[verelo]

Hint: Governments have more perceived control than actual control.

It's seriously disappointing, but if the claims by people crying out about "Chinese money" are correct, 15% was never going to be enough. If your concern as an individual is your currency losing 50% of it's value over night [likely worse case for these individuals], then a 15% tax, even in a bubble market starts to look like a good deal.

[gpm]

But that shouldn't be the alternative for these individuals. The alternative should be doing the same thing somewhere without a tax. Say... Toronto.

[verelo]

Which they are, but in the case that you need to get to your 'asset' Vancouver is a hell of a lot closer so it's a preferable option. As someone who regularly commutes to the other side of the world, i feel like what I'm saying probably sounds odd if you don't...but i suspect this is a major factor.