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Wilderness Committee calls Bill 14 Highway Expansion Legislation “Irresponsible"
by WCWC Media •
Tuesday April 01, 2008 at 04:38 PM
Vancouver, British Columbia – The Wilderness Committee is condemning the provincial
governments proposed Transportation Investment Corporation which would be established as a crown corporation by passing Bill
14: the “Transportation Investment (Port Mann Twinning) Amendment Act”...
For immediate release – Tuesday April 1, 2008
Wilderness Committee calls Bill 14 Highway Expansion Legislation “Irresponsible and Hypocritical”
Vancouver, British Columbia – The Wilderness Committee is condemning the provincial governments proposed Transportation Investment Corporation which would be established as a crown corporation by passing Bill 14: the “Transportation Investment (Port Mann Twinning) Amendment Act”.
On March 13th the BC Liberals introduced Bill 14 to the Legislature. According to the Ministry of Transportation, this new corporation “will enter into an agreement with a private-sector partner to design, construct, finance and operate the [Gateway] project.” The Gateway project is the Liberal governments plan to twin the Port Mann Bridge, and expand highways in and around the Metro Vancouver region.
“Going ahead with this legislation would be irresponsible and hypocritical,” said Wilderness Committee Healthy Communities campaigner Ben West. “How can our provincial government pledge to tackle climate change while simultaneously promoting the Gateway project which will drastically increase greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change? In the long run, the Gateway project will reduce the livability of our communities and wont reduce travel times for people living south of the Fraser River. The real solution is fully funded public transit options immediately,” West added.
On January 14th the Liberals introduced a proposed $14 Billion Transit Plan, with $4.75 billion coming from the province. According to Premier Campbell, “this plan will provide fast, reliable, green transit that acts as a catalyst to change the nature and form of all our communities – urban, suburban and rural”. However, in the 2008 Budget a mere $219 million was actually allocated for transit over 4 years, including $21 million this year. This is $621 million less than what was allocated for highway expansion, and the funding will not be focused on reducing congestion south of the Fraser River.
“Our transportation system and land-use go together. If we can have good public transit, then we can have good compact communities that better protect the environment and are more pleasant to live and work in,” said Joe Foy, Campaign Director of the Wilderness Committee. “If Premier Campbell is serious about improving our communities, then he needs to abandon his plan to create this new Crown Corporation, and abandon his Gateway program. Its that simple.”
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For more information contact:
Ben West, Healthy Communities campaigner, Wilderness Committee @ 604-710-5340 or 604-683-8220
Joe Foy, Campaign Director, Wilderness Committee @ 604-880-2580 or 604-683-8220
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