B.C. minister touts benefits of 3B Broadway Subway Project as businesses ask for support
B.C.'s transport minister talked up the benefits of the $2.95 billion Broadway Subway SkyTrain extension at a Monday photo op — but businesses say there's been little support for them as the delayed project looks to hit its 2027 completion date.
The Broadway Subway Project aims to extend the Millennium Line by 5.7 kilometres, bringing the SkyTrain west from VCC-Clark station to Arbutus.
And while it was initially supposed to cost $2.83 billion and come online this year, two delays have pushed the project to 2027, and the price has shot up to $2.95 billion.
Businesses along Broadway who have had to deal with construction for five years say they're hanging by a thread, even as the province continues to say it will help alleviate pressure on Metro Vancouver's transit system.
"As with all projects, there's always challenges," Transport Minister Mike Farnworth said. "There's issues that will come up, just because of the nature of the location, and events that do happen."
Farnworth says the extension will increase the capacity of the SkyTrain system by 27 per cent, and would carry three times the capacity of the 99 bus line, which has long been the region's busiest route.
"The time to get from VCC-Clark down to Arbutus will only be 11 minutes," he said.
"So that is going to be a significant improvement, in terms of people's commuting experience, on the transit system."
Farnworth acknowledged the problems the project has faced that has led to a two-year delay. The challenges included labour disputes and problems faced by tunnel boring machines along the Broadway corridor.
"We're on time to have it open in 2027," he insisted.
Businesses ask for support
Farnworth said the Broadway Subway Project, which is funded by the province, has been in touch with local businesses on a daily basis over their concerns.
But some of them say they've had to close up shop due to ongoing street construction.
"I was forced to remortgage my home on two occasions and eventually was forced to sell my condo because of the drop in sales," said Allen Ingram, the owner of Home on the Range Organics.
Ingram ended up having to close his Broadway location a month and a half ago and has shifted to primarily selling his products online, in addition to a new production kitchen on the Sunshine Coast.
"It's without the woes of any construction, and it's a lovely place to be," he said. "So on a personal level, it feels a lot better to be removed from what we were going through in Vancouver."
Neil Wyles, the executive director of the Mount Pleasant Business Improvement Association, says that he was seeing 50 per cent business vacancies along Broadway from Alberta Street to Kingsway — which he largely attributed to the reduction in foot traffic from subway construction.
"We've talked to all of the politicians and everyone seems to be very, very, very sympathetic," he said.
"But at the end of the day, there's been zero support for these businesses."
Wyles said that businesses had been "hanging on by their fingernails" since subway construction started in 2020, and he is pushing for a tax break for stores affected by construction.
"There's no guarantee that your store is going to just be flooded with people because of the Broadway line," Wyles said, when asked whether businesses can expect an uptick in foot traffic when the project is online.
"I could not, in good conscience, go into one of my businesses and say, 'But it'll be worth it. It'll be totally worth it, man... I don't think that's true."
WATCH | Inside the Broadway Subway extension:
Inside the Broadway SkyTrain extension — one of many delayed provincial projects
2 hours ago
Duration 1:56
It's caused quite the traffic tie-ups, but urban planners and politicians all agree, it'll be worth it in the end. And today, it was time to show off the Broadway subway, the SkyTrain extension that will add six new stops in Vancouver. As CBC's Justin McElroy explains, the project joins a long list of provincial projects that are over budget and delayed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Globe and Mail
29 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
Parvis Secures Strategic Investments from Bluestar Equity and Lankin Investments, Signaling Next Phase of Growth
New strategic alliances bring capital, leadership, and alignment as Parvis scales a modern marketplace for real estate and alternative investing Highlights Bluestar Equity, the investment office of the Murad Family, via its Bluestar Flagship Fund LP, and Lankin Investments Inc., make a strategic investment in Parvis providing significant growth capital as part of a long-term and comprehensive strategic alliance. Roy Murad, Chairman of Bluestar and Kyle Pulis, Founder and CEO of Lankin will join Parvis' Board of Directors. With Bluestar and Lankin's support, Parvis plans to accelerate its expansion of innovative financial services products and accelerate its growth through acquisitions. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 4, 2025) - Parvis Invest Inc. (TSXV: PVIS) ("Parvis" or the "Company"), a technology-enabled platform redefining access to real estate and alternative private market investments, today announced the expansion of its strategic partnerships (the " Strategic Alliances") through equity investments by the Bluestar Flagship Fund (" Bluestar"), the investment office of the Murad Family, and Lankin Investments Inc. (" Lankin"), a leading Ontario-based real estate investment firm. Together these strategic investments, and corresponding alliance agreements, represent a pivotal step in advancing Parvis's mission to build a modern, scaled marketplace for private investing. As part of the alliances: Bluestar has made a strategic equity investment via its Bluestar Flagship Fund LP and will collaborate with Parvis across capital markets, M&A advisory, and legal and wealth services. Roy Murad, Chairman of Bluestar, will be appointed to Parvis' Board of Directors. Lankin has entered into an exclusive engagement to use Parvis as its exempt market dealer (EMD) and technology and compliance platform of record for capital raising across Canada and abroad. The partnership includes access to Parvis' distribution network and global and domestic fund architecture. Kyle Pulis, Founder and CEO of Lankin, will also join the Parvis Board. "These partnerships represent a powerful vote of confidence in our long-term strategy," said David Michaud, Founder & CEO of Parvis. "Bluestar brings institutional strength in capital markets and advisory. Lankin brings extensive expertise in real estate management. Together, we're building the infrastructure for a more connected and transparent private market." A Coordinated Investment Ecosystem The alliances reflect a shared vision for creating a more efficient and scalable capital flow between issuers and investors. Both Bluestar and Lankin will leverage Parvis's compliance infrastructure, KYC/AML systems, and fund technology to support their respective offerings. Bluestar will continue to provide M&A advisory and client referral services through its regulated entities, while Parvis will promote Bluestar's flagship funds and refer private wealth clients across its platform. Lankin, which has over $2B in assets under management in private real estate, will collaborate with Parvis to support joint lead generation, investor education, marketing, and operational services aimed at maximizing capital raise effectiveness and investor onboarding. "Parvis is executing at a high level," said Noah Murad, CEO and Managing Partner of Bluestar Equity. "We've seen firsthand the Company's ability to drive innovation and operational discipline in a traditionally fragmented market. This partnership allows us to support their continued scale, while aligning with a platform built for long-term success." "For us, this isn't just an investment, it's a strategic alignment," added Kyle Pulis, CEO of Lankin. "We're building something enduring, and we're excited to partner with Parvis to help shape the future of private market access in Canada and beyond." These dual investments accelerate Parvis's evolution into a central hub in Canada's private investment landscape - driven by alignment, not just capital. With Bluestar and Lankin as strategic partners, Parvis is solidifying its leadership in Canada's evolving private investment landscape. "At Parvis, we've always believed that the future of private markets will be shaped by collaboration," added Drew Green, Chairman of Parvis. "With Bluestar and Lankin aligned with our mission, we're accelerating that future - building a trusted ecosystem that connects capital with opportunity through innovation, access, and scale." Convertible Debenture Private Placement In connection with the Strategic Alliances, Parvis is pleased to announce its intention to complete a proposed non-brokered private placement of unsecured convertible debentures (the " Debentures") to Bluestar and Lankin, for aggregate gross proceeds of up to C$800,000, to be completed in three tranches, consisting of C$300,000 in each of the first two tranches and C$200,000 in the final tranche (the " Offering"). The Company intends to proceed with the closing of the first tranche of C$300,000 in principal amount in the near term. The Company's entry into the Strategic Alliances, including the appointments to the Board of Directors and execution of related agreements, is expected to occur following the closing of the Offering. The Debentures will be issued pursuant to separate subscription agreements and will bear interest at 10% per annum, maturing 24 months from the date of issuance, unless earlier converted in accordance with their terms. Each tranche of Debentures will be convertible into common shares of the Company at the option of the holder at a fixed conversion price of C$0.06 per share during the first 12 months following issuance of the first tranche, and C$0.10 per share thereafter. The second and third tranches will have fixed conversion prices of C$0.20 and C$0.35 per share, respectively. All conversions are subject to the terms and conditions set out in the applicable Debenture certificates and to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (" TSXV"), including compliance with its minimum pricing and price reservation requirements. The Offering is subject to customary closing conditions, including the conditional and final approvals of the TSXV. All securities issued pursuant to the Offering, including any common shares issuable upon conversion of the Debentures, will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day from the date of issuance of the Debentures, in accordance with applicable securities laws and TSXV policies. No finders' fees or commissions will be paid in connection with the Offering. The net proceeds from the Offering will be used for general working capital and corporate purposes. The Offering is being completed in connection with the Company's Strategic Alliances with Bluestar and Lankin. As part of these arrangements, Roy Murad (Chairman of Bluestar) and Kyle Pulis (CEO of Lankin) will be appointed to the Company's Board of Directors and, upon appointment, will become insiders of the Company. Other than these board appointments, the Offering will not result in the creation of any new control persons or involve participation by existing insiders of the Company. About Parvis Parvis is a technology-driven investment platform delivering streamlined access to institutional-quality real estate and alternative investments. Headquartered in Vancouver with licenses and presence across Canada, Parvis combines regulatory infrastructure, marketing expertise, and end-to-end technology to simplify private investing for individuals and institutions. For more information, visit About Bluestar Equity Bluestar Equity is the investment office of the Murad Family, investing across private equity, real estate, and financial services through its flagship fund and regulated advisory entities. For more information, visit About Lankin Investments Lankin Investments Inc. is a real estate management and development firm focused on acquiring, managing and operating multi-family real estate assets. Lankin provides its investors with innovative investment strategies tailored to long-term capital growth. For more information, visit Forward-Looking Statement Disclaimer: This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, " forward-looking statements") within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information generally refers to information about an issuer's business, capital, or operations that is prospective in nature, and includes future-oriented financial information about the issuer's prospective financial performance or financial position. Forward-looking statements are often identified by the words "may", "would", "could", "should", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" or similar expressions and includes information regarding: the completion of the first tranche of the Offering; the potential completion of the second and third tranches of the Offering; the use of proceeds from the Offering, the execution and integration of the strategic alliance agreements; and the Company's business plans and role in the investment industry. To develop the forward-looking information in this news release, the Company made certain material assumptions, including but not limited to: prevailing market conditions; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; and the ability of the Company to execute and achieve its business objectives. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Actual results may vary from the forward-looking information in this news release due to certain material risk factors. These risk factors include, but are not limited to: the risk that the Offering, or any tranche thereof, may not be completed on the terms described or at all; the risk that TSX Venture Exchange approval may not be obtained; adverse market conditions; changes in general economic, business and political conditions; changes in applicable laws and regulations; compliance with extensive government regulation; reliance on key and qualified personnel; risks associated with the real estate, investment, and technology industries in general. The foregoing list of material risk factors and assumptions is not exhaustive. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking information in this news release, unless it is required to do so under Canadian securities legislation. Neither the Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction.
CTV News
32 minutes ago
- CTV News
Laser incident targeting Detroit police helicopter prompts cross-border investigation
FILE PHOTO - A Customs and Border Patrol helicopter was struck by a laser beam while conducting operations over protests in Detroit, June 3, 2020CBPGreatLakes/X A laser pointed at a Detroit police helicopter late Monday night prompted a cross-border investigation involving Canadian authorities. Detroit police said the laser was directed at one of their aircraft units multiple times as it flew near the Detroit River. Officers believe the beam originated from the Windsor, Ont., side of the border. 'The Detroit Police Department contacted the Windsor Police Service to investigate this incident,' said Windsor Police Const. Bianca Jackson in an emailed statement. 'Our officers conducted a search of the area for a suspect and any evidence but were unable to locate anything. As a result, we are no longer investigating this matter.' Aiming a laser at an aircraft is a federal offence in both Canada and the U.S. Experts warn the consequences can be severe. 'This is a real dangerous game,' said Chris Lewis, CTV public safety analyst and former OPP commissioner. 'When you point a laser at an aircraft, you risk blinding the pilot — the aircraft, helicopter or airplane falling out of the sky, killing the people in it, maybe landing on a house and killing a family or much more. So, this is pretty dangerous stuff.' Lewis said pilots often have tools to identify the precise location the laser originated from. 'Ultimately, pilots can basically pin — like you can on a Google map on your phone — a location, so they have the exact coordinates as to where that light came from,' he said. 'That might come to somebody's backyard, for example, as opposed to somebody on downtown Ouellette (Avenue). It may come to some area that specifically allows them to then track who was there at that time.' He compared the act of pointing a laser at an aircraft to using a weapon. 'It's like pointing a rifle at an aircraft — that can have the same consequences,' Lewis said. Lewis also warned the public that this kind of behaviour can carry serious legal penalties. 'It's a good reminder to the public how dangerous this is, given that Windsor is going to have a helicopter flying regularly around the city and the area, throughout Essex County, I assume,' he said. 'So, this is dangerous stuff, and it's a criminal offense. It brings up to five years in prison, and if someone gets hurt or dies, you're looking at a heck of a lot more time than that. So, let's not do this again.' Aviation expert John Gradek, a lecturer at McGill University's School of Aviation Management said these types of incidents are becoming increasingly common. 'This is a very regular occurrence,' Gradek said. 'It's not something that happens once a year or once every couple of months. It is something that does happen, and law enforcement is really quick to respond.' He acknowledged the difficulty of finding those responsible, but noted police have tools at their disposal. 'It is a very difficult situation to investigate and to find the culprits,' he said. 'But there are tools that are used by law enforcement to be able to pinpoint where the laser was sighted and the exact physical address of the origin of that laser point. So, more often than not, they do catch the individuals that have been pointing the lasers.' No injuries were reported in this week's incident, and no suspects have been identified. -With files from CTV Windsor's Travis Fortnum and AM800's Dustin Coffman.
CTV News
32 minutes ago
- CTV News
Alberta separation becoming the focus of Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills byelection
A Canada flag, left, and an Alberta flag flap in the breeze with Mt. Kidd in the background in Kananaskis, Alta., Monday, June 2, 2025. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh) The Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills byelection is quickly turning into a mini referendum on Alberta secession. The riding saw its MLA, former speaker Nathan Cooper, step down earlier this year to take a provincial job in Washington. That's meant the conservative stronghold will be one of three Alberta areas electing a new representative on June 23. The UCP has held the south-central seat since the party's inception. Before that, it bounced between the Wildrose and the Progressive Conservatives. But the recent federal election and tension between rural Alberta and Ottawa have another right-leaning party convinced the byelection is there for the taking. Cameron Davies is running for the newly created Republican Party of Alberta, which he also leads. Provincial separation is the party's main goal. 'Albertans are ready for change,' he told CTV News. 'Justin Trudeau, he read the book on how to be a socialist. But Mark Carney is the gentleman who wrote the book. So, any politician who goes out there and tells you they have high hopes for Mark Carney, I think, needs to take a closer look at who he is.' The Republican Party of Alberta Davies and his party believe that Ottawa's treatment of western Canada has alienated voters and edged them out of important decisions. They want to leave confederation. And while he alleges some within the governing UCP are separatists, Davies doesn't think the party is 'conservative enough' for the province. 'The UCP has, over the last several years, attempted to pander to downtown Edmonton and downtown Calgary,' he said. '(Albertans) are ready for an alternative: a truly conservative option that doesn't apologize for our values.' Asked what those values are, Davies began with a message: 'I can look you in the eye and tell you there's only two genders,' he said. 'Let's start there.' The Republican Party of Alberta does seem to be focused on popular conservative ideas from south of the border: at various points in the interview, Davies brought up parental choice, property rights and 'family values.' 'I believe that the longer we wait for the conservatives to figure out if they are in fact conservatives, the more and more disappointed we will be,' he said. And some of his messaging is obviously resonating. An afternoon of door knocking in Three Hills showed there's an appetite in this area for what the Republicans are pitching. Despite Canadian flags lining multiple lawns, residents were happy to engage in conversation with the party leader and ask him questions about leaving the country. Davies promised it's not just here. He claimed the party's other two byelection candidates are making inroads, passing out hundreds of signs in city centres like Edmonton. Post federal election, the party alleges to have 24,000 members. They want to double that and pass Davies' former Wildrose party in sign-ups before the party's autumn AGM. 'And regardless of the outcome (in this byelection), our objective is to make sure that our message is heard,' he said. The Alberta NDP Bev Toews is running for the Alberta NDP. She has worked at an Olds high school for years and calls herself a 'community volunteer.' Toews is the first Alberta NDP candidate in this riding to be local: a badge she wears with pride. 'This talk of separatism is very concerning to me, and so I thought it was really important that somebody had a voice and talked about health care, education, affordability and being a strong Alberta in a strong Canada,' she told CTV News. In 2023, her party brought in only 18.8 per cent of the vote. The UCP's Cooper exceeded 75 per cent. At the time, another separatist group, the Alberta Independence Party, garnered 1,140 votes: 4.7 per cent of the ballots. The new NDPer says she understands some of the federal frustration in the riding — and believes her party having more voices in Edmonton can help. 'Certainly, there are things we can make better, and there are things that Ottawa can do better for Alberta,' Toews said. 'But I think we have more possibility of making a positive change working together than being all on our own.' Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills is largely comprised of born-in-Alberta residents and agricultural workers who lean to the political right. They've never given the NDP more than 4,600 votes. Toews understands it'll be an uphill campaign — but expressed some excitement Wednesday that there is more choice for constituents. 'And if they're not happy, this is an excellent opportunity for them to send a very strong message to (Premier) Danielle Smith and the UCP,' she said. The United Conservative Party Tara Sawyer is the United Conservative candidate. CTV News reached out to Sawyer and the UCP multiple times to set up an interview but never received a response. Earlier this week, Sawyer refused to give a planned all-candidates forum any availability in the lead-up to June 23's vote, meaning the forum was cancelled. Expert insight A Mount Royal University political scientist believes the byelection could be a close one between the UCP and Republican Party of Alberta. 'It's an area that is likely to be more sympathetic to the kinds of things that the Republican Party stands for than in other parts of Alberta,' political scientist Lori Williams said. 'So, it will be very interesting.' As for the separation talk, Williams says she'll be watching closely to get a sense of just how real the rural secession appetite really is. It's been talked about for decades, but she's still not entirely convinced separation will be a decider when the voting pencils are picked up. That's because the logistics of the move would be extremely complicated and costly. 'More fairness within confederation is a message that resonates frankly across the province to some degree; it's just whether that extends to the point of independence,' Williams said. 'That may make (Davies) more of a hard sell. If it were just about entitlement, corruption and a failure to represent within the United Conservative Party, I think that Cam Davies could have a significant impact on this election.' 'It will be a test: both of the Republican Party, but also of the United Conservative Party and to what extent other conservatives are more appealing than the UCP in Alberta.'
