Fun to read someone so wrong on all accounts. (i) Natural resources have been declining as a share of economic activity for decades. (ii) Services and technology are by far the largest and fastest growing parts of the economy. (iii) Investments in education, healthcare, transit are public goods that drive higher growth (compare Canadian and US economic growth. I am not sure you you intend by 'my cohort'. I do know that my property taxes in Vancouver are a tad lower than they were in Boston.