Transportation tale of two cities
A quarter century ago, the province and 21 Metro Vancouver mayors created ‘Translink’ under the authority of the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Act. The mayors recognized the obvious…
Delay, defer, delay
MNP Governance Review recommendations continue to languish on a dusty shelf After months of delays there’s still no indication exactly when city council will take action on a governance report…
Is council pay hike defensible?
‘Unhelpful message’: Taxpayers’ group upset Central Saanich mayor’s pay could jump 59%, Peninsula News review, Feb. 23, 2023. Central Saanich council set to approve a 70% wage increase Did you…
Crunch time coming for corridor dreams
Dated cost estimates vary wildly The only time our second longest serving prime minister came to BC was Aug. 13, 1886, when he drove the last spike near Shawnigan Lake…
City budget unaffordable
Tax-and-spend budget rejected The city’s current tax-and-spend 2023 budget proposal of almost seven percent demonstrates a stunning lack of fiscal discipline and situational awareness, says municipal watchdog Grumpy Taxpayer$. After…
Racking up bigger surpluses
For most people a rainy day account means a few hundred or thousand dollars tucked away in savings for occasional or unexpected expenses such as car repairs, a new roof…
Will council consider affordability?
EDITOR NOTES: On Feb. 6, Metchosin council will table a draft budget with a 11.7 per cent tax increase. Unless city council sharpens their pencils, the poorest amongst us in…
Double-check for surcharges
Transparency often lacking around surprising surcharges Popular Hermann’s Jazz Club hits the right notes when the first words on their website prominently declare ‘Our prices include all tax and fees.’…
Policing changes transforming the region
Various policy and financial modifications Councils across the region are facing stiff headwinds this spring when they sit down to debate police budgets. In turn, depending on where they live,…