whats-happening-with-the-massey-tunnel-replacement?-this-delta-councillor-wants-to-know
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Whats happening with the Massey Tunnel replacement? This Delta councillor wants to know

ByCharlie Carey

Posted September 19, 2024 7:55 am. Commuters heading to the Massey Tunnel can expect another day of gridlock with no word on how the replacement project is going. Delta Coun. Dylan Kruger isn’t happy, as the B.C. government hasn’t provided much of an update on the replacement project. Kruger’s wondering what’s going on. “We should have had a new crossing completed over two years ago … to relieve what is the biggest bottleneck in Metro Vancouver — over 100,000 commuters going through that crossing every day, stuck in traffic,” he told 1130 NewsRadio. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO 1130 NEWSRADIO VANCOUVER LIVE! Instead, Kruger says they’ve been given no information at the Union of BC Municipalities Convention, currently underway in downtown Vancouver. “There’s been no update to timelines or budget since pre covid. We are seeing almost every major multibillion-dollar infrastructure project go over time and over budget right now,” he explained. “I’m very concerned about the ability to deliver this project at the quote of $4.1 billion from a number of years ago, and I’m also increasingly concerned about meeting that 2030 deadline when we still don’t have an improved environmental assessment.” He points to what’s happened with other major projects like the North Shore Waste Water Treatment plant and the new Pattullo Bridge. Both have seen their price explode by billions of dollars, and delays in when the work is supposed to be done. “Building a tunnel is complex. You have to build it in segments on dry land and then plunk massive concrete tubes into the middle of the Fraser River estuary, so we still have an improved environmental assessment on the project and I’m also concerned about short and long-term impacts of one of our best regional parks in Metro Vancouver.” He says if the NDP had stuck with the project the then-BC Liberal government was building, people would already be using the new bridge. Kruger is crossing his fingers that Eby will give civic politicians an update at Thursday’s Union of BC Municipalities Convention.

bc.-announces-new-clean-energy-building-rebates
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B.C. announces new clean energy building rebates

ByCharlie Carey

Posted September 18, 2024 7:38 am. A new program aimed at supporting people and communities to make the switch to clean energy and save on their energy bills was announced by the B.C. government Tuesday. Minister of Energy, Mines, and Low Carbon Innovation Josie Osborne explained the ministry is launching the Clean BC Multi-Unit Residential Building Retrofit Program in partnership with BC Hydro. She says this program will provide rebates and energy coaching to business owners, strata councils, and equity co-op boards to undertake whole-building retrofits. “This includes everything from heat pumps to LED lighting, electrical upgrades, to better windows and ventilation,” she said. “Rebate amounts will depend on what retrofits and upgrades the building requires.” Osborne says one example could be that a building is switching from fossil fuel heating to electric heat pumps and may then receive $3,000 per heat pump installed. The minister says retrofitting buildings to make them cleaner is complex, and this program provides one-on-one advice and energy coaching to support building owners and managers in navigating the process. The ministry expects that a typical 65-unit building could save as much as $16,250 per year, or $250 per year per suite, after switching from central gas heating to in-suite heat pumps. “Making smart choices about how we use clean electricity has been core to our business for over 35 years,” said Chris O’Riley, president and CEO of BC Hydro. “Energy-efficiency programs defer the need for additional capital infrastructure, helping to keep rates affordable and offer additional flexibility to our electricity system. But equally important, programs like this one and the many others we offer provide our customers with the opportunity to save energy and money.”

host-first-nations,-bc.-govt-to-build-2,600-below-market-homes-in-vancouver
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Host First Nations, B.C. government to build 2,600 below-market homes in Vancouver

ByCharlie Carey

Posted September 19, 2024 9:39 am. Last Updated September 19, 2024 10:24 am. A new housing project on the lands of the  xʷməθkʷəy̓əm  (Musqueam),  Sḵwx̱wú7mesh  (Squamish), and  səlilwətaɬ  (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations will create 2,600 new affordable homes. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO 1130 NEWSRADIO VANCOUVER LIVE! The homes will be at Heather Lands, an 8.5-hectare (21-acre) lot between West 33rd and West 37th avenues on Heather Street, just east of Queen Elizabeth Park. The province says buyers will be able to purchase the homes at 60 per cent of market value — with 40 per cent of the cost covered by provincial financing. In an announcement Thursday, Premier David Eby explained the financing agreement isn’t a grant or a subsidy, it’s a loan from the province. “The 40 per cent is repaid at the end of 25 years, or when the owner sells. … What we have created here, together, is a financing tool that protects taxpayers, that minimizes impact on public budgets, and yet, at the same time, delivers affordable housing now,” Eby explained. “And when the loan is paid back by the homeowner, [it] protects affordability in the future,” he added. Eby shared that the homes will be sold as 99-year strata-leaseholds with Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. “The unit prices will be determined at the time they actually go up for sale, but if they were for sale today, under current market conditions, a studio apartment on the site would sell for $620,000. Under this program we’re announcing today, that same studio apartment will sell for $370,000,” he said. “On this site today, the market price for a two-bedroom condo is $1.3 million. Under this program that we’re announcing today, that will be $780,000.” Eby added priority will be given to first homebuyers, and there will be “strict” criteria around income and asset ceilings for would-be purchasers. “I want to assure you that we will have strict rules and screening measures in place, and anyone who thinks that they can game the system when we detect that, there will be serious consequences.” The province says that to cover the 40 per cent of purchase prices, it will need to finance an estimated $670 million. If purchasers would like to buy out the remaining 40 per cent of the value of the home, Eby shared owners are able to do just that, “but if they exit in advance of 25 years, then they need to pay the appreciation in the value of the property as well.” “Say property values go up, they would have to pay that share of the government’s appreciation of the property as well. And say, property values go down, they would still have to pay the full amount back to the government that was loaned at the first instance,” he added. More to come.

calls-for-traffic-calming-measures-on-east-vancouver-streets
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Calls for traffic calming measures on East Vancouver streets

ByCharlie Carey

Posted September 12, 2024 6:42 am. Last Updated September 12, 2024 6:53 am. Worried for the safety of his toddler, a Vancouver man is voicing his concerns about speeders in his neighbourhood. Wilson Tran lives at Adanac and Skeena streets in the Hastings-Sunrise area of East Vancouver. It’s a 30km/h zone and there’s a park nearby frequented by the Tran’s and their neighbours. “Adanac is not officially a major thoroughfare road, but a lot of rush hour traffic uses it to avoid congestion on Hastings Street and Boundary. So, during the peak rush hour periods, there’s a heavy amount of traffic that goes through,” he explained. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO 1130 NEWSRADIO VANCOUVER LIVE! The intersection has a three-way stop with one pedestrian crossing. “We have to hold ourselves there because a car charges through the stop sign without slowing down or recognizing that we’re there. And just the traffic, in general, is pretty terrible and dangerous, frankly,” Tran said. “At times, I can just look out my front window and I’ll watch as, say, a senior pedestrian will be crossing, and he has to stop because a car literally charges through in front of him.” From his vantage point, Tran says drivers almost never go the posted limit, instead opting to go around 50km/h. “There’s actually a couple of speed bumps as well, but a lot of times I would say 50km/h, minimum 40km/h, definitely not 30 km/h,” he explained. Wilson Tran lives at Adanac and Skeena streets in the Hastings-Sunrise area of East Vancouver. It’s a 30km/h zone and there’s a park nearby frequented by the Tran’s and their neighbours. (CityNews Image / Sonia Aslam) Tran wants increased police enforcement in the area a couple of times a week to help curb the number of speeding drivers. “[I’m] scared for my kid’s life. He’s been such a great change in our lives to have him. He’s our first child and just knowing that drivers are going through and many times not paying attention, either they’re focused on getting to work or home on time or in a rush and they don’t watch,” Tran told 1130 NewsRadio. “He’s my first kid. I, obviously, care a lot for his well-being and obviously our own. It’s a terrible thought that he could get seriously hurt.” He says the number of near-misses in the area are concerning. “I’ve been in so many near-misses that it really is a matter of time until someone gets hurt or worse.” Tran suggests the city put up warning signs in the area to slow down. “The 30km/h sign clearly doesn’t have any effect to something that has flashing lights or something that gets attention would help.” The City of Vancouver tells 1130 NewsRadio it has a plan to improve the area . It says the entire neighbourhood will become a 30km/h vehicle travel zone by no later than next year. “Speed humps on Skeena St. between Turner and E. Pender St. [will be] installed 2024/2025. Raised crossings on Adanac Street integrated into future design between Rupert Street and Boundary Road [will be] installed sometime 2026 onwards,” it shared in an email . The city adds the overall goal is to improve safety for all road users and reduce vehicle speeds. Tran believes having some of the changes not kick in until 2026 is too late. “Of course, their intent is for improvement in the long-term but there’s a long two-year wait before something happens and in two years a lot of bad can happen if they don’t do something about it right now,” he said.

vancouver-west-end-tenants-fighting-more-phony-evictions
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Vancouver West End tenants fighting more phony evictions

ByCharlie Carey

Posted September 13, 2024 7:48 am. Last Updated September 13, 2024 12:00 pm. A Vancouver landlord with a history of losing tenancy board hearings recently lost another attempt to evict a renter from Park Beach Manor in the West End in late August, but some neighbours at the apartment say they’re still fighting phony evictions and harassment from the landlord. Park Beach Manor tenants and other supporters from the Vancouver Tenants’ Union crashed the doors of Plan A Real Estate – their corporate landlord – in Downtown Vancouver Thursday afternoon. “I’m delivering this letter on behalf of the Park Beach tenant collective, demanding you to drop the recent evictions for Jody and Jen,” said a tenant to a Plan A staff member, who opened the office door. “We have information they’re based on false information, mismanagement by Plan A’s payment platform and communication.” CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO 1130 NEWSRADIO VANCOUVER LIVE! Park Beach Manor resident Paul Kot says some of his neighbours braced themselves when they heard Plan A was going to buy their apartment earlier this year. For months, supporters have been campaigning against Plan A’s alleged actions. “A lot of us do not feel safe in our own homes,” said Kot. Kot says the BC Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB) has granted two orders of repossession in his building, which gives the landlord the right to take back the units. He says another case has been granted an interim stay, which lets the tenant live in the unit until the judicial system can review the case. “There’s a lot of falsified information,” said Kot. “The two judges that sided for the interim stay have stated that there’s strong merit to the tenant’s case, since they were granted interim stay. So, I think the fact that the justice system does recognize that there’s merit to these cases, shows that Plan A doesn’t have very much to stand on.” Speaking to CityNews over the phone, Plan A’s managing broker Anoop Majithia says these tenants represent a small, vocal minority at the building, and maintains that Plan A has a good relationship with the majority of its renters. “We don’t actively go around harassing tenants or pick fights with tenants – we’re a professional landlord, we have hundreds of properties, and that’s not the way we conduct ourselves,” he said. But Kot alleges that Plan A gave false information to the RTB for its recent eviction rulings. Documents provided to the RTB. (CityNews Image / Kier Junos) A receipt showing the tenant’s August rent was paid in full. (CityNews Image / Kier Junos) That included a document showing a tenant didn’t pay enough rent in August, while a payment receipt from the same date shows the complete amount was paid. CityNews hasn’t been able to verify the accuracy of these documents, but as RTB information officer tells CityNews if a tenant feels concerned about fraudulent or incomplete evidence, they can make an appeal “Get together. Communicate with your neighbours,” said Kot. “Because at the end of the day, when a landlord comes in like this and harasses you and threatens you – it strips away your right to quiet enjoyment, and that should never be allowed.”

perfect-storm-to-hit-bc.-health-care-system-this-fall:-local-doctor-warns
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Perfect storm to hit B.C. health-care system this fall: local doctor warns

ByCharlie Carey

Posted September 16, 2024 7:37 am. With COVID-19 cases currently rising in B.C., one Burnaby-based family doctor warns the health-care system could be shaken this fall and winter with a lot of people getting sick. Dr. Davidicus Wong says in addition to that virus, RSV is also circulating in communities on the cusp of cold and flu season. He explains COVID-19 didn’t disappear this summer, and believes people aren’t following the directions given earlier in the pandemic, like masking or washing your hands consistently. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO 1130 NEWSRADIO VANCOUVER LIVE! “We are seeing COVID carry through all the way through the summer,” said Wong. “It was off their radar. They thought they had a cold. And I knew things were going to get worse because people weren’t aware of the last spring vaccine boosters that they could get.” “People weren’t talking about COVID anymore, but they were getting it and they weren’t testing for it.” Wong points out he’s hearing from patients who can’t find test kits and says recently expired ones aren’t as reliable. He says as people move indoors more when the temperatures drop, the risk increases. “We can acquire colds, flu, RSV, and, of course, COVID,” said Wong. “It’s just going to get worse. It’s almost a perfect storm.” The updated COVID-19 booster shot is expected to be made available next month, along with the flu shot, which is free for most people in this province. “Wait until the new vaccine comes out, so not much protection for those who haven’t had a booster or haven’t had COVID recently, but at least we can get our flu shots to help reduce the risk. We expect to be a lot busier. We expect our patients to be a lot sicker.” Wong thinks it’s time people consider wearing masks again and suggests they do so as soon as they start to feel sick. “The masking is not comfortable, it is kind of tiring wearing a mask all day long, but we have to do what we have to do, especially if we have vulnerable people at home.” He says the other risk this fall is getting sick with back-to-back illnesses. Having one virus or infection, feeling recovered, and then getting sick again right away. “That’s why we want to prevent the flu. If you have influenza, you’re vulnerable, your immune system is stressed and you’re liable to get exposed to other infections, like bacteria and you might come down with bacterial pneumonia after getting exposed to a second [illness].” The provincial government says flu shots should start to roll out in October, however, a set date for availability has yet to be announced.