Something like this was suggested by economists at the local university. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/bc-professors-call-for-property-s

Something like this was suggested by economists at the local university. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/bc-professors-call-for-property-surtax-on-vacant-vancouver-housing/article28235302/ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/bc-prof... The Mayor of Vancouver is also interested in taxing non-occupancy and in the same special session of the legislative assembly that passed the 15% foreign buyer tax the Province granted the City of Vancouver (but not others) the powers to tax non-occupancy. It can be pretty involved to find out occupancy and the City has limited means so it'll be interesting to see if that goes anywhere.