March 18, 2024

Mayor’s former foster son gets prison time

Jinagh Navas-Rivas has been handed prison time on drug offences. He's the former foster son of Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson. He's been handed  four years on two counts of cocaine trafficing and weapons offences. Earlier in the day, the mayor spoke about his former foster son's legal troubles. "All I'd say is he is in court today, he has … [Read more...]

Mayors frustrated over Province putting off transit decisions until May

Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts says she's frustrated that any decisions on transit expansion in the Lower Mainland is going to have to wait until after May’s Provincial Election. Transportation Minister Mary Polak has said just that, as have other mayors already. But watts appears okay to wait, reiterating that the first thing to be done after May … [Read more...]

Surrey’s Mayor says next transit project isn’t up to Metro Van mayors

The Mayor of Surrey says despite what the Transportation Minister says it is not the role of mayors to chose the next transit project to go ahead. Dianne Watts says both skytrain expansion in Surrey and rapid transit along Broadway can both go ahead. "I am sure the minister well knows that the independent board has that task and it is within … [Read more...]

Mayors stick to deadline on transit funding demands

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...]

The Mayors Council propses tax for transit users

The Mayors Council on Regional Transportation has tabled five funding options for consideration by the province.  Council Chair and North Vancouver District Mayor Richard Walton says it includes what he calls a minor regional sales tax. "We are probably only talking about you know point-one or point-two or point -three percent it may be as … [Read more...]

Mayors not happy as RCMP move into new Surrey headquarters

The RCMP have begun moving into its new Surrey headquarters and at least one mayor is not happy about it. The Mounties are moving into the Green Timbers facility in phases with everyone moved in by mid-April.  Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan is shaking his head as the RCMP make the move, noting the cost to local governments remains a mystery. "We … [Read more...]

Translink defends against Delta mayor’s criticism

Translink officials admit it’s hard to deliver transit south of the Fraser River, but they disagree with the Mayor of Delta’s claims that her community is poorly served.  Bob Paddon with Translink says service in north Delta is on par with elsewhere, but he admits south Delta is a different story. "The cost of somebody getting on … [Read more...]

No progress between mayors and the province in Translink funding

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

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...]

Olivia Chow mulls bid for Toronto mayor’s chair

As Toronto loses its mayor in a  conflict of interest case a prominent name on the federal political scene is being asked to run for the job. Olivia Chow, wife of late NDP leader Jack Layton, says she hasn't made any decisions yet. But the NDP's Transport critic and Toronto-Spadina MP says there is an effort underway for her to jump into civic … [Read more...]