59 replies to this topic

[UrbanRail]

 

LES LEYNE TIMES COLONIST

NOVEMBER 1, 2016 12:55 AM

 

"Always willing to help and generous to a fault, allow me to pitch — absolutely free — some sure-fire political ideas anyone can use to build a winning Vancouver Island election strategy.

 

Premier Christy Clark made some headlines last week by announcing the B.C. Liberals are going to have a specific Island platform for next Spring’s campaign.

 

It will amount to a 10-year economic and investment plan for the Island. In what was

interpreted as either a threat or promise, she said Vancouver Island ‘‘deserves the government’s

full attention.”

 

........  EDITED for length - VHF

 

 

• Campgrounds.

The government says about 200 new provincial campsites have been created in B.C. over the past few years. It’s not nearly enough. Parks and campgrounds aren’t getting the attention they need. Vancouver Island is a

recreation destination that’s coming up short on quality campgrounds, further hampered by block

booking that cuts into availability even more —2020 new campsites by 2020!

 

 

 

http://www.timescolo...seats-1.2401576

[lanforod]

Hmm, that's all the ideas? Low hanging fruit. Let's come up with a better VV list ( a realistic one, this time ).

[Awaiting Juno]

Those are pretty thin ideas, likely to lead to the same kind of success they've already enjoyed.

 

I'd add the following:

1. Binding Referendum on CORE amalgamation of the Capital (Oak Bay, Saanich, Esquimalt and Victoria) and the West Shore (View Royal, Langford, Colwood, Metchosin).

2. Transportation infrastructure between West Shore and Victoria (LRT to downtown possible passenger ferry between West Shore and DT). 

3. Integrated strategy on homelessness and mental health - here, make Victoria less of a Mecca - spread resources across the province, so that maybe, people might just stay where they are...

4. Childcare - continues to be an endemic problem, again it doesn't matter if it's cheap if the spaces aren't there to begin with (which is the critical flaw in the NDP's 10$/day whether you need it or not plan).

5. Ferries - differentiate the market.  Offer different fares for "Island Residents" than for others...

[Mike K.]

- Container port in Port Alberni
- a serious resolution of the Malahat problem
- highway interchange at Tillicum and TCH
- highway interchange at Beacon and Sayward along HEY 17
- lengthening of YYJ's runway

[Nparker]

- Container port in Port Alberni...

Something tells me the container port won't get dangled as election bait.

Plans for a new highway linking Port Alberni to Highway 19 via Horne Lake struck a dead end Tuesday when Transportation Minister Todd Stone rejected the project as too expensive...

- See more at: http://www.timescolo...h.OfhWkqYH.dpuf

[SamCB]

Promise me a bridge across the Saanich Inlet and you've got my vote.

[Nparker]

Promise me a bridge across the Saanich Inlet and you've got my vote.

Promises are cheap. Commitments are very pricey.

[jonny]

I think it's hilarious and infuriating that they are studying a bridge to the Sunshine Coast, with it's population of 30,000 or so, meanwhile, we're stuck with that cattle trail through Goldstream Park. 

[LJ]

4. Childcare - continues to be an endemic problem, again it doesn't matter if it's cheap if the spaces aren't there to begin with (which is the critical flaw in the NDP's 10$/day whether you need it or not plan).

 

I keep hearing this lament coupled with how expensive it is.

 

Why aren't more people opening day care centers up, it can obviously be terrifically profitable?

 

Why drive into work during rush hour when you could stay home and make big cash?

 

If you have kids and can't find or afford day care, stay home and look after them and one or two or more. 

[rjag]

I keep hearing this lament coupled with how expensive it is.

 

Why aren't more people opening day care centers up, it can obviously be terrifically profitable?

 

Why drive into work during rush hour when you could stay home and make big cash?

 

If you have kids and can't find or afford day care, stay home and look after them and one or two or more. 

 

its catering to a specific group, like "we wont raise student fees" words are meaningless but some unsuspecting shmuk thinks these are promises that will be kept.....they have no clue it simply means that taxpayers fund it....but they dont realise they are the taxpayer

[North Shore]

- Container port in Port Alberni

 

How does that help anything?  Sail (slowly?) up the Alberni Canal, unload onto rail cars, rail to Nanaimo, and then rail ferry to Vancouver, sort, and then re-rail to intended destination.  Or, down the strait of JdF, through the Gulf Islands into the SofG, and unload onto rail at Roberts Bank.  you'd think that the shipping route, while longer, might be faster, and cost less..

[Mike K.]

It would save about a day or so in each direction for shipping companies. That would yield a massive savings with huge implications for global shippers and their clients.

The BC government doesn't want to see a terminal in that location because it would present major competition for Vancouver terminals.

[spanky123]

The reality is that there are ridings on VI that are never going to vote Liberal. The Libs are far better off to invest in the ridings which are close or support their core.

[VicHockeyFan]

The reality is that there are ridings on VI that are never going to vote Liberal. 

 

Except just 15 years ago when every single Vancouver Island riding voted Liberal.

[nagel]

Promises are cheap. Commitments are very pricey.

Not a big problem for a politician.  Fund the bridge based on "future tolls" and by the time that it's clear it's not paying down the capital investment your political shelf life was already past anyways.  Not your problem it gets assimilated into general provincial debt.

[UrbanRail]

I keep hearing this lament coupled with how expensive it is.

 

Why aren't more people opening day care centers up, it can obviously be terrifically profitable?

 

Why drive into work during rush hour when you could stay home and make big cash?

 

If you have kids and can't find or afford day care, stay home and look after them and one or two or more. 

 

Its not as easy as you think. The average family has two parents working and just staying home makes no sense, if you are a single parent you need daycare because family isnt always an option.

[VicHockeyFan]

I keep hearing this lament coupled with how expensive it is.

 

Why aren't more people opening day care centers up, it can obviously be terrifically profitable?

 

Why drive into work during rush hour when you could stay home and make big cash?

 

If you have kids and can't find or afford day care, stay home and look after them and one or two or more. 

 

I guess because "expensive" is a relative term.  Ya, it's expensive to pay $50/day for childcare, compared to letting Aunt Bee take the kids.

 

It's too bad we could not just give kids some type of pill, or injection, and have them sleep another 9 hours each day while we work.

[UrbanRail]

I think it's hilarious and infuriating that they are studying a bridge to the Sunshine Coast, with it's population of 30,000 or so, meanwhile, we're stuck with that cattle trail through Goldstream Park. 

Well its not a cattle trail and because the highway goes through a provincial park and borders a watershed, you arent going to see a bypass anytime soon. Building a bypass would be devastating to the local environment. The current highway works, its just the morons that cant drive that are causing the issues.

[UrbanRail]

I guess because "expensive" is a relative term.  Ya, it's expensive to pay $50/day for childcare, compared to letting Aunt Bee take the kids.

 

It's too bad we could not just give kids some type of pill, or injection, and have them sleep another 9 hours each day while we work.

 

Not everyone has family to help look after their kids. As for the pill idea, that would be irresponsible parenting, those people shouldnt be parents in the first place.

[UrbanRail]

Well from reading the posts, what ideas would you put forward? Its too easy to bash someone elses ideas, but it takes a lot of thought to come up with better ones. The election is next spring, which isnt far away, and if the Liberals are serious in "winning" votes or giving us islanders more attention, then perhaps a wish list is in order?