The reason for public space decline is that there is a large and growing population not paying enough or any tax (for example, foreign buyers who don't pay income tax, student proxy buyers who don't pay income tax, high numbers of immigrants on social benefits or at minimum wage not paying tax etc.) and property taxes only cover a certain portion. It is what happens when ill considered high immigration policy and foreign money distorts a market and does not contribute to the social benefit taxes in a place like Canada. It is happening all over the world. It is an indicator of the financial gap between rich and poor.

It was just reported that a huge company from asia in Vancouver at the financial luring by our governments just revealed they are a residential investment company using asian money to target residential buys as a proxy owner (so no foreign buyer tax) and not a manufacturing company as touted. The reveal in Vancouver was that 75% of the demand was driven by foreign buyers