Vaughn Palmer: NDP backs down on half-baked speculation tax

VICTORIA — After weeks of uncertainty, confusion and complaints, Finance Minister Carole James finally backed down Monday on the most contentious aspects of the NDP government’s half-baked tax on real estate speculation.
First and foremost, the New Democrats no longer intend to treat most British Columbian owners of vacation and recreational properties as real estate speculators in their own province.
Second, many of the province’s prime vacation and holiday communities were pl