CITY OF PRINCE GEORGE Office of the Mayor

MAYOR’S REPORT TO COUNCIL

Date: November 7, 2011

To: Members of Council

From: Mayor Dan Rogers

Subject: BC Transit Review

RECOMMENDATION:

1. THAT Council receive this report.

BACKGROUND

On September 14, 2011, I attended a meeting held in Victoria with the Honourable Blair Lekstrom, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, and other local government representatives, regarding transit issues.

During the session, local government leaders provided their concerns about management costs and overhead, as well as discussed cost containment measures within the annual contracts with BC Transit and opportunities to consider other optional models to ensure local accountability. B.C. Mayors also suggested the Minister consider an independent review of B.C. Transit and include in the review options that could result in a sustainable funding model for systems such as ours. As noted in the attached communication, the Minister has agreed with local government leaders and will be initiating a full independent review.

Correspondence will be sent from my office to the Minister expressing appreciation for listening to the concerns of local government, advising that we look forward to the independent review and working with the Province and UBCM in defining the scope of that review.

Respectfully submitted

Dan Rogers, Mayor ... OCT 2 6 2011

Joe Stanhope, Chair Reference: 199259 Regional District ofNanaimo 6300 Hammond Bay Road Nanaimo BC V9T 6N2

Dear Chair Stanhope:

Re: BC Transit Review

I am writing to follow up on discussions with local government representatives in Victoria on September 14, 2011 , and at the recent Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) Convention, as well as points raised in your April 20, 2011 letter. Our government is committed to listening to the needs of British Columbia's communities and working together to address them.

After hearing the views expressed by the community leaders at our meetings, I agree it's worth reviewing how transit service is delivered in our province. An independent review of BC Transit will be undertaken that will examine transit system operations and performance, governance, funding and local government consultation and communication processes. I'm committed to working with the municipalities served by BC Transit, and the UBCM, throughout this process.

To assist with defining the scope, tirneframe and process of the review, I ask that you identify a staff contact to work with the ministry. I am also asking, by way of this letter, that the UBCM identify a contact to assist with this review. Please provide the names of these contacts to Kirsten Pedersen, Acting Assistant Deputy Minister for Partnerships within the ministry. Kirsten would be happy to answer any questions you may have and can be reached at 250 356-6225 or by e-mail at [email protected] and would be pleased to assist you.

Thank you again for taking the time to write.

Sincerely,

Original Signed By

Blair Lekstrom Minister .. ./2

Ministry of Transportation Office of the Minister Mailing Address: and Infrastructure Parliament Buildings Victoria BC VSV 1X4 - 2 -

Copy to: Grant Main Deputy Minister

Kirsten Pedersen, AJ Assistant Deputy Minister Partnerships Department

Kevin Mahoney, Chair BC Transit Board

Manuel Achadinha, President and CEO BC Transit

Heath Slee, President UBCM

Mayor George Peary City of Abbotsford

Mayor Chris Pieper City of Armstrong

Mayor Andy Anderson Village of Ashcroft

Mayor Mike Fennell District of Barriere

Mayor John Ranta Village of Cache Creek

Mayor Charlie Cornfield City of Campbell River

Chair Geoff Young Capital Regional District

Mayor Lawrence Chernoff City of Castlegar

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Chair Christine Hyde Central Coast Regional District

Chair John Kettle Regional District of Central Kootenay

Chair Robert Hobson Regional District of Central Okanagan

Mayor Jack Mar District of Central Saanich

Acting Mayor Village of Chase

Mayor Sharon Gaetz City of Chilliwack

Mayor John Harwood District of Clearwater

Mayor John A. Lane Village of Clinton

Mayor Jim Garlick District of Coldstream

Mayor David Saunders City of Colwood

Mayor Paul Ives Town of Comox

Mayor Greg Phelps City of Courtenay

Chair Gerry Giles Cowichan Valley Regional District

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Mayor Scott Manjak City of Cranbrook

Mayor Ron Toyota Town of Creston

Mayor Fred Bates Village of Cumberland

Mayor City of Dawson Creek

Mayor Phil Kent City of Duncan

Mayor Dee Wejr City of Enderby

Mayor Barb Desjardins Township ofEsquimalt

Mayor Bruce Lantz City of Fort St. John

Mayor Libby Nelson Village of Fruitvale

Mayor Barry Janyk Town of Gibsons

Mayor Christina Benty Town of Golden

Mayor Brian Taylor City of Grand Forks

Mayor Ken Becotte Village of Harrison Hot Springs

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Mayor Alice Maitland Village of Hazelton

Mayor Jane Mendum District of Highlands

Mayor Gerry Taft District of Invermere

Mayor Peter Milobar City of

Mayor Donna Connie Village of Kaslo

Mayor Sharon Shepherd City of Kelowna

Mayor Lorne Fisher District of Kent

Mayor Jim Ogilvie City of Kimberley

Mayor Joanne Monaghan District of Kitimat

Chair Harry Nyce Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine

Chair Marguerite Rotvold Regional District of Kootenay Boundary

Mayor James Baker District of Lake Country

Mayor Ross Forrest Town of Lake Cowichan

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Mayor Stewart Young City of Langford

Mayor Colin Haime District of Lantzville

Mayor Dennis Bontron District of Lillooet

Mayor Marlon Dosch District of Logan Lake

Mayor Kevin Acton Village of Lumby

Mayor Jessoa Lightfoot Village of Lytton

Mayor Susan Roline City of Merritt

Mayor John Ranns District of Metchosin

Mayor James Atebe District of Mission

Mayor Griff Welsh Village of Montrose

Chair Al Huddlestan Regional District of Mount Waddington

Mayor Karen Hamling Village of Nakusp

Mayor John Ruttan City ofNanaimo

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Mayor John Dooley City of Nelson

Mayor Tom Walker District of North Cowichan

Chair Herman Halvorson Regional District of North Okanagan

Mayor Alice Finall District of North Saanich

Mayor Christopher Causton District of Oak Bay

Mayor Pat Hampson Town of Oliver

Mayor Mitch Campsall District of 100 Mile House

Mayor Stu Wells Town of Osoyoos

Acting Mayor Chris R. Burger City of Parksville

Mayor Keith Fielding District of Peachland

Mayor Village of Pemberton

Mayor City of Penticton

Mayor Bev Parnham District of Port Hardy

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Mayor Gerry Furney Town of Port McNeill

Mayor Stewart Alsgard City of Powell River

Mayor Dan Rogers City of Prince George

Mayor Randy McLean Town of Princeton

Mayor Jack Mussallem City of Prince Rupert

Mayor Ken McRae City of Port Alberni

Mayor Dave MacDonald District of Port Edward

Chair Colin Palmer Powell River Regional District

Mayor Teunis Westbroek Town of Qualicum Beach

Mayor Mary Sjostrom City of Quesnel

Mayor David Raven City of Revel stoke

Mayor Greg E. Granstrom City of Rossland

Mayor Frank Leonard District of Saanich

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Mayor Marty Bootsma City of Salmon Arm

Mayor Darren Inkster District of Sechelt

Mayor Malcolm MacLeod District of Sicamous

Mayor Larry Cross Town of Sidney

Mayor Madeleine Perriere Village of Slocan

Mayor Cress Farrow Town of Smithers

Mayor Janet Evans District of Sooke

Mayor Will Hansma Township of Spallumcheen

Mayor Greg Gardner City of Squamish

Chair Susie Gimse Squamish Lillooet Regional District

Mayor Janice Perrino District of Summerland

Chair Garry Nohr Sunshine Coast Regional District

Mayor David Pemarowski City of Terrace

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Mayor Dieter Bogs City of Trail

Mayor Wayne Lippert City of Vernon

Mayor Dean Fortin City of Victoria

Mayor Graham Hill Town of View Royal

Mayor Ken Melamed Resort Municipality of Whistler

Mayor Kerry Cook City of Williams Lake

Mayor Doug Findlater District of West Kelowna