*For information and updates on COVID-19 click here*

 

 

People in the Cowichan Valley will enjoy better infrastructure for walking or cycling with new funding

 

 “As an avid cyclist, I know how important improving safety on the road is for cyclists and pedestrians,” said Doug Routley, MLA for Nanaimo-North Cowichan. “These investments in active transportation will help people feel safer when they make decisions that are better for the environment and for their health.”

The Town of Ladysmith is receiving $350,854 for their Active Transportation Infrastructure 2021 project to build two new sidewalks, make several safety upgrades and install two e-bike stations…….continue reading

 

Economic Recovery Funding Strengthens Active Transportation Network

 

As part of our StrongerBC: BC’s Economic Recovery Plan we are providing $16.7 million towards more than 45 projects that focus on active transportation safety and access improvements on provincial rights of way. This includes multi-use pathways and rail trails, highway crossings, transit stop improvements, sidewalks installations, lighting enactments and shoulder widening for pedestrians and cyclists.

 

Thanks to this investment $4.8 million in projects are underway on Vancouver Island including:

• Concrete culvert, trail restoration and 4.7 km of Cowichan Valley Trail resurfacing
• Shoulder widening for 5 km along Cedar Road to increase pedestrian safety
• Installation of lighting and illuminated signage, improving pedestrian safety through enhancements along Stewart Avenue in Nanaimo

 

This investment has created over 300 jobs throughout the province, helping to stimulate local economies and support local businesses and suppliers. This funding also supports our CleanBC plan to help transform how people move around while also encouraging more active transportation in communities.

 

New Agritech Grants Open

For more information on the Agritech Grant program, including the application process and eligibility, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/agritechgrant

 

Community-led projects give voice to Indigenous women to end violence

 

The Province is supporting Indigenous communities and organizations to end gender-based violence through 20 unique projects that support and collaborate with Indigenous women and girls throughout B.C. including:

• Cowichan Valley Métis Nation in Duncan
• Tillicum Lelum Aboriginal Society in Nanaimo

 

Under the program, grants ranging from $5,000 to $16,000 are provided to community groups to create, develop and offer opportunities that address the issue of gender-based violence.

 

 

New Government sworn in today

 

Even though this was my fifth time being sworn into the Legislature it was certainly memorable. Thank you to all the staff at the BC Legislature for making this virtual swearing in possible.

 

 

Rent Freeze Extended

 

Snuneymuxw First Nation, B.C. advance reconciliation through new agreements

 

Today I am very excited to share that the Provincial government and Snuneymuxw First Nation have reached two agreements that foster economic development and support a strong and stable future for Snuneymuxw and its members.

Snuneymuxw Chief Mike Wyse: “The agreements signed today with Snuneymuxw and British Columbia mark a major step forward in a journey that goes back to the important promises and understandings that formed the basis of our Treaty relationship with the Crown when Sir James Douglas entered into a Treaty with our people in 1854. Today, we are working with British Columbia in a relationship based on recognition and respect for our Treaty of 1854, and a renewed government-to-government relationship. This is an improved relationship that opens the door to meaningful cooperation and collaboration based on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, including steps for land reconciliation in relation to a return of our traditional territory. Our shared commitment to stewardship and protection of the lands and waters of British Columbia and protection of endangered species and habitat is an essential element of our values to protect our lands and resources for this and future generations. Like we have always done, Snuneymuxw people welcome new relationships, support prosperity and business development in the mid-Island area, and will work with all of our partners to bring new opportunities. This step today was made possible by the leadership of our people for many generations, and will serve to support our children and grandchildren to know our identity, Nation and lands are recognized and supported by all.”

 

The Land Transfer Agreement includes a land package of more than 3,000 hectares of Crown lands near the City of Nanaimo, providing Snuneymuxw with culturally and economically significant lands at Mount Benson and Mount McKay. The agreement will result in economic growth and as many as 160 new jobs through innovative forestry partnerships that build on the Mid-Island Regional Forestry Initiative signed in 2017 between Snuneymuxw and industry.

 

More mental health supports to help vulnerable people in Cowichan Valley and Nanaimo

 

People living with severe mental health challenges in British Columbia will have increased access to 24/7 community-based supports and services through six new Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) teams throughout province- including the Cowichan Valley and Nanaimo.

They will provide flexible, individualized support – including community living, psychosocial supports and recovery – for adults with serious, complex and often persistent mental health challenges that make it difficult to manage day-to-day activities. Most ACT clients have not responded well to traditional outpatient mental health services.

The teams are mobile and deliver 24/7 services in the community, such as in client homes, work, parks and recreation locations, rather than in a traditional office setting. This makes these teams well suited to deliver services to all British Columbians, including those living in supportive housing or in encampments

 

 

New partnership to provide hundreds of new homes for people in Nanaimo

 

More than 300 new homes are being proposed for people in Nanaimo as a result of a new partnership between the Province and the City of Nanaimo.

These new homes will include new affordable rental homes for individuals, seniors and families, as well as new permanent, purpose-built supportive homes for people experiencing homelessness.

The agreement includes new developments proposed on six sites around the city:

• three affordable rental housing developments with approximately 125 homes for people with low to moderate incomes; and
• four supportive housing developments with approximately 190 homes for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in the community.

Further information about the proposed new developments is available here: https://letstalkhousingbc.ca/Nanaimo

 

 

Transforming primary care in Cowichan

 

We are transforming everyday health care for people living in the Cowichan region by establishing a primary care network, which will bring additional resources and strengthened support to the region.

Residents of Cowichan will benefit from 36.2 full-time equivalent health providers who will provide better access to primary care. This includes family physicians, nurse practitioners and allied health professionals such as registered nurses, social workers and a clinical pharmacist.

In addition, a team of primary care and allied health professionals will be recruited in support of Indigenous health. For Indigenous peoples, this will mean more co-ordinated and culturally safe primary care support

The Ministry of Health will provide approximately $6.5 million in annual funding to the primary care network once it is fully operational.

 

 

New centre to support people experiencing homelessness in Nanaimo

 

The Province, through BC Housing, is working with the City of Nanaimo to open a navigation centre to provide accommodation and supports for people experiencing long-term homelessness. This would be the second navigation centre in B.C.- and in all of Canada.

The approximately 60-bed centre will be referral only and provide integrated clinical health supports, as well as culturally appropriate services of Indigenous peoples. Navigation centres provide the opportunity for individualized care that are adapted based on a person’s unique needs and circumstances.

BC Housing and the City of Nanaimo are working with Island Health to determine the specific support services that will be available.

 

 

Masks help to prevent the spread of COVID-19

 

While wearing a mask by itself is not enough to prevent the spread of COVID-19, they do have a role to play. Masks act as a barrier and help stop the spread of droplets from a person’s mouth and nose when talking, laughing, yelling, singing, coughing, or sneezing.

Wearing a mask should be combined with other important protective measures such as frequent hand washing and physical distancing.

For more information on masks please visit the BC Centre for Disease Control’s website: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/prevention-risks/masks

 

B.C. hits new child care milestone

 

Despite the challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought, our goal to create new child care spaces throughout the province continues to gain momentum. In just 2 years we’ve been able to fund nearly 16,800 new spaces, helping to fulfil our promise of better, more affordable child care options for children and families throughout B.C.. Today’s announcement also marks 536 new spaces approved for Nanaimo

We are also celebrating an agreement signed with the School District 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith), who will receive the majority of our region’s 536 newly approved spaces to proceed with 10 projects that will create licensed child care spaces on school grounds.

Buy BC this Summer

 

This year it’s easier than ever to support our neighbors and local farmers as many Farmers Markets are now offering both in person markets and online ordering.

Below is a full list of Markets in our riding- please consider supporting our local farmers this year and keep your eyes out for the BuyBC label when shopping in grocery stores

Duncan Farmers market opens every Saturday and offers online ordering: https://bcfarmersmarkettrail.com/…/duncan-farmers-market/

Gabriola Farmers Markets opens every Saturday and offers online ordering: https://bcfarmersmarkettrail.com/…/gabriola-farmers…/

Cedar Farmers Market opens every Sunday and offers online ordering: https://bcfarmersmarkettrail.com/…/cedar-farmers-market/

Island Roots (Nanaimo) opens every Wednesday and offers online ordering: https://bcfarmersmarkettrail.com/…/island-roots-market…/

Downtown Nanaimo Market opens every Saturday: https://bcfarmersmarkettrail.com/…/nanaimo-downtown…/

Find a full list of Farmer Markets on the Island and throughout BC check here: https://bcfarmersmarkettrail.com/

 

 

More information on this new Nurse Practioner Clinic please visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020HLTH0208-001195

 

 

New supportive housing coming for people in Cowichan Valley

 

The Province is partnering with the Municipality of North Cowichan and the City of Duncan to build close to 100 new supportive homes for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in the Cowichan Valley.

BC Housing has purchased two sites, 2983 Drinkwater Rd. in North Cowichan and 260 White Rd. in Duncan, to develop safe, secure housing with wraparound supports. .

The Drinkwater Road project will include approximately 50 units and will be operated by Lookout Housing & Health Society. The White Road location will include up to 50 homes. A housing operator for this building will be selected in the coming months. Construction on both projects is expected to be complete in early 2021.

To find out more about the projects, ask questions and provide input, community members can connect with BC Housing here: https://letstalkhousingbc.ca/

Financial assistance available for victims of B.C. flooding

 

Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA) is now available for eligible British Columbians who may have been affected by overland flooding from heavy rains that began on Jan. 31, 2020, in the following regions:

• Capital Regional District
• Cowichan Valley Regional District
• Regional District of Nanaimo
• Greater Vancouver Regional District
• Fraser Valley Regional District
• Squamish Lillooet Regional District
• Sunshine Coast Regional District

All First Nations communities, electoral areas and municipalities within the geographic boundaries of these regional districts are eligible to apply for assistance.

DFA is available to homeowners, residential tenants, small business owners, farmers, charitable organizations and local government bodies who were unable to obtain insurance to cover these disaster-related losses.

Applications for this DFA event must be submitted to Emergency Management BC (EMBC) by April 4, 2020.

British Columbians can access the DFA application online: http://www.gov.bc.ca/disasterfinancialassistance

 

 

Indigenous communities, ITA build skilled trades workforces

 

More than 475 people in Indigenous communities throughout British Columbia are gaining skills to succeed in high-opportunity trades careers, with six new two-year training programs. Supported by the Industry Training Authority (ITA), the programs will address community priorities and opportunities with courses ranging from exploratory and introductory trades to construction and electrical training.

This includes: Indigenous People in Trades Training – Camosun College is receiving almost $1.4 million over two years to provide exploratory trades skills foundation courses to 160 participants at its Interurban campus and at Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I would like to give a big shout out to Kath Stroman for this amazing window design she painted on my Ladysmith office today

 

 

North Cowichan and Duncan to be better protected from floods

Local and regional governments in 18 communities have been approved to receive a share of more than $12 million in provincial emergency preparedness funding to support structural flood mitigation projects. This includes $750,000 to the Cowichan Tribes for Cowichan River erosion protection for the Clem Clem Villiage and $750,000 to North Cowichan for the Canada Avenue Floodgate.

“People in our community have been greatly disrupted by the impact of flooding in recent years,” said Doug Routley, MLA for Nanaimo-North Cowichan. “This project will help mitigate the impacts of localized flooding so that people can rest assured their properties and livelihoods are better protected.”

 

Read more about this funding HERE

 

 

Expanding Child Care Spaces in Nanaimo

 

 

Sheila Malcolmson and I visited the Nanaimo Innovation Academy Foundation who are in the process of expanding their child care spaces thanks to funding from the Childcare BC New Spaces Fund. The centre offers a range of programs for families, including free monthly parenting workshops. Staff are excited to be able to expand their program and to be able to better meet the growing needs in our community.

In the past two years we have created 172 new child care spaces in Nanaimo and helped families in Nanaimo save $11 million in child care fees thanks to our Affordable Child Care Benefit.

 

 

 

A new school is on the way to replace Cowichan Secondary

 

After over a decade of waiting, thousands of Cowichan students can look forward to a new, seismically safe Cowichan Secondary school that will benefit the community for generations. Our government is providing $79.9 million to replace Cowichan Secondary as part of the Province’s Seismic Mitigation Program.

The new, seismically safe school will have capacity for 1,100 students, eliminating the need for portables. It will include a new sports field and neighbourhood learning centre, and will be built on the Cowichan Place property next to Vancouver Island University’s Cowichan campus. The new neighbourhood learning centre will be used for community programming, such as child care, to further benefit people in the Cowichan Valley.

The new school is expected to be ready for students in September 2023.

Year-end Interview with Cole Schisler from the Ladysmith Chronicle

 

“In 2019, the NDP has spent $17.5 million to build the health science centre at Vancouver Island University (VIU), $5 million to expand the marine, auto, and trades complex, $4.9 million into new trades seats for plumbing, electrical, and power engineering. For other education funding, the NDP has put forth $7.4 million in school upgrades in Nanaimo-North Cowichan, $210,000 in playground funding, and $65,000 to fund new Indigenous teaching spaces.

In housing for the Nanaimo-North Cowichan region, Routley said the NDP has either built or begun construction on 550 new affordable housing units.

Some major construction projects have started, like the Crofton Road upgrade which will see the entire road repaved and widened.

The NDP reversed cuts to ferry service from Nanaimo to Gabriola Island, and Crofton to Vesuvius, and reduced fares on those routes by 15 percent.

Routley helped secure funding for the Morden mines in Morden Colliery Historic Provincial Park. The government committed $1.4 million to restoring the park and preserving history of the area.

In childcare, the NDP has announced 400 new child care spaces. Routley said the government has put ‘$6.7 million back in to parent’s pockets’ with the Affordable Childcare Benefit. The NDP also gave $815,000 to the First Nations early childhood program for Nanaimo-North Cowichan.

The NDP has announced a new hospital in Cowichan, a new ICU in Nanaimo, and an urgent care clinic in Nanaimo. $5.5 million was invested for new MRI machines at Nanaimo General Regional Hospital, (NRGD) to run MRIs 24 hours a day. Routley said that has resulted in 2,000 more MRIs performed at NRGH in 2019. The NDP has put $7.5 million into upgrading electrical at NRGH, hired 30 new paramedics for Nanaimo-North Cowichan, and purchased three new ambulances for Nanaimo-Ladysmith.

“I’m really happy with those riding specific pieces,” Routley said. “I have to say that after 12 years in opposition, running around the province listening to the challenges people face, and essentially promising to address those, it’s so satisfying to actually see it happen.”

 

Read the full interview HERE

 

Investing in the Child Care our community needs

 

 

Since 2018 we’ve invested over $7.8 million in the Cowichan Valley so that families have access to affordable, quality child care when they need it.

This includes the creation of 269 new child care spaces and converting 124 existing spots into universal child care prototype spaces in the Cowichan Valley.

We introduced the new Affordable Child Care Benefit which is saving families up to $350 a month on child care fees -which has so far put over $3.1 million back into the pockets of families in the Cowichan Valley

I will never forget attending the announcement for the universal child care prototype spaces at Parkside Academy in Duncan last year where we heard from parents who say they no longer have to visit food banks regularly, who can afford to no longer work 7 days a week and actually have time to spend with their children and parents who could now afford things like buying their child their first bike.

After years in opposition advocating for investments in child care while watching people in our community struggle with increased costs and lack of spaces, I am so proud to be part of a government who has made record investments in Child Care. These investments are making a real difference in the life’s of my constituents and only reinforce the need to continue our path to a universal $10 a day child care program in B.C.

 

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Shout out to the Ladysmith Bakery who, every year at Christmas time, creates an amazing Gingerbread house display and decided to do a First Nations theme this year- absolutely stunning!

 

 

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Minister of Transportation, Claire Trevena, joins us on Gabriola Island for a ride on the GERTIE bus

 

Thank you to Claire Trevena, Minister of Transportation, for joining me on a visit to Gabriola Island to ride and learn about the GERTIE bus

For those of you who have never heard of GERTIE, it is a very unique and special community bus on Gabriola Island that was created not just to meet the need for transportation but with the overall goal of reducing the islands GHG emissions- GERTIE uses a Waste Vegetable Oil (WVO) as a bus fuel supplement.

 

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Visiting the Ladysmith Resource Center with Premier Horgan

 

I had the opportunity to visit the Ladysmith Resource center with Premier Horgan where we discussed the many different programs offered through the center- which are far too many to name. I remember when the Ladysmith Resource Center was just a small office just off of 1st avenue and it has been amazing to watch it grow to where it is today. They strive to offer services that meet the needs of people in the community- everything from prenatal and youth to seniors, not to mention their food bank and child care services.  I am so grateful to the staff for their hard work and dedication, and I was so proud to be able to bring our Premier here to see the amazing work being done by the staff and volunteers.

While we were there we also received an update on the progress being made on their affordable housing project. Recently BC Housing awarded the Resource Center with $3.6 million in funding to build new affordable housing for people in Ladysmith, and they are currently in the planning stages.

 

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Welcoming Pole Unveiled at Ladysmith Secondary

 

 

Ladysmith Secondary School has unveiled their new Welcoming Eagle, carved by Stz’uminus First Nation artist John Marston. Carved from red cedar, the 20 foot tall carving is the centre piece of Nutumaat Syaays (working together as one) project. This project began 9 years ago and it was an emotional day for many to watch the unveiling. This project is a true example of reconciliation in action and I am so proud of the work being done in our community between First Nations, our school districts and city officials on reconciliation.

I was honored to read and present John Marston with a Certificate of Appreciation from Premier John Horgan for his work on this project during the unveiling.

 

 

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Buy BC Relaunches, encouraging people to buy local

 

Buy BC programming is being relaunched to boost B.C.’s agriculture industry and fuel public interest in shopping for made-in-B.C. products. Bringing back the brand power of this marketing program — popular with B.C. growers and producers, but cancelled in the early 2000s — will make it easier for British Columbians to explore new and different products from around the province.

The Buy BC Partnership Program involves cost-shared funding that is available not only to agriculture and seafood producers, processors and co-operatives, but also to relevant industry associations, as well as agricultural fairs and markets within B.C., like the Moss Street Market.

As well, logo-licencing agreements will be available for B.C. agriculture and seafood companies that do not require cost-shared funding, but still wish to use the Buy BC logo on products to help consumers easily identify their product as a local product.

The Buy BC Partnership Program will provide $2 million in funding per year, over the next three years, to help eligible applicants with their marketing efforts using the Buy BC logo on their products or promotional materials.

 

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Long awaited New Hospital coming for the Cowichan Valley

 

As long as I have served as MLA for this community the Cowichan Hospital has faced overcrowding issues. The existing Cowichan District Hospital was opened in 1967 and has 134 beds. Since that time, the area’s population has more than doubled, leaving the hospital and staff constantly struggling to meet the needs of the growing community.

Our government has announced that construction of a new hospital will begin in 2021 and will triple the size of the existing hospital. Concept plans have been approved and now the budget, scope and procurement method for the project are being worked on.

The planning for a replacement hospital is a collaborative effort among the government of B.C., Island Health, Cowichan Valley Regional District, Cowichan Valley Regional Hospital District, the municipalities of Duncan and North Cowichan, local First Nations and local stakeholder groups.

 

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Unique Passive Housing opens in Nanaimo

 

 

I was happy to attend the opening of the Nanaimo Aboriginal Centres unique passive design affordable housing complex in Nanaimo. The Nuutsumuut Lelum complex features 25-units of affordable housing, a common room, a play area for children and a community garden. The units are passive house certified, meaning they are energy efficient and will drastically cut down on the energy bills for tenants.

Partnering with the aboriginal centre, BC Housing provided $4.7 Million and the City of Nanaimo transferred the $770,000 land to the centre and waived $221,000 in fees and development cost charges. The Regional District of Nanaimo granted $15,000 for the passive house planning.

Nuutsumuut Lelum means ‘all in one house.’

 

37-foot-high totem pole made by Snuneymuxw First Nation carver Noel Brown

 

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Why I am Opposed to the Garbage Incineration Proposal for Duke Point

I represent over 50,000 voters. Approximately 20,000 of them are residents of Nanaimo. I also represent over 4,000 on Gabriola, fewer on Mudge and Decourcy, as well as thousands more in Cedar and Yellow Point. The Nanaimo residents and their city council are being asked to decide on the land use question of the WTE proposal, but the residents of those Islands and Cedar/Yellow Point, many of them far more directly impacted by this than are most residents of Nanaimo, deserve a say here. I aim to ensure that they are heard. I also represent Snuneymuxw people directly impacted and who have a clear right to consultation on these and all matters affecting them. My provincial role is implicated by the regulation and approval process, an provincial responsibility, as well as the obligations to first nations.

The debate over the technological and scientific merits of WTE will rage on. Across the globe, WTE seems to me to be losing that debate, with the immediate toxic consequences of emissions and legacy pollution issues around fly ash turning the tables against WTE all over the world. That debate informs the political decision of whether or not to allow WTE, but the decision, in the end, is political one of principles. It is the balancing of the information available against the values and principles of a community.

It is reasonable and justified to take a position on WTE based on principles. That is what I want to address.

First, the principles and ethics of Vancouver sending its trash to Nanaimo to be burned in our local air shed. If incineration is harmless and advisable, then it is everywhere. Therefore, the Lower Mainland should be willing to have the facility in their own backyard. If it is ethical and reasonable for Vancouver to refuse the facility, then it is everywhere, including the Sunshine coast and Fraser Valley, where it has been refused. It is, therefore, acceptable for Nanaimo to refuse it as well. Yes, Vancouver now sends it garbage to Cache Creek and many communities on Vancouver Island currently send off Island, as far away as the States. That does not make it any more reasonable or ethical to send Vancouver’s waste to Nanaimo. In fact, in 2010 Vancouver adopted a bylaw that forbids mass incineration within its jurisdiction.

Second, we are told that since we have existing emitters, including Harmac, an immediate neighbour of the proposal, we must accept this new emitter. This is fallacy. Harmac is an existing operation, providing existing jobs that pay to support existing families and existing mortgages. Harmac has been there for many decades and, over that time, has constantly been forced to improve its operations and reduce its footprint. Its water use and emissions have been reduced in the order of 90%. The fact we have drive through restaurants and poorly running vehicles does not argue for allowing any new emitter, but rather that we do a better job controlling and reducing those inputs.

Third, the effort to reduce our flow of waste has been as a result of increasing environmental consciousness and a diminished land fill capacity that confronts our near term future. That pressure has resulted in broad public education campaigns to reduce, recycle and compost. Significant public investment has been made. Private operators have invested in the process. Nanaimo was commended at the last Union of BC Municipalities conference for achieving over 70% diversion of its municipally collected waste. Vancouver, on the other hand, diverts about 50%. This, despite the fact that Vancouver has endorsed a zero waste mandate. That mandate is important to my next point.

Fourth, the WTE proposal creates a commodity of waste as a fuel. Recycling and material recovery also creates a value of waste, but for reuse. The two values placed on waste will compete. The incineration option will eliminate the motive to reduce. In fact, it will become an incentive to increase the waste stream. Vancouver has a zero waste mandate and even if they get half way there from their existing 50% diversion rate, the source of “fuel” for the WTE facility will be drastically reduced. the facility, to operate at a profit in generating power, will increasingly compete for trash and, according to energy prices, will out compete recycling and composting for the waste stream. It is my belief that WTE will effectively eliminate reduction, recycling and composting efforts on Vancouver Island.

Fifth, if it is truly a regional and even provincial problem and solution, then we should view it that way in its entirety. How does it make sense, provincially, to ship waste in hundreds of barges from the principle source to outlying communities? Why have one hundred barges plying Georgia Straight from Vancouver to Nanaimo when you could have one barge from Nanaimo to a facility in Vancouver? Unless you’re Seaspan, a partner in this project, and make your revenue by barging, how can that make economic or environmental sense?

Sixth, our region has invested heavily in diversifying its economy. We have seen large public investment in supporting the tourism industry. One can question the wisdom of these investments but, the fact is, they have been made. From the cruise ship terminal, the convention centre to trails and parks. We have seen many significant small, medium and large private enterprises support that choice with investments in hotels, bed and breakfasts, kayaking and others. We have several local official community development plans, adopted after thorough consultations, none of which envision such a dramatic shift in focus.

Seventh, this proposal and Vancouver’s gravity in the discussion of waste management in BC cries out for a regional and, in fact, provincial answer to this vexing issue. The proposed plant will cost just shy of $500 million. There may be as many as four such plants eventually proposed. Assuming they are all of similar scope, that is a capital investment of as much as $2 billion. What could BC do in terms of a truly sustainable, world leading Zero Waste plan with an investment of up to $2 billion? We could and should be global leaders in such techniques, technologies, policies and services. Such a plan would be far more diversified and offer much more employment and economic development, spread throughout the province, rather than offering massive capital concentrated opportunities to a few huge investors. We could export our expertise rather than our trash and emissions.

Finally, we live in a democracy. We have the right to say yes and the right to say no. The debate over the efficacy of the technology will rage on. I believe that the principle involved provide the grounds for refusal, regardless of the outcome of that technical debate. Proponents will portray opponents as being against development and jobs. That is ridiculous. All German Shepherds are dogs, not all dogs are German Shepherds. All good, community supporting, net gain jobs are jobs. Not all jobs are good net gains for our community. I have spent 10 years as an MLA. I am constantly trying to understand the people I represent and their values. I feel that I am safely and accurately representing the vast majority of those people when I express my opposition to this proposal.

All of this cries out for us to find better answers. The positive side of this proposal, is that it has sparked greater awareness of the issue of waste creation and management and has created an opportunity to achieve better results. That, finally, brings me back on topic of this page. The discussion of how to avoid WTE and achieve better solutions. That is a discussion worth having and one that will create unity of purpose rather than division.

 

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Ferries Cuts Prove BC Liberal Incompetence

The coastal communities of BC are integral to the province’s economy. We represent one million people, all ferry dependent. Our communities contribute immensely to the economy and constitute a core element of the social and cultural identity of our beautiful province. Essentially, one quarter of the provinces population and 30% of the provincial economy depend on our coastal ferry system. This is not a simple case of small populations who are affected by decisions regarding the marine highway they depend on.

The past decade has seen an ongoing and persistent mismanagement of BC Ferries that has resulted in soaring fares and falling ridership. The experiment in pseudo privatization has been an abject failure and the crisis continues to grow. The BC Liberals oversaw massive increases in management and unconscionable increases in their salaries. The bloated management ranks took home bonuses that were worth millions of dollars even as the service failed to reach its targets, lost money and saw declines in ridership of over one million passengers.

On November 11^th, the BC Liberals announced they were finally cancelling the rich bonuses of the executives. The next day, NDP critic, Claire Trevena, discovered the bonuses were simply rolled into the basic salaries and were, in fact, continuing. One week later, the BC Liberals announced cancelled sailings, more fare increases and cancellation of free fares for seniors. Could there be a more cynical and insulting combination of events?

The BC Liberals experiment with BC Ferries has failed. It is time to abolish the Coastal Ferries Act and start over. It is time to recognize the public service mandate that originated the service and restore public interest as the core value. Washington State has a similar sized service. Their CEO earns less than 30% of the salary of BC Ferries CEO. There are far fewer managers. Ships are all built in Washington State. The service is seen as a core component of the State’s economy. And fares are a fraction of those here in BC.

The BC Liberals have done no economic or social impact study to support the cuts they are proposing. The people of our coast depend on the ferries to travel to work, school, transport goods and support their businesses. There has been no analysis of the costs that will be imposed on our economies through these cuts. They have done no consultation with First Nations, local government, tourism industry or chambers of commerce. They are basing their plan on last year’s numbers while ridership has further declined, imposing an even greater loss than already acknowledged. Even these cuts will leave a large loss and increased fares will lead to even lower ridership.

During this latest round of after the fact consultations and until the BC Liberal government relents in its attack on our coastal ferry services, I implore all Islanders, all coastal residents to cry out an angry rejection to these cuts. The only way such decisions are reversed is through steady, unrelenting resistance. We fought Smart Meters for years before their installation and after. Only when the resistance was obviously never going to relent, did the government at least partially respond.

As long as this government exhibits such priorities as the industry subsidization of the Northwest Transmission Line, which is some $300 million over budget, they cannot claim a lack of resources in support of our ferry service. It is about priority. It is about whether or not government acts in the public interest. These ferries are essential to the economic and social wellbeing of coastal residents and communities, every bit as much as the Northwest Transmission Line, or the roof of BC Place Stadium, or the Convention Center or Skytrain. All of these require multi-billion dollar public investments. All for the same reasons that our ferries deserve public investment that keeps pace with costs.

The BC Liberals need to admit that their experiment with BC Ferries has failed, abandon their Coastal Ferries Act and accept the fact that to maintain this essential service, they must increase the public subsidy, cut management and return to a simple, transit based model. These ferries are our coastal highway. We don’t expect free service but we expect fair service. The highways and bridge investments throughout the province are paid by all British Columbians. We expect the BC Ferries system to be treated the same way. It’s only fair.

Visit http://bcndpcaucus.ca/files/ferries_report.pdf to read “Washington State Ferries Fact-Finding Tour” written by Claire Trevena, MLA for North Island and Opposition Critic for Transportation and Infrastructure, BC Ferries and BC Transit.

 

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UBCM, Ferries and BC Liberal Arrogance

The BC Liberal experiment with the pseudo privatization of BC Ferries has been an abject failure. The Coastal Ferries Act, far from creating an accountable, efficient ferry system free of political interference has, in fact, delivered soaring fares, reduced services, skyrocketing management levels and salaries and has devastated local economies.

Passed into law in 2002, the Coastal Ferries Act created a pseudo privatized corporation with one share. That share is held by the Minister of Finance. It was exempted from Freedom of Information scrutiny. For nine years, we fought in the legislature and in communities to bring ferries back under the scope of FOI. When we finally succeeded, in 2011, it was discovered that the CEO’s salary had risen to over $1 million, not including bonus’ which were being paid out in spite of losses and missed financial targets. The CEO of Washington State Ferries is paid less than 30% of their BC Ferries counterpart.

Since 2002, we have seen 80-120% fare increases and massive loss of ridership. Of course, it should be no surprise that when fares skyrocket, fewer people can afford to travel. The net result is loss and the need to drive fares up even further. This has had a devastating effect on Island and Coastal ferry dependent communities.

The most recent round of increases was met by a resounding expression of protest, up and down our coast. More than 100 thousand people signed petitions. Protest marches were coordinated in dozens of communities. Thousands of people attended a rally on the lawns of the legislature. All of that was of no avail to a tone deaf BC Liberal government that has long since willfully deafened itself to its citizens. The fare increases went ahead and runs were cancelled.

We have, for a decade now, demanded that BC Ferries be brought back to government oversight and be funded, administered and managed as an extension of the provincial highways system. It is our coastal marine highway. We have demanded that the fleet replacement vessels be built here in BC, as Washington State Ferries must be built in Washington. We have demanded that the management ranks be reduced as they have mushroomed to the point that there is one manager to every six employees, more than 6 times the ratio in the Washington Ferries system.

The UBCM commissioned a report by Larose Research and Strategy into the economic consequences of the fare increases and service reductions. The conservative findings were that the province has foregone $2.3 billion in revenue. It does not even touch on the amount of revenue that might have been added, had the fares remained reasonable. The calculations were based on a comparison of current status versus fares had they remained at inflation general levels in the years 2003 – 2013, since the Coastal Ferries Act was brought into effect. The report estimates that ridership would have increased by 13% and the additional revenues to the economy, through tourism etc., were not even a part of the $2.3 billion in lost revenue. Instead, we have seen more than a million fewer riders per year and economic decline up and down the coast. The whole province has paid for this mismanagement, in lost government revenues, and the whole province would have benefitted, had fares remained reasonable.

The response by the government was to ignore those thousands of voices up and down the coast, demanding relief from high fares. Instead, to deflect attention from the chaos they have created in BC Ferries, the criticism of protesters, the unified voices of Chambers of Commerce and the UBCM report, they announced, days after the report was released and days before the UBCM convention, that they are going to fund a feasibility study for a bridge between Gabriola and Nanaimo. Rather than hear the more than one hundred thousand voices on petitions, Minister Todd Stone hears 600 from Gabriola, signatures primarily gathered during the height of anger during the protests over fare increases in November. Never mind that two OCPs have rejected a bridge, one of those signed off by the BC Liberals. Never mind that the Islands Trust mandate expressly rejects bridges. No, in a display of political arrogance rarely matched in BC political history, the BC Liberals threw a cat amongst the pigeons to create a division, conflict and crisis merely to distract from their failures with ferries. A punishment to the UBCM, of which the Islands Trust is member, for having the audacity to point out the consequences of reckless BC Liberal policy failures.

As I write this, I am sitting in the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) convention, while they pass a resolution regarding the BC Liberal government’s mishandling of BC Ferries. The resolution before the UBCM notes that fares have reached the tipping point. It calls on the government to reverse the 2013 fare increases and service reductions and to pause any further increases until further socio-economic analysis can be undertaken. It calls for the government to recognize the coastal ferry system as an extension of the provincial highways system and to fund, administer and manage it as such. It call for government to create mechanisms to work with coastal communities to build a sustainable system that meets the needs of coastal communities and our economies.

The resolution has just passed in absolute unanimity. Now it is up to this BC Liberal government to hear the demands of communities, Chambers of Commerce, citizens and First Nations and finally take material action to address the crisis at BC Ferries. Ever hopeful, but always realistic, based on their record, I won’t be holding my breath.