September 22, 2009 - 4:42 pm |
Posted by Jonathan Ross
Michael Ignatieff and his pledge to increase the gas tax transfer (although in fairness, the increase is ambiguous at this point).
Ignatieff is going to lean hard on the gas tax to pump up his electoral fortunes with municipal politicians across the country
“We would enable our cities and communities to invest in transit and water systems—and we’d do it by permanently increasing the gas tax transfer. We’d flow money right through the municipalities, to the people on the ground who know where the money is needed most—in community infrastructure. Economic development in our regions depends on building networks of broadband, bridges, and asphalt.”
The funding increase is one thing. But the flow through of these funds straight to the municipalities without federal or provincial bureaucrats in the way might even be bigger than the cash, however.
Let’s give round one to Ignatieff.
It must be noted in advance that Harper doesn’t like the cities and seems to have little time for them fiscally, thereby most likely trumping him from any municipal points awarded throughout the entire fight.
September 18, 2009 - 9:35 am |
Posted by Jonathan Ross
So Mayor Gregor Robertson is speaking up about the bureaucratic wasteland that sits between the province and the federal government when it comes to stimulus funding that was supposed to be destined for BC’s municipalities.
Campbell: "Hey, there's our portion of the stimulus." Harper: "Where?" Campbell: "Made you look. Ha!"
And rightfully so. It is September 18, 2009, and nine months after the federal budget that promised billions in economic stimulus funding, BC communities are still waiting in limbo.
So, the question that needs to be asked is, who exactly is to blame? Read the rest of this entry »
September 14, 2009 - 10:02 am |
Posted by Jonathan Ross
Surrey Mayor Diane Watts is a populist, a shrewd political reader of the public mood, and a figure that appeals to a nice cross section of the political spectrum.
Watts' aspirations may lie beyond the borders of Surrey, but a kick at the BC Liberal can after Gordon Campbell would be a quick descent to an early political burial
Her steady performance on Council from 1996 until 2005 was nearly flawless.
Her timing in knocking off former Surrey mayor Doug McCallum as an independent was impeccable.
And her move to create the Surrey First slate of “non-affiliated” candidates to take control of council (she beat her opponent by an astounding 43,000 votes, and all six of her running mates won handily) was a stroke of brilliance.
Which makes all of this recent talk of Watts’ eventual run for Premier a non-starter based on her record of success. Read the rest of this entry »
September 9, 2009 - 12:17 pm |
Posted by Jonathan Ross
As the inevitability of a federal election begins to sink in to a weary Canadian electorate, the prospect of campaign commitments for investment in transportation infrastructure is top of mind for municipal officials across the country. This is especially so for the 22 member municipalities of Metro Vancouver, who have been hit with Translink’s recent ultimatum and the prospect of severe cutbacks in existing service levels (nevermind future needs).
Metro Vancouver's Mayors would be well advised to collectively strategize their lobbying efforts during the upcoming federal election campaign
So when considering the two parties that have a chance at forming government, who is going to step up to the plate? Read the rest of this entry »
