Hi, Lee.  I can understand it if you chose to read/watch/hear news stories closer to your (Ontario?) location.  But "without much fanfare" and "just do it" don't apply to B.C. decision-making around the foreign owner tax. 

It appeared that the B.C. provincial government was dragged kicking and screaming into imposing the 15% tax.  People were on MLA's backs for MONTHS before the decision was finally made.  Having made it, people shouted, "well about time!" and "Too little too late!" "Shoulda been 25%!"  

When the tax kicked in (in Sept., after "foreign buyers" and their "dirty", "illegitimate" "money-laundered" funds were said to be the cause of the spiraling prices for about 5 years), what happened? 

Read closely, and beware the "quick fix" of the magical tax: Between Sept. and Dec. foreign buyer deals SKYROCKETED. Then the number fell.  When CHINA changed the rules--not BC.

Still, Ont. language is right: Non-resident Speculators.  Language not heard or read in B.C.