A Tale of Two Leaders

This past weekend has been a busy one in the news for BC politics with the closing of meetings of the Union of BC Municipalities. Of particular note were announcements made by Premier Gordon Campbell and comments from Carole James regarding homelessness and mental illness in BC.

Both of these issues resonate clearly for us in Vancouver-Hastings. One need only walk a few short blocks of Hastings street to witness first hand the very real footprint that homelessness has left in our community. No longer is this a problem limited to the downtown eastside.

I must have read half a dozen pieces between the Sun and the Province dedicated to homelessness and mental illness and I found it very interesting to see the manner in which our two provincial party leaders approached a very serious and growing problem and the level of leadership applied toward reaching a solution. On one hand we have Gordon Campbell who, in Saturdays Vancouver Sun acknowledges the "the mentally ill in BC have been let down" and he recognizes that "the de-institutionalization of the mentally ill has been a failed experiment". Does he mention the fact that it was the NDP in the late 90's who first helped carve up Coquitlam's Riverview Hospital? No, he doesn't.

On the other side of the house we have NDP leader Carole James who, in the same piece blames Campbell and the BC Liberals for the increased number of homeless people in BC, for creating the gap between the rich and poor in this province and for cancelling the fall sitting of the Legislature (How many fall sessions did the NDP cancel during their tenure? Someone remind me.) The Premier, in acknowledging homelessness has also recognized the limitations of his government in dealing with the problem and points out the need for cooperation between all levels of government in order to reach a real solution (a point echoed by Michael Smyth in the Vancouver Province, "Cities share blame for plight of homeless"). Ms. James calls this finger pointing.

So let me point some fingers. While it is true that the number of homeless people in the GVRD almost doubled between 2002 and 2005 (from 1121 to 2174), the truth is that homelessness in BC has actually been on a steady increase since the early 1990's. In fact:

1. In 1998 there were 70 foodbanks in BC, about as many as in the rest of Canada combined.
2. In 1997 the child poverty rate was 19.6%, only slightly better than the national level.
3. There were about 15 000 homeless people in BC in 1998.
4. Between the years 1991 and 1996 the number of households in the GVRD at the risk of homelessness increased from about 39 000 to almost 58 000 and the number of homeless people during this period doubled.
5. Between 1995 and 2000, in Burnaby the number of trips made to the foodbank rose by almost 38%.

The problem of homelessness can certainly not be ignored any longer. Premier Campbell has acknowledged this and stepped up to the challenge, however the problem cannot be solved by the province alone. Communities through-out the province must take some responsibility for the people living on their streets and perhaps most importantly, Carole James and the NDP need to demonstrate a bit of leadership of their own and become part of the solution to homelessness. Especially since they helped to create the problem.

better transit...not freeways?

This past Friday, walking home from my son's school we passed a sign on a neighbour's lawn that read "better transit... not freeways". Anyone that's followed this blog for a while knows where I personally sit on the issue, still when my son asked me what it meant I was a bit stumped. The only thing that I could think to say immediately was that the person who put it up obviously doesn't commute outside of the city.

"Better transit...not freeways"? I challenge anyone (that hasn't done this already) to take a day trip out into the valley and back again, on any given day of the week. It doesn't matter which crossing you choose: Port Mann; Pattullo; George Massey; Alex Fraser; etc., the result will be the same. You will be stopped almost completely at some point due to traffic.

"Better Transit" obviously means more light rail, car-pools, bicycles and anything else that reduces the number of single-occupant vehicles on the road. While all of these are great ideas (we have been a one vehicle, car-pooling family for over a year now), none solve the immediate problem of outdated bridge and freeway infrastructure and none will really work until our freeway's are made bigger. (There have been no significant improvements to lower mainland freeway's since the 1980's, but the population has grown by about 750,000 during this period) Transit outside of the City of Vancouver and off of the Skytrain lines is close to pathetic! As long as it takes someone like me an hour and a half by bus to travel what takes fifteen minutes by car no one will be jumping to change their transportation habits. So what is the solution? 20% more buses and 44 more Skytrain cars? Probably a great idea in the long run but immediately (without significant infrastructure upgrades) all that more buses are going to do is create more congestion.

"...not highways!" I can't help but think that those opposing the Gateway Program (like my neighbour) are missing what is probably the biggest and most important part of the puzzle. Gateway is not about building bigger freeways, but freeway upgrades are a critical part of Gateway. Our current systems will not allow more buses, more light rail or more use of bicycles. In other words, our current freeways can not accommodate "better transit."

"Better transit..." means a lot of things for sure and it appears to me (especially after reading the Vancouver Sun on Saturday 28 Oct 06) that Premier Gordon Campbell, Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon (whom I know personally as a passionate cyclist) and the BC Liberals have begun taking some very significant steps in the right direction. Of course we all have certain responsibilities toward the success of better transit and for starters, opponents need to look beyond the notion of bigger freeways. For starters, take a look at the provinces "Green Cities Project" that includes $40 million over 4 years in matched funding for, among other things "better transit" like improved bike paths and walkways. This is over and above the $2 million promised earlier this summer specifically for bicycle infrastructure in various communities throughout the province.

Unfortunately, at the moment it seems as though those against Gateway are stuck in their own ideological "traffic-jam" and they can't see beyond the roadblocks that they have constructed. If they could they would see what most of us do already and that is a multi-faceted plan for..."better transit."

Hastings-Sunrise Community Meeting

This past Monday (October 23) I attended the second annual Hastings-Sunrise Community meeting at the Hastings Community Center. Although I had been to a Committee meeting in September, this was my first "real" exposure to the Hastings Sunrise CityPlan Committee as a whole and I have to say that I was (am) impressed. I found it extremely refreshing to see such a large group of people, from all points of the community, come together for a community that they clearly care a great deal about.

For those of you out there that don't know, CityPlan is an initiative of the City of Vancouver that engages community residents to develop a "plan" (with City support) that is then used to help guide future decisions affecting the particular community. In this case Hastings-Sunrise. CityPlan initiatives include such things as inventory and improvements in housing choices, shopping areas, traffic issues, parks and public places. The Hastings-Sunrise community extends (approximately) from Grandview Highway to Burrard Inlet and from Boundary Road to Naniamo.

While I can't really give justice here to everyone that set up a display or all groups that presented, meeting attendees were provided brief updates from sub-committee representatives in areas including:

1. Hastings-Sunrise Public Realm (described as those "things" outside of buildings).

2. The Neighbourhood Centers Program ( a department within the city that has money for such initiatives as community public realm).

3. Hastings-Sunrise Housing Sub-Committee (exploring density issues and looking at housing issues that will help attract people to the area).

4. Hastings-Sunrise Traffic Sub-Committee (works with the city to try and solve the most troubling traffic issues in the community)

5. Living in Communities (a group that works with the community to address issues surrounding the sex trade).

6. Hastings Park Conservancy (an organization dedicated to the re-greening of Hastings Park)

7. East Vancouver Port Lands (a joint effort between the city, Port Authority and the Burrard View community to address issues involving port lands).

8. North End Action Team (a group of residents from the "Forgotten Triangle")

9. Light Water Drums.

10. Hastings Elementary School (celebrating 100 years).

This meeting turned out to be an extremely informative and worthwhile way to spend an otherwise dreary Monday evening. As a relative newcomer to the community, the passion that I encountered here only served to strengthen my own resolve to do more. So, over the coming weeks I will try and find more information about the various groups within this community of ours and introduce them to you here but, in the meantime you may want to mark a couple of dates on your calendars:

Hastings-Sunrise CityPlan Committee Meeting - Monday Nov 27, 7pm @ Hastings Community Center

Hastings-Sunrise Traffic Subcommittee Meeting - Tuesday Nov 7, 7pm @ Hastings Community Center

Hastings-Sunrise Public Realm Subcommittee - Wednesday Nov 15, 7pm @ Hastings Community Center

For More information on the Hastings-Sunrise Community Vision and its various subcommittees, go to www.vancouver.ca/visions

Hastings-Sunrise Community Meeting 23 October 2006

Want to learn more about what's going on in your community? This Monday October 23 is your opportunity to get involved. Join the Hastings-Sunrise CityPlan Committee at the Hastings Community Center at 6:30 pm for the 2nd Annual community meeting and you can learn more about:

1. Crime and Safety Initiatives
2. Traffic Calming Proposals
3. Greening and Public Realm Initiatives
4. The Neighbourhood Centers Program and
5. The status of planning in East Vancouver's Port Lands.

Don't miss your chance to provide suggestions and participate in some of the great initiatives designed to preserve and make our community safer. I look forward to seeing you there!

Monday. October 23 2006, 6:30 pm

Hastings Community Center

3096 East Hastings Street

time to get moving...Gateway Consultation Wednesday 11 Sep 06


I think I've made my feelings pretty clear when it comes to traffic, gridlock and the proposed Gateway Program. As someone who drives the Number 1 and creeps up to the Port Mann with some regularity, I think improvements are way past due. But whether you commute or not, Gateway is important to Vancouver-Hastings residents and therefore it is important that we all understand the truth about the project.

Current estimates put the population of the Greater Vancouver area at just over 2 million, this is set to increase to 3 million by 2031. In order to get these people moving, in a city with a less than perfect transit system we are increasing the number of cars purchased each year by about 20 000. The result is a 30% increase in commute times over the past decade. What is your time worth to you?

Our BC Government is taking some desperately needed steps to correct a transportation infrastructure that really hasn't been touched since the 1980's. Despite what you may hear, increased capacity on roads and bridges is critical to allow an increase in buses, light rail and other transportation alternatives. You can't have one without the other! Further, increased capacity on roads leading into Vancouver will not mean increased traffic in Vancouver-Hastings since studies show that growth in Vancouver residents working outside of the city exceeds suburban residents working in the city by 9 to 1. Gateway is going to help many of us Vancouver-Hastings residents get to our jobs (outside of the city) and home again quicker and more safely.

The Gateway program is a long overdue initiative that will allow our critical infrastructure to meet current requirements and future growth in transportation alternatives. It is also critical to moving goods quickly throughout the lower mainland, the province and the country, but perhaps most importantly it will allow us to get home to our families more quickly, spending our time where it is needed most.

Be a part of this exciting project. Come out to learn more and support our government, the Ministry of Transportation and the Gateway Program this Wednesday Oct 11 between 6 and 9 pm at the Italian Cultural Center (2610 S Grandview Highway). If you can't make it on Wednesday, be sure to complete the online feedback form available at www.gatewayprogram.bc.ca

Don't miss this Opportunity to make your voice heard!!!

Its now been a week since the Premier launched the BC governments "Conversation on Health" and during this past week I've heard surprisingly little positive feedback (in the media at least) about a program that will allow all British Columbians, from all corners of the province and from all points of the political spectrum, the opportunity to contribute towards the solution to a very real problem. A problem that, left alone will likely end up consuming 70% of every tax dollar in the province by 2017.

I can understand how some people may be skeptical. British Columbians may not be used to a government willing to listen to their concerns. We like our government where it belongs, tucked away in Victoria out of sight out of mind. By keeping them there "we" are always able to stay one step ahead of them. Because "we" are out here "we" know what the real problem with health care is and "we" can only assume that "they" also know the true nature of the problem (As announced by one reporter at the Premiers announcement and a Province reader in an Oct 3 letter).

Unlike the above mentioned reader, I am an idiot (I guess) because I don't know what the problem with health care is! But I'd like to find out. My exposure to the system is limited to the 3 or 4 emergency hospital visits that I've had to make due to my oldest son's asthma. Each time we were treated quickly and with the utmost care and so, based on my own experience I would have to say that the system is working fine! Isn't it?

Obviously my experience is hardly indicative of the system as a whole and that is exactly the point to the "Conversation on Health". To allow our government to get out into the community (literally and figuratively) to gain a sense of everyone's experience(s) and gather suggestions to ensure a sustainable system for us, our children and our grandchildren.

The problem, so far at least, with the critics is that while they are not afraid to tell us how much they hate the idea or that it will cost too much money, their criticisms (as usual) fall short on providing constructive solutions to the problem. For this reason I implore everyone who reads this to get involved. You have been given the chance to make a difference and if we truly care about our health care system, we will support our government by providing it with our honest concerns and constructive suggestions for change.

As Health Minister George Abbott has said "The challenges we face in health care today are not BC Liberal Challenges; they are not NDP challenges; they're challenges for all governments and all society". To get involved and make your voice(s) heard with respect to health care in British Columbia:

make a comment... http://www.bcconversationonhealth.ca/EN/405/89

sign up for a forum... www.bcconversationonhealth.ca/EN/402/510

or email your support... ConversationonHealth@Victoria1.gov.bc.ca