The Hook: Political news, freshly caught
Foreign trade zone threatens Delta farmland, says MLA
The provincial government's interest in foreign trade zones is likely to lead to the destruction of more farm land in Delta, says independent MLA Vicki Huntington. Read more…
Should There Be More Regulations on Big Tech?
- Yes.
- No.
- I don’t know.
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Are you watching the winter Olympics this year? Read the results of that poll here.
Province won't follow BC Ferries' lead on FOI responses
The provincial government has no plans to begin handling freedom of information requests the way BC Ferries does, the minister responsible said following a report today from the Information and Privacy Commissioner. Read more…
Time to re-think BC Ferries, says minister as fuel charge added
British Columbia's minister responsible for transportation, Blair Lekstrom, said he thinks the public will understand the need for a fuel surcharge BC Ferries announced today but added he's concerned about rising fares and thinks the ferry service model may need to be reassessed. Read more…
Port Moody tackles suburban cycling plan
Port Moody's Master Cycling Plan could result in an integrated cycling network that stretches over 40 kilometres, running from the University of British Columbia all the way to downtown Coquitlam. Read more…
Removing officers from ferry union won't improve service, says president
Excluding officers from the British Columbia Ferry and Marine Workers' Union appears to be driven by ideology and won't improve the company's service to passengers, said BCFMWU President Richard Goode. Read more…
BC Ferries officers declining non-union positions
Senior officers with B.C. Ferry Services Inc. are making public their dispute with the government-owned company over being excluded from their union. Read more…
Oregon law could boost car sharing
With vehicle insurance rates in B.C. expected to rise along with gas prices, perhaps more people will be looking for more flexible options when it comes to driving.
They could look to Oregon for examples, where a proposal is currently before the state Legislature that would make sharing easier for people who want to loan or rent their vehicles without the risk of legal liability. Read more…
Emergency lighting on ferry meets regulations: Transport Canada
Emergency lighting on the Queen of Burnaby met all regulations the last time Transport Canada inspected the BC Ferries vessel, said a spokesperson for the agency. Read more…
More transit, more traffic problems, says think tank
Seattle think tank argues investing more in transit won't solve a city's gridlock issues. Read more…
Ferry's emergency lighting appears substandard: Coons
A BC Ferries vessel appears to be using glow sticks and flashlights for emergency lighting, contrary to federal regulations, NDP ferry critic Gary Coons wrote in a letter to Transportation Minister Shirley Bond. Read more…
Metro chair asks candidates to tackle transit funding
While the rural vote has become more significant in this leadership race, Metro Vancouver chair Lois Jackson is urging both parties to reflect on the pressures facing the province's largest urban area, including how to fund transit. Read more…
US invests another $53 billion in high-speed rail, Canadian study a year overdue
The US could wind up funding a high-speed rail line to Toronto before Canada even publishes a paper about the idea. Read more…
Commissioner finds BC Ferries has 'unfair advantage' in drop trailer biz
British Columbia Ferry Services Inc. has an unfair competitive advantage offering its drop trailer service and must charge more, B.C. Ferry Commissioner Martin Crilly said in a ruling released today.
BC Ferries has been pricing its service on the major routes between the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island "below its direct costs and an appropriate proportion of indirect costs associated with the service," it said. Read more…
Regulator can't say if ferries were exempted from stability related requirement
Transport Canada has not yet been able to say whether or not four B.C. Ferry Services Inc. vessels were granted exemptions from required tests related to stability. Read more…
Streetcars to roll back into New Orleans
Vancouver can’t hold a candle to New Orleans when it comes to food or music. And now Terminal City is also trailing the Big Easy in the Greenest City category, as the Crescent City begins rebuilding its historic streetcar lines. Read more…
Four BC Ferries vessels overdue for stability tests
Four British Columbia Ferry Services Inc. vessels are past their due dates for stability tests, according to a document from the publicly-owned company. Read more…
Seaplane operators optimistic about new terminal proposal
The Vancouver Commercial Seaplane Operators Association left a Monday afternoon meeting with Port Metro Vancouver happy that progress is being made towards a non-profit terminal for the inner harbour. Read more…
BC Ferries workers accused of smoking pot
A Transportation Safety Board memo warning B.C. Ferries that crew members were smoking pot on the job was a real bummer for boss David Hahn. Read more…
Six reasons parking is the dumbest thing you subsidize: Grist
Here's a list for drivers who think it's a smart idea to tear up the Hornby Street bike lane to make room for more on-street parking. Read more…
War on Bikes, redux: Oregon lawmaker seeks to ban kids from bicycles
As the battle over Vancouver's bike lanes rolls into its second year, an Oregon lawmaker is trying to make it illegal to carry a child on a bicycle. Read more…
