Vancouver's mayor says Ottawa is committed to a long term infrastructure plan but the big question still remains, how much will they put on the table. Gregor Robertson just returned from Ottawa where he pressed the feds on their infrastructure plan. "I am hopeful we have a good strong committment the question is the scale and whether the federal … [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...]
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...]
Mayors give province a deadline for Translink funding solutions
October 18, 2012 by
The Mayors Council for Translink has voted to pass the "hot potato" issue of transit funding back to the provincial government. A motion tabled by Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson passed, setting a hard deadline of February 28th for the province to help solve transit funding woes. Robertson says it also rules out any new property taxes to fund … [Read more...]
Chair of the mayors council for Translink gives audit findings a frosty reception
October 16, 2012 by
The new Translink savings found in a provincial government audit are not carved in stone according to the chair of the mayors council. Richard Walton says cutting service to create savings is simply not ideal. "Eleven million dollars worth of savings from decreasing routes that aren't full and very often those are on weekends and late at night and … [Read more...]
Dix addresses mayors at UBCM
September 27, 2012 by
NDP leader Adrian Dix says governments should balance their budgets, but only over what he calls the "business cycle." Dix says an NDP government would do away with the Liberals' balanced budget law. "What I'd do is be straightforward, which is to try and balance budgets. And so I don't agree with balanced budget legislation, neither-" "So it … [Read more...]
BC’s Mayors get together to talk about how to fund infrastructure upgrades
September 25, 2012 by
A majority of mayors from across the province met today in only the second caucus of its kind to be held. A top priority on their agenda was finding new revenue sources for infrastructure spending. Langley Township Mayor Jack Froese says municipalities shoulder the bulk of costs to update aging infrastructure. Froese was asked how … [Read more...]
Mayors to gather in Victoria for annual UBCM convention
September 23, 2012 by
The province's municipal leaders are gathering in Victoria this week for the Union of British Columbia Munipalities' annual convention. More than 200 resolutions are up for discussion at this year's convention. Perhaps the most controversial is a call for the decriminalization and regulation of the sale of marijuana. There's also a petition to get … [Read more...]
Metro Vancouver mayors discuss connectivity
September 22, 2012 by
Port Moody's mayor says lots of ideas were exchanged Friday among more than a dozen Metro Vancouver mayors about connectivity in their communities. Mike Clay says the discussion was a valuable use of time. "The highest level of importance in any community is probably always public safety, but it doesn't mean that we're consumed with only talking … [Read more...]
Mayors to weigh in on coast guard cuts
September 11, 2012 by
The Union of BC Municipalities' 2012 convention will be getting underway in a couple of weeks, and the province's mayors will all be weighing in on cuts to the coast guard. A resolution set to go before the convention calls on mayors to petition the federal government to maintain the current levels of staff on watch year-round at five marine … [Read more...]
