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 ... BRITISH COLUMBIA 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 Mike Bernier 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 Kamloops
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 Jordan Sturdy Village of Pemberton
Mayor Dan Ashton 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