She feels like she’s talking in the wind.
That was Mayor Lois Jackson’s assessment of her dealings with fellow mayors whom she believes are doing their best to try to torpedo the George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project.
Last week, federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities Amarjeet Sohi paid a visit to Vancouver, making a speech at the Vancouver Board of Trade, but the mayors of Surrey and Vancouver dominated the agenda in a meeting with the minister, said Jackson.
“When we went to see the federal minister last week, it was the two big mayors, they wanted the big bulk (of infrastructure money) for their big projects (UBC rapid transit line and Surrey light rail system) and the bridge was not even on the list anywhere.
“So I spoke to the minister and said that I was very disappointed it hadn’t been included and I shared with him my concern that we have the Canadian economy rolling here and we need to have better access for transportation of goods on our trade corridor both north and east of the port.”
Jackson had already expressed frustration over other mayors in the region wanting to throw cold water on the provincial project, which is not tied to TransLink or dependent on money from the regional district.
Last December, when the province announced more details on the $3.5-billion bridge, Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie, long having criticized the plan, expressed reservations about the priority to build it, while Surrey Mayor Linda Hepner suggested the regional mayors’ plan for transit, which failed to win tax funding support in a plebiscite last year, should take precedent.
Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson had predicted the bridge would mean major congestion in his city.
“It’s like I’m talking in the wind and I think there’s a lot more politics at play here than we would like to admit,” said Jackson. “Even though they knew Premier (Christy) Clark had announced the bridge over two years ago, they still refuse to accept the fact that it’s going ahead for all the right reasons.”
A recent Metro Vancouver staff report, which must still go to the board of directors, cited a myriad of concerns and recommends asking the province for a two month delay.
It notes the project definition report does not contain sufficient information on the transportation patterns associated with a new, tolled bridge.
“They want a two month delay, in my opinion, because they want the minister to look at all the other list of things and look at the bridge last, as far as I’m concerned. That’s the only reason why we’re getting that request for the delay at this ninth hour,” Jackson said.
She noted there’s not much anyone can do at the Metro board if Vancouver and Surrey vote together.
