An NPA Vancouver councillor is warning city residents the tax hikes approved by council today will actually be higher than what is being advertised. George Affleck says when you factor in all the variables it will be higher than the predicted 2.75%. "When you include utilities you are looking at a 3 to 4% tax increase for residents of … [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...]
6 Hikes with Luxury Hotel Perks
August 9, 2012 by
Hotels with stunning, natural settings have started to offer hikes with luxe perks like spa treatments and post-hike feasts. Because no one should ever hike outdoors without amenities to sweeten the deal. Fodor's Travel News … [Read more...]
Toews hikes room and board for inmates, eliminates perks
May 9, 2012 by
Saying he wants to restore balance in the criminal justice system, Public Safety Minister Vic Toews is taking aim at perks for prisoners. In a tweet Wednesday morning, Toews says he recently learned some inmates in Canadian prisons had access to porn on their televisions, so he has put at end it. Toews is also increasing the amount inmates are … [Read more...]
Columbia’s GPS Pal app for Android and iOS logs your hikes, geotags memories (video)
April 26, 2012 by
Move over, My Tracks -- you've got serious company. Google's own adventure tracking app just got majorly one-upped by a company that also happens to make heated jackets. Columbia's just-launched GPS Pal app is not only available on both Android and iOS, but it's actually designed to be used with a user account so that activity logs are neatly … [Read more...]
Langley City Mayor warns of more RCMP wage hikes
April 25, 2012 by
As municipalities take more time to examine the new RCMP contract after surprise pay hikes, there might be another hit to their budgets coming. Langley City Mayor, and municipal observer to the RCMP contract talks, Peter Fassbender says another retroactive RCMP pay hike is still in the courts. "We don't know what the outcome of that is going to be … [Read more...]
Lower Mainland mayors meet to discuss RCMP pay hikes
April 21, 2012 by
Lower Mainland mayors met Friday, one day removed from a province-wide conference call, to talk again about RCMP pay hikes, and the costs. Langley City Mayor Peter Fassbender says the wage hikes "threw sand in the gears" for some mayors who want clarification. When asked if any city is seriously thinking about not signing the new 20 … [Read more...]
The municipal observer to the RCMP contract talks is still waiting to hear from Ottawa over surprise RCMP wage hikes.
April 11, 2012 by
A week after sending a letter to the Federal Public Safety Minister, after surprise RCMP pay hikes, and there is still no answer from Ottawa. Langley city Mayor, and municipal observer to the RCMP talks, Peter Fassbender says the message from mayors and the province is blunt. He said "We have made it clear minister Bond and her staff … [Read more...]
The Mayor of Richmond says RCMP wage hikes will be topic #1 at meeting with mayors and the mounties.
April 9, 2012 by
The long weekend has done little to blunt the anger of mayors of lower mainland RCMP jurisdictions, who will meet April 20th to talk about the surprise RCMP wage hikes. Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie says the raises could equal a $ 2-3 million hit to the city budget, or a 2% tax hike. He said "At that meeting I am going to be wanting … [Read more...]
Clark comments on surprise RCMP wage hikes
For her part, Premier Christy Clark says her heart is with municipalities now saddled with the cost of surprise RCMP wage increases.Clark admits the wage increases are tough for municipalities and property taxpayers to swallow, but notes the good news is, thanks to the new RCMP contract, this type of surprise will never happen again."This decision, … [Read more...]