Metro Vancouver & TransLink Update SCI Updateilwu.ca/wp-content/uploads/FINAL-SCI-2015-8.pdf · 2018. 8. 1. · involves an area within and adjacent to Sumas Mountain Interregional

Inside this issue 2-‐5 Metro Vancouver news

• Local procurement; Sumas mine application; Refugees

6-‐10 Waste & recycling news

• Transfer station contracts; MMBC & Vancouver; food

donation tax credit

11-‐14 Housing news

• Offshore buyers; Regional affordable housing strategy

consultations

SCI Update

2015-‐8

December 2, 2015

Metro Vancouver & TransLink Update

Produced by the Sustainable

Communities Initiative

Robert Duffy, Coordinator

[email protected]

P3 Canada rejects Lions Gate Treatment Plant funding

Staff told a November meeting of

Metro’s Utilities Committee meeting that

P3 Canada, the federal government

public-‐private partnership agency, has

rejected (‘screened-‐out’) Metro’s

application for funding for the Lions Gate

Secondary Treatment Plant.

Staff say it appears the proposal was

rejected because it was a traditional

Design-‐Build-‐Finance (DBF) P3 and not

the deeper “Design-‐Build-‐Finance-‐

Maintain Operate” (DBFMO) model

promoted by some P3 advocates.

Metro staff and directors told the

meeting that Metro is still pursuing

funding through the federal Building

Canada Fund (BCF), but needs the BC

provincial government to recommend

the project before the federal

government will consider assessing it.

After the rejection from P3 Canada, the

BCF is currently the only federal funding

program available to the project.

The new federal government in

November announced its intention to

remove mandatory P3 screening from

infrastructure funding applications under

the Building Canada Fund (see page 25

for more information). Metro staff

and elected people are planning to

directly approach the new federal

government and new North Shore

MPs regarding project funding.

Federal wastewater regulations

require that the $700 million Lions

Gate wastewater project is

completed by 2020, with fines and

other penalties threatened if local

governments miss the deadline.

Without senior government

funding, the full cost of the project

would be borne by Metro

Vancouver municipalities.

Still no confirmed federal or provincial funding for $700 million, federally mandated project

15-‐21 Transit & transportation news

• Shuttle bus replacement; Land value capture; Road

pricing; New TransLink directors

22-‐23 Port news

• Inland ports; port trucking; Roberts Bank

developments

24-‐27 The new federal government & Metro

• What the Liberals have promised on infrastructure,

transit, housing and other municipal issues

SCI Metro Vancouver & TransLink Update: 2015-‐8

Procurement committee asks for more data on

impact of local purchasing

Metro’s performance and procurement committee is asking

for an analysis of the value and potential economic benefits of

local supplier preferences in contracts not covered in existing

international and interprovincial trade agreements. Local

government procurement contracts below $75,000 for goods

and services or $200,000 for construction are not covered in

the NWPTA or other existing trade agreements. Research

presented to the committee by the Columbia Institute showed

that locally based suppliers increased local employment and

recirculated more money in the local economy.

A Metro staff report to the Procurement and Performance

Committee in November said that despite the absence of any

local preference measures, approximately 91% of all Metro

Vancouver purchases (as measured in total dollars) are

ordered from vendors within the province of British Columbia

and approximately 83% are from within a Metro member

municipality. Metro Manager of Purchasing Tracy Husoy was

of the opinion that these figures indicate local preferences are

not necessary to ensure Metro does most of it’s purchasing

locally. However, her staff report defined “local” only on the

basis of whether a supplier had a BC mailing address, and did

not examine the extent to which supplier operations, staff

and/or production were actually rooted in the local economy.

In regards to policy, Husoy told the committee that a survey of

member municipalities found that none have a local

preference policy, but that several municipalities have a

“tie-‐breaker” clause within their policies or procedures.

Generally a tiebreaker clause states that where quality,

specifications, service, price and delivery are all equal,

preference will be given to the local or domestic firm.

Vancouver Director Geoff Meggs expressed concerns

that even if a majority of Metro’s procurement spend is

currently ‘local,’ international firms might undercut

local suppliers over the longer term, leading to negative

impacts on the regional economy. The Vancouver

Councillor suggested that Metro staff should monitor

procurement in more detail over time to see if new

trade agreements impact the extent to which Metro

sources goods and services locally.

Meggs also suggested greater consideration and

tracking of environmental impacts in procurement

decisions, including GHG emissions from transportation

of goods. Port Moody Mayor Mike Clay told the

committee his municipality already calculates the

environmental cost of transporting goods as a factor on

scoresheets for its procurement process. Husoy

indicated that some of these factors may be captured

already under Metro’s calculation of ‘total cost’ of

contracts, but didn’t elaborate in detail.

Burnaby Director Colleen Jordan noted that more

detailed information on the current value of Metro’s

local procurement, including amounts spent on

Metro Vancouver News

3

contracts below trade agreement thresholds, could also be

useful economic data to share with Boards of Trade and

businesses in the region.

The committee passed a motion directing staff to provide

more detailed analysis of Metro’s procurement on contracts

below current trade agreement thresholds, with only White

Rock Mayor Wayne Baldwin and West Vancouver Mayor

Michael Smith voting against.

For more on the value of local procurement, see:

http://goo.gl/xmhs0j

http://goo.gl/yskzv1

Mine application for Sumas Mountain opposed by

Metro

Metro’s Parks Committee in November voted to write a

letter to the BC Ministry of Energy and Mines expressing

opposition to the proposed mining lease application

submitted by 266531 BC Ltd. The mining lease application

involves an area within and adjacent to Sumas Mountain

Interregional Park. Metro staff say the proposal raises

serious concerns for the environmental and cultural values of

the interregional park, as well as for the public’s use and

enjoyment of the parklands and trail corridor.

Both the Fraser Valley Regional District and City of

Abbotsford have opposed a previous mining lease

application for a proposed rock quarry. The Sumas First

Nation and Sto:lo Nation also participated in the previous

delegation to Minister Thomson. At its October 19, 2015

meeting, the City of Abbotsford Council passed a resolution

to express the City’s opposition to the current lease

application in a letter to the Province.

In response to questions from Directors, staff told the

committee that the GVRD is an interested party, but has no

formal jurisdiction over the application. The Province

ultimately makes decisions regarding this type of tenure.

Directors expressed concerns regarding the lack of municipal

jurisdiction over mining activities within BC municipal

boundaries, and one noted that mining applications are

often made just below the tonnage that triggers a mandatory

environmental review.

Following the discussion, the committee instructed staff to

prepare a backgrounder examining GVRD jurisdiction over

mining activities in the region.

Water restrictions will start earlier in 2016 and

full shortage plan review underway

In response to the 2015 drought, Metro Vancouver’s

Utilities Committee has voted to begin Stage 1 water

restrictions on May 15 in 2016 and extend them until

October 15. Stage 1 restrictions have typically run from

June 1 – September 30.

In addition, Metro is commencing a review of the current

Water Shortage Response Plan (WSRP). The review and

adoption process will take place between November 2015

and April 2017, and involve a two phased consultation

program with GVWD members, neighbouring jurisdictions,

the private sector and the public.

In spring 2016, a report to the Board is expected to

provide further WSRP amendments pertaining to

commercial power washing and lawn sprinkling exemption

permit validity under various stages of the plan. A detailed

WSRP Support Guide will be available for summer 2016 to

support the implementation and enforcement of the plan.

Metro assessing need for higher Development

Cost Charges to fund future sewage, drainage

projects

Metro is currently reviewing Development Cost Charges

(DCCs) levied by the Greater Vancouver Sewerage and

Drainage District’s to determine if they’re adequate to

meet future capital requirements.

Regional GVS&DD Development Cost Charges are

collected on behalf of Metro Vancouver by member

municipalities and remitted twice a year. DCCs are used to

fund growth related capital expenditures. About $10.2

million in DCCs were collected in the first half of 2015

A staff report presented at the November 2015

Performance and Procurement Committee meeting noted:

“While the current DCC revenues continue to be

substantial, so is the plan for future Liquid Waste Services

growth capital works. In the medium term, current DCC

revenue levels as well as the deferred revenues appear

adequate.”


Metro & municipal news in brief

Construction partnership claims Metro owes more than $15

million for tunneling work

The Seymour-‐Cap Partnership, which won a contract worth

approximately $190 million for tunneling work from the

Greater Vancouver Water District (GVWD), claims the GVWD is

wrongfully shortchanging it by more than $15 million after the

work was substantially completed.

The partnership is made up of Frontier-‐Kemper Constructors

ULC, Aecon Construction Group and J.F. Shea Construction Inc.,

according to the claim filed in BC Supreme Court on November

3.

https://goo.gl/q11TCu

Tsawwasssen First Nation proposes major LNG export plant

Members of the Tsawwassen First Nation will vote next month

on plans for a liquefied natural gas export facility on their lands

near Delta.

The First Nation has issued a release saying consultation with

its members is under way before a vote on Dec. 16.

The release says the proposed facility would produce three to

five million tonnes of LNG annually, with the natural gas supply

coming via an extension of an existing pipeline located 10

kilometres away.

Five to six tankers per month would be expected at the export

facility.

http://goo.gl/1oXCyQ

Vancouver viaducts to come down, with major

redevelopment of area

Vancouver city council voted in October to take the down the

Georgia Street viaducts and proceed with a plan to create a

new arterial roadway that allows the area to be extensively

developed. City staff expect all of the $200 million cost of the

project can be covered by development fees.

The plan to remove the viaducts includes an increase in

downtown park space. It also includes two new city blocks that

would be used for social and market housing.

A survey from Insights West found that 36% of Metro

Vancouver residents support the decision, while 40%

oppose it. Support is higher in the City of Vancouver: 45% of

Vancouver residents said they support the decision, while

36% oppose it.

Poll respondents were skeptical that affordable housing

would materialize as part of the redevelopment, with 85%

expressing doubt.

Former Vancouver senior planners Larry Beasley and Ralph

Sega told media it’s possible to overcome that public

cynicism if the City gets the public involved from the

beginning, is open about who’s getting what, and

encourages staff to bargain hard with developers.

The viaducts were originally built in 1971 as part of a larger

proposed freeway through East Vancouver. That plan was

scrapped after residents protested.

http://goo.gl/YohsX0

https://goo.gl/EL1Ycr

http://goo.gl/3ANFCv

Port Moody borrowing for civic repairs

Port Moody council is borrowing $10.5 million to fix city

infrastructure.

The temporary borrowing bylaw takes advantage of the

Municipal Finance Authority's temporary borrowing

program to lock in the loan amount once the projects are

complete and the true cost is known.

The money is needed to fund urgent repairs to city hall, the

recreation complex and the Port Moody Arts Centre, as well

as the Heritage Mountain bridge. The city has received

provincial approval to borrow the money and, after a 30-‐

day public comment window, will seek the necessary OKs

from Metro Vancouver and Municipal Finance Authority

boards.

http://goo.gl/rup6IJ

5

Metro region prepares to accept Syrian refugees

Decision to slow down arrivals means hundreds, not

thousands, here by Dec. 31

British Columbia can now expect hundreds, rather than

thousands, of Syrian refugees by the end of the year.

The federal Liberal government announced November 24

that it will take in 10,000, rather than 25,000 Syrian

refugees by the end of 2015. The other 15,000 will arrive in

January and February.

Chris Friesen, settlement services director with the

Immigrant Services Society of B.C., said that of the 10,000

Syrian refugees arriving in Canada before the end of the

year, about 8,000 will be privately sponsored and only 2,000

will be government sponsored.

The Immigrant Services Society, which only handles

government-‐sponsored refugees, is expecting about 10 per

cent of those 2,000, or 200, will come to this province by

Dec. 31, Friesen said.

Government-‐assisted refugees will begin arriving in more

significant numbers in the New Year, Friesen said. Metro

Vancouver is the only area in B.C. set up to receive these

refugees, who may have endured significant trauma and

need support services that cannot easily be offered in other

cities, Friesen said. The extension “makes it more doable”

and gives the Immigrant Services Society more time to train

and screen volunteers, as well as take stock of all the

housing units that B.C. residents have offered to Syrian

refugees, he said.

Analysis by Immigrant Services of refugee settlement

patterns over the past decade suggests three quarters of

the new Syrian arrivals will end up in Surrey, Coquitlam and

Burnaby. Vancouver and New Westminster round out the

top five destinations in B.C.

While Premier Christy Clark has suggested settling many of

the refugees outside the Lower Mainland, refugee

settlement groups said it likely makes more sense to keep

them in areas with appropriate services.

“What are the existing infrastructure, where are the best

infrastructure to support in their initial settlement?” asked

Eyob Naizghi, Executive Director of MOSAIC BC. “The Lower

Mainland is going to be the best place to accept refugees.”

Metro local elected leaders have expressed support for the

effort, but emphasized the need for adequate federal

and provincial support in housing, settlement, social

services and the public education system. Close to 40%

of refugees are likely to be under the age of 19.

Surrey councillor Judy Villeneuve told media her city is

waiting to see how many Syrian refugees will be directed

there, and will work with Immigrant Services, B.C.

Housing and Surrey-‐based immigrant services

organizations to find them a place to go. It’s something

the city has been doing for a long time, she added.

“I’m not saying it’s going to be easy. We do have people

who have privately sponsored refugees and may open

up their homes. We have churches and community

groups that will ... assist with looking for housing. Surrey

is a really connected community that will work

together.”

Vancouver councillor Geoff Meggs called the Syrian

arrivals “an exciting challenge” and a topic that came up

in the first telephone conversation Mayor Gregor

Robertson had with Justin Trudeau after he became

prime minister.

“I think people have been waiting for the opportunity to

lend a hand,” Meggs said.

In mid-‐November, the Urban Development Institute

urged its 120 local members in the property

development sector to contact the Immigrant Services

Society of B.C. if they have any vacant units that could

be used as temporary housing for large groups between

December and sometime in March or April, or for

permanent housing. At least two Metro area developers

have volunteered housing units so far.

http://goo.gl/g0LNky

http://goo.gl/P6uTGl

http://goo.gl/bNExcC

http://goo.gl/vz7CPl

http://goo.gl/1W13a3

http://goo.gl/lHb6bd


Metro Waste & Recycling News

Metro motion supports federal tax incentive

to donate unsold edible food

Food banks concerned that such programs may lead to

industry offloading food waste disposal costs onto charities

The Metro Board in November passed a resolution supporting

the National Zero Waste Council's (NZWC) food waste

reduction federal tax incentive proposal. The proposal calls on

the Government of Canada to implement tax incentives for

food producers, suppliers and retailers to donate unsold edible

food.

However, in response to concerns raised by a delegation from

the Greater Vancouver Food bank, the motion was amended to

call on the NZWC to do research to ensure that the proposal

was designed not to dump poor quality foods and waste

disposal costs on the non-‐profit sector.

According to the staff report accompanying the proposal,

“approximately 170,000 tonnes of edible food—equivalent to

about 300 million meals—wind up in Canadian landfills every

year.” The NZWC is proposing a tax incentive to assist in

reducing the amount of edible food in the waste stream, and

subsequently, “reduce solid waste management costs and the

environmental and social impacts related to the loss of edible

food to communities across Canada.” A number of other

Canadian local governments have passed resolutions in

response to the NZWC campaign.

However, a delegation to Metro from the Greater Vancouver

Food Bank (GVFB) warned of potential problems with the

proposal, and called on the Board not to approve the motion

without further study and clarification. GVFB CEO Aart

Schuurman Hess told the Board that if not designed and

regulated properly, a tax credit could result in companies

dumping low quality food and inedible food waste onto

charitable organisations, which would then be in a position of

absorbing the disposal costs. Hess said the GVFB already

spends $40,000 a year recycling and disposing of inedible food

it receives.

Hess said there are also considerable costs associated with

handling and storing food donations, and that distributing poor

quality, low nutrition foods only compounds problems for

people living in poverty. To illustrate his point, Hess pointed to

examples of big box stores ‘donating’ large quantities of

expired marshmallows and ice cream toppings in

jurisdictions where they received tax incentives to do so.

Hess suggested finalizing guidelines for industry donations

before calling for tax incentives, and the GVFB wants a

change to the wording of the motion to swap the term

"edible food" to "healthy and nutritional food." Hess

suggested that the Board receive the staff report on food

donation incentives for ‘information only’ until these issues

are addressed.

Metro Board members agreed with many of the concerns

raised by Hess, but were divided on whether to move ahead

with the motion and address problematic issues later in the

design phase of a program, or to instead hold off on passing

a motion until clearer guidelines and standards were

developed and could be included in a modified motion.

New Westminster Director Jonathan Cote successfully

proposed an amendment calling on the NZWC to do

research into how a food donations tax incentive could best

be designed to benefit end recipients of food donations and

avoid the types of problems raised by the GVFB. The

resolution passed as amended, but a number of Directors

voted against the motion because of continued concerns

related to the issues raised by the food bank delegation.

http://goo.gl/dBZ7SF

7

Transfer station contracts raise concerns for some Metro Directors

Metro Zero Waste Committee members raised concerns during

discussions of criteria for evaluating proposals for operations

and maintenance at the Surrey, North Shore, Langley and

Maple Ridge transfer stations.

Background

The operation of Metro Vancouver’s transfer station system is

currently contracted to Wastech Services Ltd. and SSG Holdings

Ltd. Both contracts will expire on December 31, 2016. Services

are being procured through competitive processes “designed

to ensure value for money, effective operations and open

competition.”

Shortlisted Proponents who will be allowed to submit

proposals to operate and maintain the Surrey and North Shore

Transfer Stations are:

1. Covanta Burnaby Renewable Energy, ULC

2. Emterra Environmental (Halton Recycling Ltd.)

3. Miller Waste Systems Inc.

4. SSG Holdings Ltd.

5. Wastech Services Ltd.

An additional Request for Proposals for Langley and Maple

Ridge Transfer Stations will be issued at the same time. A

prequalification stage was not required for the Langley and

Maple Ridge Transfer Stations because the scale and

complexity of those transfer stations is less than Surrey and

North Shore.

Proposed evaluation criteria and weighting for RFPs

submitted for the stations include:

• Surrey and North Shore Transfer Stations:

• Technical (40%)

o Structure and composition of the operations

team of personnel

o Start-‐up plan

o Operations and maintenance methodology

• Financial and Commercial (60%)

o Pricing, including total estimated annual cost

o Financial capability, including confirmation

that the proponent has the ability to meet

specified insurance and bonding requirements

o Acceptance of, or requested changes to, the

draft contract attached to the RFP


• Langley and Maple Ridge Transfer Stations:

• Technical (30%) – criteria as in above

• Financial and Commercial (40%) – criteria as in above

• Qualifications (30%):

o Experience of proponent

o Experience of proponent’s personnel

o Legislative and regulatory compliance

o References

Concerns raised at Committee

Several directors voiced concerns as to whether risk should be

weighted more heavily in the criteria, especially in regards to

any litigation or past problems with project proponents. Staff

told the committee that they would have to go in camera to

discuss that issue.

Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan asked staff whether an analysis

had been done about whether to bring these operations in-‐

house, and voiced concerns about the 7-‐year length of the

contracts. Metro staff replied that they had evaluated and

apparently rejected the possibility of keeping these projects in

house, and argued that 7 years was a reasonable time for

amortization of equipment to be purchased by contractors.

Staff told the committee the contracts include only the costs

of mobile equipment owned by contractors, and no other

capital costs.

Director Corrigan also suggested that the region would be

better-‐served by more flexibility for Metro on how these

contracts deal with changing waste flows, equipment and

labour requirements. The Burnaby Mayor felt that previous

contracts have been weighted in favour of the contractors

in such circumstances. Staff told the committee that waste

flow issues have historically been dealt with through a

combination of fixed baseline payments, coupled with

payments based on flow.

Corrigan also expressed concerns about the varied

operating hours planned for different transfer stations, and

suggested that more consistent operating hours for

facilities across the region would be more convenient for

the public. Staff told the committee that the variations in

opening hours were largely due to some stations opening

early to accept waste from commercial haulers. In

response, Mayor Corrigan voiced concerns that Metro was

spending public funds to meet the scheduling needs of

commercial haulers. Staff felt that the mixture of reductions

and extensions of hours across different facilities roughly

balanced out in terms of cost, at least in relation to previous

arrangements.

What next?

The contracts have an estimated total annual value of

approximately $10 million -‐ high enough to require Metro

Board of Directors approval. RFPs are expected to be issued

before the end of 2015 and close in the second quarter of

2016, with a Report to the Board for approval to award

contract in the second quarter of 2016. Contractors are

expected to commence operations on January 2, 2017.

9

Metro to release short list of WTE incinerator sites ‘before

Christmas’

Metro Vancouver expects to announce shortly a list of six

sites for one or more waste-‐to-‐energy plants to burn the

region’s trash, more than two years after the regional

district started investigating potential land options in and

outside the region.

Malcolm Brodie, chairman of Metro’s waste committee,

said the list will be released “before Christmas” but

declined to reveal further details as some of the deals are

still being negotiated.

http://goo.gl/zORCMO

Metro composting company seeks permit for higher

emissions

Organics composter Harvest Power is seeking an air quality

permit to increase its “authorized emissions” after

significantly exceeding air and odour emissions for the

past two years.

The Richmond-‐based company, which composts most of

Metro Vancouver’s food scraps, has asked the regional

district to approve a permit based on “characterization

studies” over the past two years that show emissions

were more significant than expected, in some cases 11

times higher for certain compounds.

Harvest Power operates five locations in Metro

Vancouver with a combined capacity to take in 200,000

tonnes of organic waste each year. The company collects

most of the compost generated by Metro Vancouver,

which has banned kitchen scraps from garbage cans, as

part of a plan to divert 80 per cent of compost and

recyclables from the region’s landfills by 2020.

http://goo.gl/rKjuUK

Waste & recycling news in brief


Asbestos problem means transfer stations temporarily not

accepting gypsum

Worksafe BC’s temporary closure of New West Gypsum due

to asbestos related worker safety concerns means that Metro

transfer stations are currently not accepting gypsum.

Metro Vancouver’s transfer stations typically receive small

loads of gypsum for recycling, and material currently in the

system is being stockpiled on site at Metro Vancouver

facilities. Safety and Worksafe compliance issues mean that

Metro facilities cannot accept more gypsum for stockpiling.

In addition, the closure means that contractors with large

quantities of gypsum are not able to deliver the material for

recycling. Metro staff report that the current lack of recycling

options creates risks with respect to illegal dumping and

mixing of gypsum with regular garbage. Gypsum creates

operational and environmental challenges for both landfills

(particularly landfills in high moisture environments) and the

Waste-‐to-‐Energy Facility.

Prior to the 1980s, asbestos was included in dry-‐wall mud

used in the installation of gypsum wallboard and in some

texture materials applied to wallboard. New West Gypsum is

a Metro Vancouver based company that is a major North

American player in the gypsum recycling industry. Metro

staff say they will continue to monitor the situation.

City of Vancouver votes to fully transition recycling

collection to MMBC

The City of Vancouver has voted to shift its residential

recycling collection directly to Multi-‐Material BC (MMBC), the

industry packaging and printed paper steward that began

operations in spring of 2014.

On Nov. 17, city staff presented the ins and outs of a full

service transition to MMBC, a move that would need to make

considerations for several factors, including funding shortfalls

and aging waste fleets. Payments from MMBC do not cover

the full cost of Vancouver’s collection service delivery, and in

2015, the shortfall between MMBC revenues and program

costs may exceed $4 million, according to a committee

report. Further, Vancouver currently owns and operates a

fleet of 30 recycling trucks that staff say have aged beyond

their useful service life and are in “urgent” need of

replacement, a cost that could reach about $12 million.

According to a City of Vancouver staff report, “all

permanent staff affected by this change will be re-‐

deployed to new positions and vacancies arising through

regular attrition within Sanitation and other Engineering

branches. A significant majority of the impacted staff are

represented by CUPE 1004. The City has concluded a labour

adjustment agreement that sets out the terms and process

for re-‐deployment for affected CUPE 1004 members. The

leadership of CUPE 1004 has endorsed this agreement and

is presently conducting a final consultation with its

membership.”

Vancouver and MMBC expect the full transition of service

to be completed by the end of 2016.

http://goo.gl/yL2E23

http://goo.gl/llvtYZ

http://goo.gl/1H3NFO

Metro to regulate liquid waste from breweries and

distilleries

Metro Vancouver has passed the first-‐ever bylaw to

regulate liquid waste coming from the dozens of breweries

and distilleries in the region.

At a November meeting, the regional government passed a

bylaw amendment with requirements to protect sewage,

treatment processes and the environment from biosolids

from breweries, wineries and distilleries.

The new requirements include a prohibition on discharging

spent grains and fruits, installing a sampling point,

monitoring and treating wastewater pH, and to pay

administration and treatment fees. The requirements have

deadlines extending from 2016 to 2017 to allow time for

stakeholders to make necessary changes.

http://goo.gl/hFNRss

11

Housing & affordability news

A study released in October by UBC adjunct professor and

urban planner Andy Yan found evidence suggesting

significant involvement in the overheated Vancouver

residential real estate market of buyers from Mainland China.

Canada does not collect data on foreign ownership, and the

citizenship of buyers in Yan’s study is not clear. However, in

an effort to estimate the presence of offshore money from

Mainland China in the market, Yan established that 66% of all

buyers of detached homes on Vancouver’s west side from

August 2014-‐February 2015 had “non-‐anglicized” Mainland

China names.

The study also found that of all self-‐declared occupations

among owners — on homes worth an average $3.05 million

— 36% were housewives or students with little income. In

addition, 18% of the homes were not mortgaged by banks,

including five of the eight homes owned by “students,” which

were bought outright with cash at an average value of $3.2

million.

Yan told media that rather than the ethnicity of the buyers,

“the bigger question to be studied is what happens when the

driver for your residential market is wealth, not wages? That

is a major public policy issue.”

Vancouver-‐Point Grey MLA David Eby told media that Yan’s

findings mean the provincial government needs to take a

closer look at the tax and housing implications of offshore

investment in the housing market.

Racist implications to research?

Some local elected leaders have expressed concerns about

the study being misused to foment racism, with Vancouver

Mayor Gregor Robertson stating “what we don’t need ... is

the blaming of any one group of people — or any one kind of

last name — for the challenge of housing affordability. This is

a public policy issue, not a race issue — and any confusion to

the contrary only risks dividing our city and distracting

Vancouver and our region from seeking the urgent action

that is needed from the provincial and federal

governments.”

Vancouver council is calling on the B.C. government to

implement an anti-‐speculation tax on high-‐end properties

and to limit “excessive vacancies” in unoccupied houses.

Yan’s research and methodology was defended by a

number of academic and public figures, including Albert Lo,

head of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF);

Prof. Michael McDonald, former head of the University of

B.C.’s centre for applied ethics; Setty Pendakur, UBC

planner emeritus, former Vancouver city councilor and

senior adviser to Mainland China’s State Council; and

Vancouver immigration lawyer Samuel Hyman.

Albert Lo of the CRRF told media “there are racists out there

who will exploit this to advance their bigotries. But it’s

important to respectfully and honestly look at all the issues

surrounding housing. There is no problem collecting

statistical information on nationality, as long as you don’t

target one group.”

http://goo.gl/y33zLT

http://goo.gl/uTYKYO

http://goo.gl/TgezG2

BC residents dissatisfied with provincial government

handing of foreign ownership of housing

The year-‐end Insights West “BC Government Report Card,”

an online survey of a representative sample of British

Columbian adults conducted in partnership with Business in

Vancouver, found that just 12% of BC residents are satisfied

with the way the provincial government is handling issues

related to foreign ownership in housing.

http://goo.gl/56olup

Debate continues over role of offshore money in Vancouver housing market


BC Landlords association says government action needed to

increase Metro’s supply of affordable housing

The CEO of the rental housing industry association LandlordBC

told Metro’s housing committee in November that

government action is needed to increase the construction of

new purpose built rental housing. David Hutniak said that

much of the region’s rental housing stock is aging and in need

of renovation and repair, and that the market on its own was

not building affordable rental housing. He told the committee

that the region could not wait for the ‘normal’ 10-‐year

development cycle to catch up with the current housing crisis.

However, Hutniak told the committee he felt that the for-‐

profit sector can provide affordable housing more effectively

than the public sector. He advocated ‘affordable housing

allowances’ and other forms of direct financial assistance to

renters until the private sector housing supply ‘catches up,’

rather than construction of new public social housing.

Hutniak was not explicit on measures to increase the supply of

Housing & Metro Vancouver

affordable rental housing, but favourably mentioned past

tax incentives for rental housing construction. He also

spoke favourably of density bonuses and development

charge waivers by local governments as incentives. In

addition, Hutniak said his organisation was not in favour

of local government policy measures aimed at preventing

‘renovictions,’ arguing that the problem was overstated

and that government intervention could get in the way of

necessary renovations.

In response to questions from the committee, Hutniak

said that he had not heard about any specific measures

from the new federal government to support rental

housing, but that his sector hoped to meet soon with

federal representatives. He also told the committee that

his organisation was concerned about the loss of rental

housing to AirBNB, and was working to educate members

on that issue.

13

Consultations on Regional Affordable Housing Strategy

underway

Consultations on Metro’s Draft Regional Affordable Housing

Strategy with member municipalities’ Mayor and Councils and

other stakeholders will be taking place from November 2015

to end of January 2016.

Stakeholder consultation is occurring in two parts -‐ with

Mayor and Councils of member municipalities and external

stakeholders. Staff will report back to the Housing Committee

with a summary of stakeholder feedback in early 2016.

Member Municipalities

Mayor and Councils will have an opportunity to consider the

draft strategy and provide Metro Vancouver with their

comments. The Draft Regional Affordable Housing Strategy

will be sent directly to Mayor and Councils in early November

inviting their comments by January 29, 2016. Accompanying

the Draft Regional Affordable Housing Strategy will be some

associated technical documentation, namely draft housing

demand estimates and performance measures.

External stakeholders

Three sub-‐regional workshops were held for invited

stakeholders at the staff level, including the Regional

Administrators Advisory Committee members, Regional

Planning Advisory Committee members, housing and

community agency stakeholders, TransLink, private and non-‐

profit housing developers, industry associations, the

provincial government, federal government and health

authorities. The aim of the workshops was to solicit views

on the draft strategy.

There is no direct public engagement, but there is an

ongoing web presence on the Metro Vancouver website.

The webpage advises the interested public to contact staff

if they have questions or comments on the draft RAHS.

http://goo.gl/AHxPNn

Report in progress on “what works” for increasing rental

housing supply

Regional Housing staff are preparing a “What Works”

document on specific measures to sustain and expand

purpose built rental supply. “What Works: Sustaining and

Expanding the Purpose Built Rental Housing Supply” builds

on an earlier report published in 2012 to identify municipal

and other measures to sustain the existing purpose built

rental stock and incentivize the development of new

purpose-‐built rental housing. The report will summarize

the effectiveness of local government tools and measures

as well as levers used by senior levels of government.

Tenant displacement through redevelopment is a major

issue and methods to accommodate this will be discussed.

This resource guide will come to Housing Committee for

endorsement in the New Year.


Housing news in brief

City of North Vancouver adds new protections for renters

The City of North Vancouver council on Nov. 16 unanimously

endorsed a new policy that offers more protection for those

displaced by redevelopment.

The policy endorsed by council requires property owners to

provide enhanced notice and assistance to tenants for any

redevelopment requiring council approval. Under the new

policy, building owners must provide: an occupancy

summary; two months’ notice; three months’ rent; tenant

communications plan; tenant relocation co-‐ordinator to find

three comparable suites for the displaced tenants, and give

existing tenants the first right of refusal to live in the new

building.

As staff noted, residential tenancy requirements and tenant-‐

landlord relations in British Columbia are governed by the

provincial government’s Residential Tenancy Act and the city

doesn’t have the power to require developers to offer

additional notice or financial compensation. However, the

policy measures can be used as a requirement of council

approval for redevelopment.

http://goo.gl/QUVrEt

Affordable rental housing crisis threatening B.C. economy:

study

The lack of affordable rental housing in British Columbia has

reached such a crisis point it is threatening to damage the

economy, a new study indicates.

Tony Roy, CEO of the BC Non-‐Profit Housing Association, said

data gathered in the most comprehensive study of rental

housing ever done in the province show that nearly half of all

renters are pouring more than 30 per cent of their income

into rent. And 24 per cent in Metro Vancouver are spending

more than half their income on rent, leaving them with little

disposable income.

"And our figures are gross incomes," said Mr. Roy. "So if you

are spending 30 per cent to 40 per cent on taxes and another

50 per cent on rent it doesn't leave much to do anything in

the economy. All you can do is keep a roof over your head

and then visit the food bank a few times a month to try and

make it through. And that's what's happening."

Combined with a vacancy rate of less than 1 per cent, that

means businesses are increasingly finding it hard to hire new

workers because many people simply can't afford to live

in B.C., particularly in Metro Vancouver, Mr. Roy said.

http://goo.gl/0cjOeW

http://goo.gl/5ndF46

http://goo.gl/CzYyWc

http://goo.gl/xxa09X

Bernanke suggests Canada require higher down

payments to cool housing market

Ben Bernanke, the former chair of the U.S. Federal

Reserve, said Canada should consider “requiring higher

down payments” to cool the housing market.

According to Bernanke, the risk is not so much that

house prices will go down and have an impact on jobs,

construction and the economy, but “the real threat is to

the financial system.”

https://goo.gl/rOzEYK

House prices continue to surge in Greater Vancouver

House prices continue to surge in the greater Vancouver

area, where the price of a typical single-‐family home has

risen by 20 per cent in the last year, hitting $1.2 million

in October.

The latest housing price index from the Canadian Real

Estate Association shows a 15.33-‐per-‐cent jump in the

prices of all real estate types in the region between

October 2014 and last month. The average sale price of a

detached home in Vancouver nearly doubled the

national index price of $585,800.

Price gains were slightly more modest for condos, but

greater Vancouver still saw the largest jump in prices in

the country at 11.39 per cent. A typical apartment sold

for $425,800 last month.

http://goo.gl/igLBkC

15

Transit & transportation news

Illness-‐causing community shuttle buses to be

replaced using Metro’s federal gas tax funds

Metro Vancouver directors have approved a request by

TransLink to reallocate $9.35 million from the federal gas tax

fund to replace 62 defective diesel community shuttle buses

that drivers complained were making them ill.

The money is coming from $3.05 million in surplus after the

purchase of 100 HandyDart vehicles. Another $6.3 million was

meant for the purchase of 24 new diesel-‐powered community

shuttles in 2015. The new buses are expected to arrive in

about 6 months.

Complaints with the diesel coaches that are being replaced

first arose shortly after the buses were put into service in 2013,

with more than 100 documented cases of transit staff getting

sick.

According to media reports, shuttle manufacturer Navistar is

facing class-‐action lawsuits over defects regarding reliability, as

well as coolant and exhaust fumes entering the passenger

compartment in some of it’s pre-‐2013 model diesel trucks.

While happy the shuttles will be off the road, the president of

Unifor Local 111 says TransLink is “robbing Peter to pay Paul”

by taking funding meant for the HandyDART program.

Decision shows Metro’s willingness to leverage financial

influence on TransLink

Metro’s involvement in this issue is indicative of the regional

district’s new ability and willingness to exercise control

over federal gas tax money transferred to TransLink.

In the past, TransLink did not have to tell Metro

Vancouver how it was spending gas tax money, but that

changed with a new agreement last year that requires

Metro to sign off on capital projects, even those

previously approved.

Recent discussions at Metro committee and board

meetings suggest Metro will not simply be ‘rubber

stamping’ requests from TransLink for gas tax funds, but

instead will expect more cooperation and transparency

around capital spending. In the wake of the defeat of the

transit referendum, Directors have instructed staff to

investigate Metro retaining ownership of TransLink assets

purchased with federal gas tax money, which would give

Metro greater influence over TransLink’s planning,

disposition of assets, and even future borrowing capacity.

In approving the reallocation of funds for new community

shuttles, Metro Vice-‐Chair Raymond Louie said the Board

wanted to “make it very clear to TransLink this is a

one-‐time amendment, and we expect cooperation with

how they go about doing capital planning.”

http://goo.gl/l7qoWY

http://goo.gl/HE7BI0


Proposed solution can

be win-‐win for

everyone and the

environment

By Paul Finch, Treasurer of

the B.C. Government &

Service Employees’ Union.

The overwhelming No vote in the spring Lower Mainland

transit plebiscite has generated frustration about how to

move forward with improvements to transit infrastructure.

The No side ran a populist campaign against TransLink’s

management and interpret the results as a denunciation of

any tax increase to fund transit. The Yes campaign’s rush to

champion a regressive tax and overlook TransLink’s

mismanagement cost them much needed credibility for what

should be a popular endeavour.

Yet between these two positions, most people agree we need

more rapid transit infrastructure: to reduce congestion, make

commutes easier, ensure environmental sustainability, and to

navigate the skyrocketing property values that drive people

farther from the downtown core. Instead of assuming that

voters made the wrong choice, we should take it as a sincere

vote against TransLink’s mismanagement and a regressive tax

shift.

There is a better solution, one that TransLink staff have

already proposed as an alternative: Land Value Capture, also

known as an Area Benefiting Tax. To translate in plain terms:

pay for transit improvements by taxing some of the property

appreciation that those improvements produce. Public

infrastructure causes windfall gains for nearby property

owners and developers. We could finance construction

through government bonds, then repay those bonds over

time with an incrementally higher property tax on nearby

developable sites.

Of course, this means real estate speculators won’t make as

much if they have to contribute, but if nothing is built they

wouldn’t make anything anyway. For the vast majority of

Lower Mainlanders, it’s a fair solution: those who directly

profit from a project can still make a reasonable profit

and the tax burden isn’t shifted to a regressive sales tax.

It can be a win-‐win for everyone and the environment.

One wonders why this wasn’t the solution proposed in

the first place: an Area Benefitting Tax was among the

options presented to TransLink and it has many benefits.

Such a scheme has no “dead weight loss” — that is,

unlike income and sales taxes, it doesn’t stifle the

economy and taxes speculation rather than productive

activity. Because of the unique nature of land economics

and contrary to what some might think, it wouldn’t

negatively impact housing affordability either. And

finally, consumers are spared from being overcharged

for purchasing everyday items, and businesses aren’t

subjected to another downward pressure on their sales.

We can look to an example of an applied model of Land

Value Capture used by the MTR Corporation in the Hong

Kong light rail system and abroad, which is funded

without direct subsidy. Economic studies have been

conducted that show an area benefiting tax applied to

such transit expansions as the London Tube in London or

Washington D.C. metro in North America would yield

positive values from the profit of land speculation, which

raise the possibility of modest surpluses on capital costs

that could be reinvested for operating improvements,

ensuring infrastructure spending does not undercut the

valuable role of personnel and training in expanding

services. This transit plebiscite was non-‐binding, and has

squarely thrown the question of increased funding for

Lower Mainland transit infrastructure back on the

province.

The premier should do the right thing: address concerns

over TransLink management by changing the governance

model to increase the role of elected municipal

politicians, commit to immediate public funding for

much needed transit improvements, and recover the

capital costs associated with the project with a Land

Value Capture / Area Benefiting Tax that is fair for all

residents.

Op-‐ed

Fund transit by taxing land speculators

17

Fassbender indicates road pricing a possibility for TransLink,

without referendum

Communities Minister Peter Fassbender said in mid-‐November

that the B.C. government is willing to consider charging drivers

for when and how far they travel to raise money for public

transit. Fassbender cautioned such a system would be too

complex to put in place before an expected round of federal

infrastructure spending.

Fassbender didn’t suggest mobility pricing would have to be

approved through a referendum, as Premier Christy Clark did

in October. However, Fassbender reiterated that he’s not

going to consider any reorganization of how TransLink is

governed.

Fassbender was responding to a new congestion pricing report

from Canada's Ecofiscal Commission that urges harmonized

bridge tolls in Metro as a pilot project ahead of a potential

longer-‐range effort to bring in per-‐kilometre road use fees.

The report said congestion already costs the region at least

$1.4 billion a year and is only expected to get worse as the

population grows. The Ecofiscal Commission advisory board

includes business and environmental group leaders, as well

politicians such as former prime minister Paul Martin, former

B.C. premier Michael Harcourt, former Reform Party leader

Preston Manning and former federal Liberal leader Bob Rae.

Reception to the idea from Metro leaders has been mixed. For

example, Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson and others have

made favorable comments about congestion pricing, while

District of North Vancouver Mayor Richard Walton told CBC

News that tolling bridges and tunnels “discriminates

significantly against certain parts of the region” and “isn't

going to fly particularly well with his constituents.”

http://goo.gl/m2ECPt

http://goo.gl/Nfp1S7

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http://goo.gl/2RkVGa

http://goo.gl/PWIPmN

http://goo.gl/GUAq0u

http://goo.gl/rjmppI

https://goo.gl/7jzlm8

New TransLink directors appointed

TransLink has two new directors on its board.

Larry Beasley, a former director of planning for the City of

Vancouver, and Tony Gugliotta, Vancouver Airport

Authority's vice-‐president of business development, have

been appointed to three-‐year terms.

They were chosen by the mayors' council, which appoints

new directors from a short list of candidates vetted by a

screening panel.

Lorraine Cunningham, chair of the Pacific Pilotage Authority,

was reappointed to another term.

Transit & transportation news in brief


Beasley and Gugliotta replace outgoing directors John Dawson

and Robin Chakrabarti.

http://www.surreyleader.com/news/358896251.html

Mayor Robertson discusses transit funding with Prime

Minister

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson discussed transit funding

with Prime Minister Trudeau during a meeting at COP 21 in

Paris. Robertson met Trudeau, Environment & Climate Change

Minister Catherine McKenna and Montreal Mayor Denis

Coderre to talk about how the federal government can partner

with big cities to take action on climate change.

Robertson advocated for transit improvements generally and

the Broadway subway specifically, he told the Metro

newspaper.

“We talked about the best next investments in transit and

transportation to reduce climate pollution and help relieve

congestion as well,” Robertson said, adding he is “relentlessly”

pushing for the mayors’ 10-‐year plan that includes Surrey light

rail and major bus investments.

While Trudeau didn’t make a firm commitment to a specific

timeline, Robertson said he hopes it can be done in a year or

two after details are hammered out with the feds and the

province.

http://goo.gl/wEm1bX

Poll shows major public disapproval for provincial

government handling of TransLink

The year-‐end Insights West “BC Government Report Card” poll

of BC residents shows major public disapproval of how the

province has managed TransLink. Only 10% of BC residents

said they were satisfied with how the province has dealt with

TransLink and 83% in Metro Vancouver had a negative view of

the government’s actions on this file.

http://goo.gl/CfaZbg

TransLink’s credit rating stable, but debt levels comparatively

high

Moody’s Investors Service is giving TransLink a stable rating of

Aa2 in its latest credit opinion released this month.

According to the rating provider, one of the challenges

TransLink faces is that its debt levels are among the

highest compared to other rated transit agencies

around the world. The debt is 259% of revenue net of

capital contributions, and could impact ratings

negatively if this exceeds 300%.

“TransLink has one of the highest debt and interest

burdens among similar rated global peers, but benefits

from more diverse revenue sources ... (its) wider

responsibilities and status as a taxing authority allow it

to sustain a higher debt burden than other public mass

transit enterprises at the same rating level,” reads the

report, dated Oct. 23, by the analysts.

Credit challenges listed in the Moody’s report included:

• “Limited prospects for deleveraging due to high

expansionary capital requirements “

• “Constructive working relationship with Mayor's

Council and provincial government is critical for

gaining support and funding for future capital

projects.”

TransLink’s net debt in the 2014 calendar year was

$3.58 billion — its interest payments make up 12.4% of

revenues.

http://goo.gl/TcIz76

http://goo.gl/E1fCP1

Auto-‐restart for stalled SkyTrains still 5 years away

TransLink is now targeting 2020 for completion of

auto-‐restart capability for stalled skytrains. Feasibility

studies are to be complete by next summer, followed

by a business case and then a request for proposals.

An independent review in 2014 estimated an auto

restart system would cost about $5 million, and noted

an auto-‐restart module was available when the

SkyTrain control software was upgraded in 1994, but

the version that was installed then did not include it.

http://www.abbynews.com/news/337172301.html

Challenges brewing to Vancouver and Surrey

leadership of Mayors' Council on Regional

Transportation?

Media reports in October speculated about the

19

possibility to challenges to Vancouver and Surrey leadership of

the Mayors’ Council on Regional Transportation. Delta Mayor

Lois Jackson is reported to have said that she “doesn't rule out

letting her name stand again and predicts other challengers

may surface.”

Vancouver's Gregor Robertson and Surrey's Linda Hepner are

the current chair and vice-‐chair of the Mayors' Council on

Regional Transportation, and as a result they also sit as

directors on the TransLink board.

Metro mayors will vote by early January on who should hold

those seats next year.

http://goo.gl/NFaPAx

Taxi drivers picking up HandyDART riders need more training,

say disability advocates

Disability advocates are calling for disability sensitivity training

to be a requirement for taxi drivers who pick up HandyDART

passengers.

"There have been way too many experiences where people

who have mobility aids have been injured themselves or have

had their equipment injured," said Heather McCain, executive

director of the advocacy group Citizens for Accessible

Neighbourhoods.

TransLink started deferring some HandyDART requests to taxis

in 2013, a move that prompted harsh criticism from users and

drivers. Riders are required to either produce a bus pass, a bus

ticket, or pay the equivalent to the taxi driver.

HandyDART drivers receive two weeks of training, including

hands-‐on and disability sensitivity training. The Vancouver Taxi

Association provides a video and training booklet on the topic

and the BC Taxi Association is working with the Justice

Institute to bring a higher level of training to their drivers.

But disability advocates say those measures are not enough.

McCain says even taxi drivers who mean well can do damage.

http://goo.gl/6QhnjR

New generation SkyTrain cars begin arriving in Vancouver

The first cars from TransLink’s $90.7-‐million order of

Bombardier Innovia Metro 300 trains for the SkyTrain system

began arriving in October at the Edmonds Operations and

Maintenance Centre in Burnaby.

A total of seven trains, totaling 28 cars, were ordered

in 2012 to expand the fleet’s capacity ahead of the

opening of the Evergreen extension of the Millennium

Line.

http://goo.gl/gEKt2c

Proposed bus route changes raise concerns for

municipal leaders, unions and transit users

TransLink’s proposals for at least 85 bus route changes

met with significant concern from transit users, local

leaders and transit unions during a period of public

consultation in October and November.

• New Westminster local elected leaders raised

concerns about route changes in that

municipality, as well as potential impacts of

reduced night buses from Vancouver.

• West Vancouver’s mayor expressed opposition to

plans to cut an express bus from that municipality

to UBC,

• White Rock’s council was also concerned about

route changes, and was critical of TransLink’s

consultation process.

• UBC’s student society voted in favour of a motion

objecting to cancelling the 258 bus route to UBC.

• Burnaby’s Heights Merchants Association came

out against some of the proposed changes and

called on TransLink to do more consultation with

the public.

• Unifor 111 President Nathan Woods says many of

the proposed changes are cuts that will directly

impact bus riders, put more cars on the road and

create more congestion on the Lower Mainland’s

already congested streets.

TransLink told media it will try to minimize the service

cut “in areas where there are no other transit

alternatives.” Hours re-‐allocated tend to focus on

increased revenues through ridership increases, and

bring more resources where overcrowding becomes

an issue.

TransLink’s program of ‘service optimization’ began in

2010, with the rationale of redirecting transit to

growing areas without new resources. Over the course


of four years, about 390,000 service hours have been

reallocated in the region.

http://goo.gl/SBQxWf

http://goo.gl/zkEQsQ

http://goo.gl/ppyrzS

http://goo.gl/vZS23D

http://goo.gl/RgpYNL

http://goo.gl/0PcKiI

City of North Vancouver calls for 1-‐zone fare on SeaBus

The City of North Vancouver is calling on TransLink to

introduce a temporary one-‐zone fare on the SeaBus.

In October, TransLink moved to a one-‐zone fare for all bus-‐

only travel. However, that change does not include the

SeaBus.

“The TransLink board needs to look at this because it will

become unfair. If they’re going to the same location, one is

twice as much as the other, then you know what, it’s not

quite fair,” said Darrell Mussatto, the mayor of the City of

North Vancouver.

Mussatto said cost isn’t the only reason they’re calling for

change.

“We’re a little bit worried here in the city that people will

start to take more buses and in consequence more buses

means more diesel fuel on the road so we really want to

make sure that it’s fair both ways,” he said.

http://goo.gl/3lhxLt

Evergreen Line launch delayed to 2017

The launch of the Evergreen Line has been delayed again,

and the first trains are now expected to start running in

early 2017.

The rapid transit line was originally scheduled to open in

the summer of 2016, but that was pushed back to the fall

earlier this year.

Tunnel boring has now been completed for the project and

tunnel interior work and systems installations will continue

into next summer. Train testing will begin in the tunnel by

fall 2016 if everything continues as planned.

Station buildings are between 80 and 90-‐per-‐cent complete

on the $1.43-‐billion SkyTrain line.

http://goo.gl/BSYiFv

Critics say SkyTrain technology is past its prime

A media report from Global News quotes UBC School of

Architecture and Landscape Architecture professor Patrick

Condon raising concerns that SkyTrain technology could be

out of date.

“It seemed like a great idea in 1985, but you have to

remember The Jetsons was on television in 1985 as well,”

said Patrick Condon of UBC’s School of Architecture and

Landscape Architecture. “This idea of a driverless, elevated,

quasi-‐monorail was very popular then.”

“At some point you really need to think in 2015 terms and

not automatically think, we have to extend this 1985 system

because, hey, we bought it, we might as well keep pushing it

out,” Condon said.

http://goo.gl/kBPKpl

Province accused of hiding Massey Bridge documents

The provincial government came under fire in November for

blocking the release of information related to its plan to

build a new bridge on Highway 99 to replace the Massey

Tunnel.

Independent MLA Vicki Huntington raised the issue in the

legislature, saying three se

Documents

Metro Vancouver & TransLink Update SCI Updateilwu.ca/wp-content/uploads/FINAL-SCI-2015-8.pdf · 2018. 8. 1. · involves an area within and adjacent to Sumas Mountain Interregional