> selling it [..] can introduce additional taxes Hmm, can you provide an example? The deferment programs are only available on one's principal residence. Sale

> selling it [..] can introduce additional taxes Hmm, can you provide an example? The deferment programs are only available on one's principal residence. Sale of principal residences are exempt from capital gains in Canada. > it's _their home_ I get that it's your home and it would be sad to sell it. It would be sad to sell it when you're 30, too. But let's say we rationalize it as being OK to evict a 30-year-old, but not OK to evict a 55-year-old. I still have issue with the fact that: * there's not a means test * the interest charged doesn't match market interest, so when you finally die and your estate settles up with the government, you've paid less tax than the fellow down the road due to interest rate arbitrage I can't find usage stats on BC's tax deferment program, which is a shame as theirs seems the most open to abuse. e.g. this CFP [1] recommends that anyone who can (i.e. is over 55) take advantage of it, regardless of financial need. Which makes sense: it is one of the few ways in Canada to transfer your personal tax burden onto others. [1]: http://business.financialpost.com/2011/05/31/property-taxes-defer-them/ http://business.financialpost.com/2011/05/31/property-taxes-...