Tolls On Port Mann Bridge Needs To Go Immediately Under Horgan Government

I hope that one of the first issues you will tackle is that of big money in politics. I would like your government to soon introduce legislation to ban corporate and union donations and put limits on individual donations. The second issue on my list is that of tolls on Metro Vancouver bridges. Why should those who live south of the Fraser pay tolls on Port Mann Bridge when people who live in other areas pay no tolls? The present system in not fair to people living in Surrey, Langley, Maple Ridge and Abbotsford.

By Harinder Mahil

Dear John Horgan:

I want to congratulate you on your election victory and on being called to form the next government in British Columbia. This is indeed a historic opportunity for you, NDP and Green Party MLAs as well as people of British Columbia.

I hope you will always remember that you have been elected to serve the people of British Columbia and make their lives better.

Like other British Columbia I too have some issues that are dear to me that I would like you to address.

I hope that one of the first issues you will tackle is that of big money in politics. I would like your government to soon introduce legislation to ban corporate and union donations and put limits on individual donations.

We do not want to see big money’s effects on our elections and public policy. More and more candidates, particularly Liberals, have been raising big money, most of which comes from corporations and economically well-off individuals who tend to hold rather conservative views on taxes, social welfare spending, and economic regulation. As a result, fewer candidates whose views are not broadly acceptable to the affluent are nominated or elected.

The second issue on my list is that of tolls on Metro Vancouver bridges. Why should those who live south of the Fraser pay tolls on Port Mann Bridge when people who live in other areas pay no tolls? The present system in not fair to people living in Surrey, Langley, Maple Ridge and Abbotsford.

I hope that referring the economic feasibility of Site C dam to the B.C. Utilities Commission for review would be immediate. The announced cost of the dam is around $ 9 billion. By the time the dam is built the cost will balloon to over $15 billion. I hope that the BC Utilities Commission will provide a clear picture of the cost and benefits of the project. It may be better to stop construction and take the 1-billion-dollar loss now than a much bigger loss at a later date.

My next wish is for an increase in the minimum wage. I hope you will set up a commission to look into increasing the minimum wage to $15 per hour. A large number of workers who will see their wages go to $15 per hour will see it as an important pay hike, and that will loop back into the economy. Consumer spending will grow and increase the need for more workers to meet the higher demand for goods and services.

Rising costs will also raise productivity, something virtually every business and economist says we want and need.

British Columbians have many issues that they would like you to address. These include affordable child care, new overdose prevention programs, adequate welfare rates, election reform, issues related to poverty reduction, education funding, improvements in environmental protection,  treatment of people with disabilities, improvements in transit services, treatment of injured and killed workers by the Workers Compensation Board, eliminating medicare premiums, inadequate resources at the Employment Standards Branch of the Ministry of Labour, and the establishment of a human rights commission in British Columbia.

It is obvious that you will face many challenges. It's been said that leadership is making important but unpopular decisions. You will indeed be asked to make some unpopular decisions.

All of these challenges can be overcome with a team of motivated ministers and a dedicated group of employees.

People of British Columbia have shown faith in you to make their lives better. I hope you will deliver and make British Columbia even more beautiful.

Harinder Mahil is a community activist and a board member of the Dr. Hari Sharma Foundation.