Latest news with #ComoxValley
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
After pandemic hiatus, bus fare hikes roll out across B.C.
Bus fare hikes have started rolling out across B.C., now that a pandemic-era agreement between B.C. Transit and the federal and provincial governments has lapsed. B.C. Transit provides a wide range of public transportation services across 130 communities in British Columbia, serving both urban and rural areas. Metro Vancouver fares are regulated by TransLink. Victoria and Nanaimo were first out of the gate, with fares going up as soon as the agreement expired in April. Kamloops, Kelowna, Whistler, and the central Fraser Valley are some of the regions that have recently approved changes to fares that are set to be implemented this fall. Regional directors in the Comox Valley will decide on fare increases Tuesday evening. Mike Zbarsky, the region's manager of transit and facilities, says the fare review process is long overdue. "These are important things for our board to consider on a regular basis to make sure that bus fares are affordable, but also are there to generate revenue to pay for transit services," Zbarsky told CBC News. Price hikes The Comox Valley Regional District's last fare review was in 2018, Zbarsky said. The increases in the Comox Valley include hiking single fares to $2.50 from $2, and increasing 30-day passes to $65 from $55. Concession rates would also increase. These changes would apply to regular buses as well as handyDART. Zbarsky said the region has to balance increasing fares, which would increase revenues, with the possibility of decreased ridership because of higher costs. "Throughout the Covid pandemic, when we were not increasing our fares, we were still improving our transit services — better scheduling, more service hours, better infrastructure. And we had kind of limited funds to do that with during that time," he said. "And so now with a bit more revenue hopefully coming, this would allow us to continue even more expansions to the transit service." The fare review also includes the possibility of a U-Pass for North Island College students. Pandemic-era agreement In a written statement, B.C. Transit said the Safe Restart agreement it signed with the province and the federal government in 2020 included a stipulation that fare increases would be limited to 2.3 per cent annually until April 1, 2025. A B.C. Transit media representative explained that fares are usually increased to a rounded amount so that riders paying cash don't have to scrounge for small change like dimes and nickels, so the small allowable increase was never fully implemented. The agreement gave B.C. Transit $86 million. The transit authority says the funds went toward offsetting lost fare and gas tax revenues and other COVID-19 expenses. B.C. Transit says Squamish and the Pemberton Valley are also currently reviewing their bus fares. Decisions around fares are made by local governments, B.C. Transit says, adding that the costs of operating transit and demand for service continue to increase. Impact on vulnerable users Disability advocate Lynda Brosko, executive director of L'Arche Comox Valley, says she understands the need to update fares. However, she wishes the hikes would be done in consultation with vulnerable transit users. "My hope is just that we ask people with disabilities how this is going to impact them and whether or not they'll be able to manage those cost increases," Brosko said. "It's easy when we're privileged to not recognize the small changes and how impactful they are. But when people are on a fixed income, it's not one expense that's going up; it's all ... the different expenses that are going up." As part of the Comox Valley's fare review, the region is also considering different subsidy models for people with low incomes, but Zbarsky says the board will need to evaluate its options before putting anything in place. Brosko warned against subsidies, however, noting they can be tedious and difficult to apply for — especially for people with intellectual disabilities. "Sometimes when we set up these subsidized models, the complexity to access them is really high," she said. "If you're a person with an intellectual disability, unless you have a strong support system to do it for you, you can't access the supports that are designed for you."
CBC
a day ago
- Business
- CBC
After pandemic hiatus, bus fare hikes roll out across B.C.
Social Sharing Bus fare hikes have started rolling out across B.C., now that a pandemic-era agreement between B.C. Transit and the federal and provincial governments has lapsed. B.C. Transit provides a wide range of public transportation services across 130 communities in British Columbia, serving both urban and rural areas. Metro Vancouver fares are regulated by TransLink. Victoria and Nanaimo were first out of the gate, with fares going up as soon as the agreement expired in April. Kamloops, Kelowna, Whistler, and the central Fraser Valley are some of the regions that have recently approved changes to fares that are set to be implemented this fall. Regional directors in the Comox Valley will decide on fare increases Tuesday evening. Mike Zbarsky, the region's manager of transit and facilities, says the fare review process is long overdue. "These are important things for our board to consider on a regular basis to make sure that bus fares are affordable, but also are there to generate revenue to pay for transit services," Zbarsky told CBC News. Price hikes The Comox Valley Regional District's last fare review was in 2018, Zbarsky said. The increases in the Comox Valley include hiking single fares to $2.50 from $2, and increasing 30-day passes to $65 from $55. Concession rates would also increase. These changes would apply to regular buses as well as handyDART. Zbarsky said the region has to balance increasing fares, which would increase revenues, with the possibility of decreased ridership because of higher costs. "Throughout the Covid pandemic, when we were not increasing our fares, we were still improving our transit services — better scheduling, more service hours, better infrastructure. And we had kind of limited funds to do that with during that time," he said. "And so now with a bit more revenue hopefully coming, this would allow us to continue even more expansions to the transit service." The fare review also includes the possibility of a U-Pass for North Island College students. Pandemic-era agreement In a written statement, B.C. Transit said the Safe Restart agreement it signed with the province and the federal government in 2020 included a stipulation that fare increases would be limited to 2.3 per cent annually until April 1, 2025. A B.C. Transit media representative explained that fares are usually increased to a rounded amount so that riders paying cash don't have to scrounge for small change like dimes and nickels, so the small allowable increase was never fully implemented. The agreement gave B.C. Transit $86 million. The transit authority says the funds went toward offsetting lost fare and gas tax revenues and other COVID-19 expenses. B.C. Transit says Squamish and the Pemberton Valley are also currently reviewing their bus fares. Decisions around fares are made by local governments, B.C. Transit says, adding that the costs of operating transit and demand for service continue to increase. Impact on vulnerable users Disability advocate Lynda Brosko, executive director of L'Arche Comox Valley, says she understands the need to update fares. However, she wishes the hikes would be done in consultation with vulnerable transit users. "My hope is just that we ask people with disabilities how this is going to impact them and whether or not they'll be able to manage those cost increases," Brosko said. "It's easy when we're privileged to not recognize the small changes and how impactful they are. But when people are on a fixed income, it's not one expense that's going up; it's all ... the different expenses that are going up." As part of the Comox Valley's fare review, the region is also considering different subsidy models for people with low incomes, but Zbarsky says the board will need to evaluate its options before putting anything in place. Brosko warned against subsidies, however, noting they can be tedious and difficult to apply for — especially for people with intellectual disabilities. "Sometimes when we set up these subsidized models, the complexity to access them is really high," she said.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
B.C. health minister responds to calls for reform following child's ER death
Last November, 11 year-old Brayden Robbins died from a brain hemorrhage at Comox Valley Hospital on his second visit to the ER in seven days, prompting calls for health-care system changes. On Wednesday, Health Minister Josie Osborne shared the province's plan to respond, including the addition of a night shift critical care paramedic in the region.
CBC
08-07-2025
- Business
- CBC
Vancouver Island ship dismantling company has water access revoked
A shipbreaking company in the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island has just had its access to the ocean shut down. The provincial government has cancelled the crown lease of Deep Water Recovery, a company that takes apart derelict vessels in Union Bay, south of Comox. The province said in a statement that the move is to "protect the public interest." "Deep Water Recovery has not demonstrated the level of regulatory compliance, operational responsibility, or environmental stewardship required to justify entrusting them with the use of Crown land to enable management and dismantling of end-of-life vessels," said the statement. The company has faced scrutiny and controversy in the past after receiving a stop-pollution order for allowing toxic effluent runoff into the surrounding marine environment. Daniel Arbour, Comox Valley Regional District Director, says he was surprised and relieved by the decision. "This is an issue that has been going on for quite a few years, and it was incredible to see this kind of decisive action from the province," said Arbour. The district is also attempting to stop the company operating in Union Bay, saying it was contravening bylaws by dismantling barges at the site. Arbour says while the company owns the land it operates on, losing access to the water is a step in the right direction. "To see the province step in on the water is definitely very consequential, I think for the long-term prospects of the company." Arbour said that while shipbreaking needs to happen, it should be done in a safe and responsible way, adding that Canadian regulations around shipbreaking are weak and should be stricter. Concerned citizens celebrate Residents who have been monitoring the company had formed a group, the Concerned Citizens of Baynes Sound. President Ian Munro told Chek News members of the group feel vindicated given the action that's been taken. "It's a big step, you know, that we have the government saying this can no longer continue," he said.
CTV News
07-07-2025
- CTV News
Teen dies in cliff-jumping accident on Vancouver Island
A B.C. ambulance is seen in this undated file photo. (CTV) A 17-year-old died after jumping off a cliff into Comox Lake over the weekend, according to authorities. The Comox Valley RCMP says officers were called to an area known as Devil's Ladder around 9:45 p.m. Saturday, after reports a youth jumped into the water and failed to resurface. Paddleboarders in the area performed CPR on the boy right away and firefighters took over shortly after, but the teen was pronounced deceased in hospital, according to police. 'This is a heartbreaking loss for the community,' said RCMP spokesperson Const. Monika Terragni, in a news release. 'A young life, just 17 years old — it's a tragedy that touches everyone, whether you knew him personally or not.' The BC Coroners Service is also investigating the death and police say there's no evidence criminality was involved.
