VancouverIAM Daily Blog Report: Media focus widens on Library Workers, Peter Ladner says drive less-save more

This is a selection of recent popular blog articles from VancouverIAM where you will find the best blogs from Vancouver, British Columbia as well as video uploads, social networking, rumors, and blog authoring.

Increased Media Attention for Library Workers

GungHaggisFatChoy has declared that CUPE 391, the union representing library workers, has been benefiting from increased media attention since Vancouver's inside and outside workers have gone back to work. However, it appears as though not all of the attention is appreciated as GHFC's latest post stated that “there's still a media blackout in effect. So why is the Vancouver Sun publishing this story 'Striking library workers, city reach tentative deal' on their website? Who told them the information?” The post also revealed that “a CBC website story reports that Vancouver city manager Judy Rogers sent out a memo and talked with CBC News.”

Rumours began to fly even faster once News1130 reported that Vancouver libraries could be open as soon as next week.

Despite the glut of news stories declaring that CUPE 391 has negotiated a deal, librarians continue to walk the picket lines. The post was insistent that the resumption of the school year has exacerbated the need for libraries. GHFC was hopeful that the increased media attention will lead to the public becoming more educated about pay equity- reported to be the key reason why CUPE 391 remains on strike.

Peter Ladner: Drive less- Save More!

A recent post from Stephen Rees' sustainable transport blog contains an article written by Peter Ladner- a Vancouver Councilor and owner of Business in Vancouver. Ladner is advocating a dramatic change to the registration and insurance industry in British Columbia in order to encourage drivers to use more fuel efficient cars and drive shorter distances. Prompted by Gordon Campbell's recent announcement of greenhouse emission targets, Ladner has titled his concept “pay-as-you-drive (PAYD) hybrid pricing.” He asserts that the idea was originally introduced by “a UBC team led by noted physicist Lorne Whitehead and associate planning professor Lawrence Frank.”

According to the findings from Whitehead and Frank, “current vehicle registration and insurance schemes provide an all-you-can-eat temptation to even the most environmentally conscious driver.” The post points out that “once you’ve paid for your insurance, there’s no additional cost no matter how much you drive. Frequent driving is a key factor in your chance of having an accident, so why should frequent drivers pay the same insurance as occasional drivers in the same insurance category?” Motorists would be forced to prepay for the amount of kilometers that they planned to drive in a given period and would then settle up their account at the end of the period subject to an odometer reading. “For example, a motorist who prepaid $1,000 for 20,000 kilometres would receive a $250 credit if they only drove 15,000, and owe $250 if they drove 25,000 kilometres, which must be paid to reregister the vehicle.”

Ladner reported that while “Whitehead and Frank’s ad hoc team is pushing ICBC to do a pilot project with volunteer drivers... the insurance company isn’t biting.” ICBC is saying that it already has enough insurance categories that reflect miles-driven, while also claiming that “PAYD insurance is too
complicated to administer.”

Industry Canada Should Monitor “Povertarians”

The Downtown Eastside Enquirer blog is pointing the finger at so-called “povertarians” as a waste of taxpayer money and a continuing source of frustration to residents of the downtown east-side. The post is specifically focused on Carol Madson who is currently the manager of Pathways, which the author describes as an “Information Center operated by Industry Canada in the Downtown Eastside.” Pathways gives downtown east-side residents the opportunity to use free computers to work on their resumes. Supposedly, Madson's negative demeanor and the fact that she brings her kids to work with her is symptomatic of the “povertarians who get huge government grants claiming they have the ‘skill set’ necessary to work with Downtown Eastside residents.”

The post claimed that the majority of povertarians also “take the short cut of expelling people from government-funded facilities instead of working with them.” The Downtown Eastside Enquirer was concerned that Madson, and those like her, are simply taking advantage of Industry Canada's attempts to assist downtown east-side residents.” The post reports that Madson “is often seen taking off out the door well before most government workers get off.”

The post declared that “Industry Canada had better monitor Madson. In fact, there are many things that have to be monitored before Pathways has their funding renewed. Why can’t these jokers keep computers running?” Despite receiving plenty of government funding, the computers available at Pathways are generally not working properly or are running incredibly slowly. “Industry Canada must be pumping a million dollars a year or more into this place and the basic service they provide is public-access computers. So why aren't they working optimally?” The author asserts that maybe it has to do with the fact that the full-time computer repair person is usually seen lounging in a glass room with Madson & Co.

Traffic supposedly easing on Northshore Bridgeways

North Vancouver Politics Blog is revealing details from a recent study titled “a Comparison of Bridge Capacity - Metro Portland Vs. the Lower Mainland.” The post declared that many people who live on the north shore are in general agreement that “traffic on the Second Narrows and the Lions Gate Bridge is brutal.” However, the data from the study infers that the Lower Mainland's traffic problems aren't on the North Shore. According to the results, “the Lower Mainland's traffic woes can be found on the Pattullo and Port Mann Bridges.”

Translink spokesman Ken Hardey is quoted in the study stating that “traffic has actually decreased on both bridges during the morning commute.”

The study looks at data collected between 1996 and 2004. During that period, there was a marked increase in the amount of people commuting between the North Shore and Vancouver, while there was little increase in the traffic going in the opposite direction. The post stated that “from 1996 to 2004 'inbound' morning traffic (from the North Shore to Vancouver) decreased 4.5 percent. Outbound traffic increased by 9.4 percent.” At the same time, “afternoon traffic from the North Shore to Vancouver increased 10.7 percent while the opposite direction saw an increase of only 0.4 percent.”

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