingle and Cathcart claimed they weren't told about this until just hours before the unveiling. 'There was absolutely a private press conference, a gaggle, whatever it is, and I don't know who all was there, but I was told it was written media,' Cathcart told The Center Square. Cathcart received an invite for a Thursday meeting and announcement of 'Home Starts Here,' but wasn't told what it was about. Bingle added that he received an invitation for the 8:30 a.m. meeting with the mayor, like the rest of the council, but claimed his invite said 9 a.m. Brown also had to leave shortly after Bingle arrived, so there wasn't much back and forth regarding the proposed overhaul. The administration and council majority 'aren't interested in working with' him or Cathcart, Bingle told The Center Square. Follow Frank Sumrall on X. Send news tips here.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Spokane City Council declines to reinstate Prop 1 after state Supreme Court strikes it down
Apr. 21—The Spokane City Council voted 4-3 Tuesday to not move forward with reinstating Proposition 1, the anti-homeless camping law approved overwhelmingly by voters that was struck down by the Washington Supreme Court on Thursday. Proposition 1, supported by 75% of voters in 2023, banned any camping within 1,000 feet of parks, schools and licensed daycare facilities, making violations a cite-and-release misdemeanor offense. The state Supreme Court's majority ruling argued the proposition had gone outside the legal bounds for a local initiative, though did not make a ruling on the merits of the law, leaving it open for the City Council to reinstate the law through ordinance. Councilman Michael Cathcart called for a suspension of council rules to allow the quick consideration of an ordinance that would have reintroduced Proposition 1's provisions verbatim into city code. Council members Jonathan Bingle and Zack Zappone joined him in voting for the expedited process. Councilwoman Kitty Klitzke suggested that council members should wait for guidance from police leadership due Wednesday on possible modifications to the law before reintroducing some variation for council consideration. "The day after (Prop 1) was overturned, I met with my precinct captain, and I asked, what would you do if you were able to write this law, if we had to do it over again?" Klitzke said. "I would really like to be able to hear feedback from them and draft something that really works, and possibly has a broader scope." Cathcart said he would be willing to consider modifications of Proposition 1 — after the council wrote it back into city law. "We are at a point at time where the public expects this law is on the books, and to not reimplement when we have the power to do so is disrespectful to them," Cathcart said. Councilman Paul Dillon argued that the popularity of the law should not guide whether the council reimplements it. He noted that there is ongoing litigation on the merits of the law and also called for significant modifications before something comes before the council for a vote.
