The chair of the Vancouver School Board is concerned the provincial government appears to be taking more money away from classrooms. Every year, the province gives school districts grant money to upgrade their buildings, about $ 110 million in total. For the upcoming school year, Patti Bacchus says the ministry has told districts it's giving … [Read more...]
Transportation Minister draws a firm line in transit funding fight
February 15, 2013 by
BC's Transportation minister doesn't seem to be too worried about a looming deadline from the mayors council over transit funding. Mary Polak says while the mayors have some options the perception Translink will just run out of money and have to cut services is not accurate. "Translink won't run out of money. The mayors could if they chose, vote to … [Read more...]
Mayors stick to deadline on transit funding demands
February 7, 2013 by
The Mayor of Vancouver says he and his fellow mayors are sticking to their deadline when it comes to finding a solution on transit funding. Gregor Robertson says if no new funding is found by February 28th the impact on the transit system will be immediate. "If there isn't money found in the budget or new money that is put forward by the BC … [Read more...]
No progress between mayors and the province in Translink funding
December 5, 2012 by
Slow progress so far from Metro Vancouver mayors to agree with Translink and the province on how to fund transit expansion in the region. Transportation minister Mary Polak has met with the mayors council for Translink for the first time since the mayors voted no on hiking property taxes to pay for plan. She says the mayors haven't yet come up with … [Read more...]
Mayors urging Transportation Minister to commit to funding plan pre-election
December 3, 2012 by
BC Transportation Minister Mary Polak will meet with the Mayor’s Council for Translink this week to tackle the thorny issue of transit funding shortfalls. The council is seeking long-term funding to help deal with a multimillion dollar budget shortfall without raising taxes. Langley Mayor and Vice Chair of the Council Peter Fassbender says he … [Read more...]
HandyDART employees protest funding freeze
December 1, 2012 by
HandyDART employees held a small protest at Broadway and Commercial in Vancouver on Saturday to protest Translink's funding freeze of their service over the next three years. Mark Beeching, a training instructor at HandyDART, says seniors and the disabled will likely have to turn to taxis. Even at half price under the taxi saver program, he says … [Read more...]
Mayors say Translink fare hikes will not address funding shortfall
November 15, 2012 by
After Translink announced transit fares will be going up in the new year the Vice Chair of the Mayors Council admits running the system isn't an easy task. Langley City mayor Peter Fassbender says when it comes to transit affordability is always an issue. "It always is a challenge. On one hand there are people who say we should have a … [Read more...]
UPDATES: Speaker defends “transitional funding” for recalled MLA’s
November 8, 2012 by
The Speaker of the Legislature is defending a decision made behind closed doors to give transitional allowances of 127-thousand dollars to MLA's who are recalled. The decision was approved by both Liberal and NDP MLA's on the legislative assembly management committee in February of 2011. Speaker Blll Barisoff says the committee decided the … [Read more...]
FVRD looking to block funding for Metro Vancouver waste to energy incinerator
October 27, 2012 by
The gloves are coming off in the battle over building a waste to energy incinerator between the Fraser Valley Regional District and Metro Vancouver. As a controversy swirls over tonnes of toxic ash pumped out by a Burnaby incinerator that was shipped to Cache Creek for months with no warning FVRD Chair Sharon Gaetz seems to be saying enough … [Read more...]
Despite what the Premier said her government is working with mayors on transit funding
October 23, 2012 by
The same day Premier Christy Clark said Translink funding is the mayors problem, the chair of the mayors council was talking with the Transportation minister. Richard Walton says he left the discussion with Mary Polak feeling hopeful a solution to long term sustainable transit funding can be found. "Absolutely I got a sense of hope and I think … [Read more...]
