SpongeG
04-29-2007, 01:10 AM
LOWER MAINLAND I TransLink's new governance could be bad news for the environment, says a climate change specialist who worries that the proposed changes could lead to more urban sprawl.
"It's going to be really problematic," said Ian Bruce at the David Suzuki Foundation.
He worries the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Act -- introduced this week by the ministry of transportation this week -- does not promote an "accountable" system of government.
Unlike the TransLink board, which is composed of 12 Greater Vancouver mayors and councillors who serve a one-year term, the new board will be made up of appointed professionals.
A five-member screening committee will be charged with selecting candidates for the new board. The screening committee will be appointed by five bodies -- Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of BC, the Vancouver Board of Trade and the Greater Vancouver Gateway Society.
"If it is a business-heavy body that is making decisions, their interests may be more into moving goods than moving people," said Bruce. "That could mean highway expansions and that could facilitate urban sprawl."
Falcon said the new structure, based on recommendations put forth by a TransLink Review Panel, will restore public confidence and accountability through governance.
"We'll have a structure where politicians do what they do best, that is they chart the big direction or big picture . . . where you've got a professional board that makes sure that all the taxpayers dollars -- almost $1 billion in operating dollars just for TransLink -- that those dollars, plus the billions of dollars in capitol projects, are going to be well-managed and well-looked after."
However, Vision Vancouver councillor Raymond Louie calls the restructuring of TransLink's board a "travesty."
He pointed out that Vancouver will have a greatly diminished voice on the new South Coast board, compared to the current board where three of the 12-members represent Vancouver.
The legislation also calls for a so-called mayor's council to be created that will meet a few times a year to discuss issues like strategic plans involving taxes and transit fare increases as recommended by the new South Coast board.
But Louie said the council is a "smoke screen."
"We'll pay the bills but we'll have no ability to influence transit decisions," he said.
The new structure will hit municipal councils in the pocketbook, Translink vice-chair and Surrey Coun. Marvin Hunt said.
The province's decision to fund Translink through property and gas taxes -- as well as increased fares -- means cities will bear the burden through higher property taxes, Hunt said.
In the past, Translink collected revenue from its parking stalls tax to spread the cost throughout the region and ensure Vancouver wasn't stuck with the brunt of the tax burden.
Municipalities such as Abbotsford, Mission and Chilliwack haven't decided if they'll join the new board because of the high property and gas taxes, said Abbotsford Mayor George Ferguson, adding they are considering a regional transit system instead.
Blair Redlin, a researcher for CUPE and former deputy minister of transportation and highways, said the proposed professional board seemed "anti-democratic" and "corporatist."
"It's in no way accountable to the taxpayers and the system," he said, adding the mayors face a difficult situation.
"They will only be able to consider the options put forward by these directors," he said. "They've left the financial and political liability with this council of mayors without them being able to make any effective decisions."
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=15992526-cf6e-4e61-abd6-8a6490884a62
"It's going to be really problematic," said Ian Bruce at the David Suzuki Foundation.
He worries the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Act -- introduced this week by the ministry of transportation this week -- does not promote an "accountable" system of government.
Unlike the TransLink board, which is composed of 12 Greater Vancouver mayors and councillors who serve a one-year term, the new board will be made up of appointed professionals.
A five-member screening committee will be charged with selecting candidates for the new board. The screening committee will be appointed by five bodies -- Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of BC, the Vancouver Board of Trade and the Greater Vancouver Gateway Society.
"If it is a business-heavy body that is making decisions, their interests may be more into moving goods than moving people," said Bruce. "That could mean highway expansions and that could facilitate urban sprawl."
Falcon said the new structure, based on recommendations put forth by a TransLink Review Panel, will restore public confidence and accountability through governance.
"We'll have a structure where politicians do what they do best, that is they chart the big direction or big picture . . . where you've got a professional board that makes sure that all the taxpayers dollars -- almost $1 billion in operating dollars just for TransLink -- that those dollars, plus the billions of dollars in capitol projects, are going to be well-managed and well-looked after."
However, Vision Vancouver councillor Raymond Louie calls the restructuring of TransLink's board a "travesty."
He pointed out that Vancouver will have a greatly diminished voice on the new South Coast board, compared to the current board where three of the 12-members represent Vancouver.
The legislation also calls for a so-called mayor's council to be created that will meet a few times a year to discuss issues like strategic plans involving taxes and transit fare increases as recommended by the new South Coast board.
But Louie said the council is a "smoke screen."
"We'll pay the bills but we'll have no ability to influence transit decisions," he said.
The new structure will hit municipal councils in the pocketbook, Translink vice-chair and Surrey Coun. Marvin Hunt said.
The province's decision to fund Translink through property and gas taxes -- as well as increased fares -- means cities will bear the burden through higher property taxes, Hunt said.
In the past, Translink collected revenue from its parking stalls tax to spread the cost throughout the region and ensure Vancouver wasn't stuck with the brunt of the tax burden.
Municipalities such as Abbotsford, Mission and Chilliwack haven't decided if they'll join the new board because of the high property and gas taxes, said Abbotsford Mayor George Ferguson, adding they are considering a regional transit system instead.
Blair Redlin, a researcher for CUPE and former deputy minister of transportation and highways, said the proposed professional board seemed "anti-democratic" and "corporatist."
"It's in no way accountable to the taxpayers and the system," he said, adding the mayors face a difficult situation.
"They will only be able to consider the options put forward by these directors," he said. "They've left the financial and political liability with this council of mayors without them being able to make any effective decisions."
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=15992526-cf6e-4e61-abd6-8a6490884a62
