The provincial government of British Columbia in west Canada on Wednesday ruled out any change to the controversial tax levied on residential property purchased by foreigners.
B.C. Premier Christy Clark said in the provincial capital of Victoria that her job was to "make sure we put British Columbians first. So we are not going to be exempting anyone, we are not exempting pre-sales, we are not amending the legislation to change pre-sales."
Clark was referring to the new rule introduced by the B.C. government on Monday, under which a 15-percent foreign buyer tax will be applied to residential real estate deals in Metro Vancouver -- Vancouver City and its surrounding areas -- to curb surging housing prices.
As many as 3,000 pre-sale deals (mainly condos) by non-Canadians will be hit by the new policy, according to Canada's Urban Development Institute.
Clark said her government is on "good legal ground" and people have a week to close their deals before the tax takes effect on Aug. 2.
Many local realtors complained about the new rule, saying it would drive foreign investment away from the real estate market and adversely affect the local economy.
