Close X
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
ADVT 
National

Metro Vancouver mayors say they need billions of dollars from feds to grow transit

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 23 Nov, 2023 03:24 PM
  • Metro Vancouver mayors say they need billions of dollars from feds to grow transit

Metro Vancouver mayors say they need billions of dollars over the next few years and a more reliable funding model from the federal government in order to improve transit. 

Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West, chair of the Mayors’ Council, says they have agreed on a plan to expand transit services to accommodate for population growth and put affordable housing within reach of transit. 

The mayors have submitted a multibillion-dollar wish list to the federal government before the spring budget that includes $375 million to expand the bus fleet, $1.4 billion for additional bus depot capacity, up to $300 million for rapid transit and millions more in other improvements. 

West says to reduce overcrowding and allow for substantial service expansion, they need both federal and provincial funding commitments no later than mid-2024. 

The council says in a statement that TransLink is facing financial challenges, with services "essentially frozen" at 2019 levels, while the region's population has grown by almost 200,000 since then. 

The council is also calling on the federal minister of finance to join with them and the province in developing a new funding model for Translink, which would include an annual cost bump of at least five per cent to the permanent transit fund. 

MORE National ARTICLES

Attack on 2 shopkeepers in Chinatown: VPD

Attack on 2 shopkeepers in Chinatown: VPD
A 50-year-old man has been charged with assault after what Vancouver police say was a violent attack on two shopkeepers in the Chinatown neighbourhood. Police say the married couple, who are both in their 70s, were working in their shop last Thursday when the suspect entered and began causing a disturbance.   

Attack on 2 shopkeepers in Chinatown: VPD

Removal of B.C. MLA Adam Walker from NDP caucus unrelated to police, harassment: Eby

Removal of B.C. MLA Adam Walker from NDP caucus unrelated to police, harassment: Eby
Speaking to reporters for the first time since Walker was kicked out over the weekend, Eby says he decided the member could no longer be part of the group after a formal investigation by NDP caucus. Eby says he wishes he could share more but rules related to human resources and privacy prevent him going into specifics about the accusations, which are not a criminal matter.

Removal of B.C. MLA Adam Walker from NDP caucus unrelated to police, harassment: Eby

Monthly bills to decrease: Fortis BC

Monthly bills to decrease: Fortis BC
The utility says it will amount to about $7 a month in savings for residential customers, depending on a customer’s consumption. Joe Mazza, vice-president of energy supply at Fortis, says the decrease will provide customers with some financial relief as they head into the colder fall and winter months. 

Monthly bills to decrease: Fortis BC

Harinder Singh Sihota arrested in car crashes

Harinder Singh Sihota arrested in car crashes
38-year-old Harinder Singh Sihota is in custody as police in Surrey and Delta investigate a series of violent events that included a break-in, assault and several car crashes. Surrey R-C-M-P say it began with a break-in Saturday night at a home in northwest Surrey and the assault of several people in the house.

Harinder Singh Sihota arrested in car crashes

Murder of Sikh leader in B.C. may be linked to Indian govt

Murder of Sikh leader in B.C. may be linked to Indian govt
Canada ordered an Indian diplomat to leave Canada on Monday in response to what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called "credible" intelligence linking agents of India's government to the shooting death of a Sikh leader near Vancouver. 

Murder of Sikh leader in B.C. may be linked to Indian govt

Champagne, Freeland meet with grocery executives to discuss stabilizing price

Champagne, Freeland meet with grocery executives to discuss stabilizing price
Top executives from Canada's major grocery chains are in Ottawa this morning to meet with two federal cabinet ministers and discuss measures to stabilize grocery prices. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland and Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne are set to meet with executives from Loblaw, Metro, Empire, Walmart and Costco this morning.

Champagne, Freeland meet with grocery executives to discuss stabilizing price