Anshu Arora LLM, MSc, PMP

Last year, 71% of companies reported they had implemented many DEI-related actions since 2020, according to KPMG’s 2022 DEI progress survey. More than eight in 10 chief human resource officers report their companies are increasing their investment in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) programs, according to a Gallup survey on behalf of the Harvard Business Review. Those investments range from providing DEI-focused employee resource groups to unconscious bias training to reviews of hiring and promotion policies.

But U.S. workers are saying it’s not enough to move the needle. Only 33% of workers believe their employer has fair organizational processes in place, according to a new report released Thursday from Catalyst that surveyed over 24,000 workers from more than 20 countries, including the U.S. Women (28%) and nonbinary employees (24%) are even less likely to regard their companies as fair places to work.

Not only are so many workers seeing inequities in their organizations—a significant number of Americans say there’s no accountability. About 52% of American workers believe their companies hold leaders accountable for diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, Catalyst finds. And this is not just a U.S. problem; global workers had nearly identical responses. “Right now, more than probably ever before, employees and prospective employees are looking to work for responsible organizations and they're really drawn to the types of organizations that take DEI seriously—they want to see accountability,” Emily Shaffer, report author and Catalyst’s director of research, tells Fortune.

Employees are twice as likely to say they experienced inclusion at work when their senior leaders are held accountable for meeting DEI goals. And workers are five times more likely to experience inclusion when they believe their employer has fair and equitable policies in place, Catalyst finds. This can have a huge impact on companies’ recruiting and retention efforts—particularly among younger workers. More than half of Gen Z workers refuse to consider jobs at organizations that lack diversity, and 62% report they’d be more likely to apply if a company committed to equal pay. “Change takes time, but I think what organizations really need to do is show their employees how they're making strides to accomplish their DEI goals, and how they're going to involve their employees in decision making,” Shaffer says. “It's the only way that companies are going to stay competitive.”

#DEI

#money

#realestate

#anshu

#kingslistings

#apple

#google

#billions

#trillions

#tesla

#surreycondoking

#land

#invest

#enjoy

#summer

#travel

The B.C. government will overhaul municipal zoning rules to allow for more so-called “missing-middle” housing, such as townhomes and multiplex homes on single-family lots. It will also introduce a flipping tax and legalize all secondary suites as part of Premier David Eby’s housing strategy announced on Monday.

Critics, however, said the plan lacks specific details and a sense of urgency since most of the required legislation won’t be introduced until the fall. There are also concerns that upzoning single-family lots could push land prices up further as homeowners jockey to sell to developers at the highest price.

“Simply put, we need to build more homes for people faster,” Eby said during a news conference in Victoria. Later this year, the NDP will introduce legislation that will allow three to four units on a traditional single-family detached lot, and even higher density in areas close to transit hubs. “Single-family detached homes are out of reach for many middle-class people. And one- or two-bedroom condos often don’t meet the needs of growing families. Family friendly neighbourhoods need more small-scale, multi-unit homes.”

Once passed, the new legislation will mean that when a multi-unit development on a single-family lot goes before a municipal council, as long as it meets all the parameters around setbacks and size, the council must approve the project. The debate over missing-middle housing has been divisive in many communities, with proponents calling for creative solutions that will make owning a home more attainable. Opponents question whether missing-middle housing will actually bring prices down.

#buy

#realestate

#anshu

#kingslistings

#vancouvercondoking

#google

Victoria is no stranger to the international spotlight and now Forbes just named YYJ as one of the best places to travel to in 2023.

BC’s capital city made the cut in the renowned magazine’s “The 23 Best Places To Travel Around The World In 2023, Chosen By The Experts” roundup, which singled out just two spots in Canada.“This year, the picks for where to go in 2023 span the gamut from European capitals to exotic beach escapes to sustainable rainforest retreats,” Forbes stated.

With so many things to do, narrowing down an itinerary for a quick weekend trip to YYJ can be a challenge — but we got you covered.

#buy

#sell

#travel

#enjoy

#anshu

#kingslistings

#realestate

Buoyed by the momentum of the Senakw project on Kitsilano reserve at the south end of the Burrard Street Bridge in Vancouver, the Squamish Nation announced it has begun exploring the development of its other properties across the BC South Coast.

A year-long planning process will be undertaken by the First Nation to identify the development opportunities of its four reserve clusters totalling about 350 acres, with over half of the land area situated on the North Shore of Metro Vancouver. This includes exploring development opportunities of an 11.5-acre strip of the Capilano reserve along Marine Drive east of the Lions Gate Bridge — between the bridge’s interchange and McGuire Avenue. This represents a small fraction of the overall Capilano reserve size of about 400 acres (including the water area) in West Vancouver and North Vancouver District.

At the northern end of the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge in North Vancouver District, the First Nation will plan the development potential of a cluster of 13 reserve sites that surround the bridge’s northern end and are within close proximity to TransLink’s Phibbs bus exchange. The reserves at the north end of the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge include waterfront properties currently being used for industrial purposes, as well as the land of Real Canadian Superstore. The combined size of the reserve parcels near the north end of the bridge in the Second Narrows is about 112 acres.

As part of the planning process for these sites, the First Nation has enacted a temporary moratorium that signals to prospective partners, including private developers, that they are currently not accepting any unsolicited proposals to engage in a partnership for the development of these lands. At this time, the First Nation has not determined what kind of density and uses could be achieved at these sites. The forthcoming planning process will determine what kind of uses and scale the development sites can handle and the order of the projects.

The First Nation has a 50% stake in Senakw, with local developer Westbank holding 30% and the OP Trust, Ontario Public Service Employees Union, and Government of Ontario pension fund holding 20%. Over the century-plus lifespan of the Senakw buildings, the project is expected to generate revenue in excess of $20 billion, with the First Nation gaining 50%, providing lasting generational wealth and economic security.

#billions

#realestate

#kingslistings

#land

#anshu

#luxury

#kingslistings

One of the proposed measures announced in the 2022 federal budget is set to become a reality this week. Banks can officially start offering the Tax-Free First Home Savings Account (FHSA) on April 1, according to the 2023 fiscal budget. As part of Ottawa’s robust housing plan, it aims to help Canadians save for a down payment to buy their first home.

The new registered plan gives prospective first-time homebuyers the ability to save $40,000 on a tax-free basis. The government compares it to the Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) in that contributions to the FHSA will be tax-deductible. And just like a Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA), withdrawals to purchase a first home—including from investment income—will be non-taxable.

“Tax-free in; tax-free out,” reads the budget. The annual maximum contribution to the account is $8,000 per year. The government is estimating that the FHSA would provide $725 million in support over five years.

#buy

#sell

#invest

#kingslistings

#google

#billions

#trillions

#land

#realestate

#vancouvercondoking