Cuts to HandyDART will continue:

After considerable opposition, cuts to “Taxi Savers” program were cancelled by Translink. However we are told the present economic crisis dictates that cost saving must be done in all transit, especially on HandyDART.  An audit is presently underway to examine the whole financial system in Translink. 

HandyDART originated about 30 years ago as disabled and seniors began a struggle for accessible transit.  It was a success and is growing exponentially as the predicted baby boom has hit the retirement wall. Unfortunately no government has even begun to plan for the sudden burst in numbers and the increased demands in housing, health, transportation to name a few problem areas.

The economic crisis exasperated by governments policies of the “trickle-down economic theory” remains systematic. As long as it continues solutions of passing the buck will continue. For example, Translink is presently saddled with issues that rightfully belong in the government department of transportation. Instead of attention to the problem of encouraging drivers and their passengers to get out of cars and into public transit, more cost saving. Translink is busy expanding the highway system, improving roads, building bridges for example. All encourage greater use of cars and other transportation such as trucking, not really Tanslink's mandate as originally given pre-1941.

It is time these issues, especially the saddling of Translink with issues that rightfully belong in the Department of Transit were included in the audit.


This letter to the editor was sent to the Province. ohn

TAKE THE PLEDGE

RIGHT THE WRONGS CAMPAIGN
ELECTIONS - 2013

Elections 2013 are nearly upon us. The electorate - that is you, have to decide our future. It is not true you can't do anything with big government. That lie is to disarm any protest for the wrongs being committed for the benefit of more profits for business while at the same time keeping it hidden from the public eye! And there are quite a few wrongs.

Translink, Access Transit, HandyDART: As two HandyDART users that is our focus. You have another issue? Use this format or one of your own and inform the public of your problems and concerns about it. In general the turning over of public domain companies and issues like ferries, railroads, BC Hydro and more to the private sector for profit from your tax dollars should be front and centre!

We think that this election should only elect candidates who agree to support and/or propose the following two points to correct the wrongs being committed by the BC Legislature beginning with the time of the former Premier Campbell. In our case the "South Coast British Columbia Transportation Act - Translink".

FIRST: Get rid of the appointed Translink Board an re-install the Mayors Translink Board. At least it was comprised mainly of elected Mayors. 

SECOND: Remove any reference to 'contracted or contracted service' in the "South Coast British Columbia Transportation Act - Translink" Make any company that is presently contracted under Translink a corporation or company the same kind as those not contracted in Coast Mountain Bus Company.

PLEDGE: That you will only vote for candidates publicly committed to support both First and Second points above.

Time to Occupy BC Elections 2013!
Two HandyDART users <betjohn@shaw.ca>

About time the 99% used their vote to stop the inept management of Translink by the Liberal government!
YES YOU CAN!
-30-

As a BC voter and member or supporter of your party we hereby notify you we 'take the pledge' and will honour this pledge on voting day.

Name:__________________________________________

Address:________________________________________

_______________________________________________

Postal code______________________________________

Please send the above by Canada Post, or email, or hand delivery to the party of your choice. If you would like to let us know that you have done so sent confirmation of the pledge to bet john@shaw.ca
If you can, circulate it to other BC voters Thanks

TILMA

TILMA John Beeching Hon. Chair, CPS

It has been probably more than 6 years since I wrote anything on this subject. The general public do not even seem aware of TILMA or its connection and similarities with the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the USA. Or for that matter their negative effects on the majority. CEO's just love it!

The present attack on labour in Canada, especially by all governments, has caught the recognition of organized labour but unfortunately not as much in the general public. It makes the job of Canadian business lobby and their institutes like the Fraser Institute here in BC easier. 

As with FTA, TILMA's goals focus on laws that “restrict or impair trade, investment or labour mobility”, that is, in a nutshell profits. More and more Canadians are awake to the drive toward corporate governance and extreme super profits that drive the lower and lowest economic level of our society to grow in numbers and get poorer. While banks and Corporations get bail-outs. Profits are the root of policy of all governments in Canada who follow the “trickle down economic theory” which only exacerbates the lowering of purchasing power. Canada need a political movement. 

“Instead of promising to harmonize our rules and regulations, or making commitments to remove the barriers corporations don't like, why won't our governments commit to adopting the best standards for workers, the environment and local decision making, not the worst.” BC Federation of Labour.

We suggest that as long a we have a 'for profit system' – capitalism the chasm between the owning class and workers will only deepen. The ranks of the lower income people will increase while their earnings and conditions will worsen as those at the top pass laws to ensure it does. Meantime those at the top of the income range put their money in banks.

We do need an examination of globalization with the view of how it will fit into a new order – scientific socialism. In the meantime until Canadians are ready to do just that resistance to draconian laws and preparations for a police state must be resisted. Organized Labour should and must take a lead. If you are not ready for a revolution – rebell.

OPEN LETTER

TRANSLINK – HANDYDART - TAXI

Open letter to - general public, all HandyDART users, their families, friends and supporters. WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Translink sub-companies or corporations are heading for a disastrous future. All users of public transit in the South Coast of BC will be affected.

At one time the Translink board made up of mostly elected Mayors was therefore considered public. Our previous Premier Campbell made several moves that privatized former public operations like the Ferry System, BC Rail and others, then hit on Translink.

BC government under Campbell’s direction appointed a board made up of professionals from the private domain (un-elected). HandyDART once comprised of eight districts was made one unit and through a contracting process turned over to a subsidiary of an American firm MVT, a for profit American Company. Adding Canada to their title does not alter that.

Proposed changes for profits impact negatively on HandyDART users and employees. Translink taxi proposal when in operation makes the disabled and elderly, the most vulnerable in society, suffer a serious reduction in their former transit service. HandyDART will not be a door-to-door service as it once was.

The taxi proposal contradicts several items in the “Custom Transit Operating Agreement between Translink and MV Canadian Bus Company Ltd”. Does it contravene Schedule A Section 3.0 Service Description or any other section? It needs public scrutiny.

In the operating agreement contract the prime service is bus transit with taxis as an ancillary. The proposed change make taxis a preferred service to bus transit. Perhaps most important does it contravene the Transportation Act?

We call on the general public to pressure and demand a public examination from the BC government of this whole question. Restore Translink Board to the elected mayors and limited additions. Remove “contracted service” from the transportation act.

Contact your MLA, the media and other resources to raise your voice in the support of HandyDART users. This system is no longer democratic; it is governance by business, corporation and big moneyed people. It deserves a huge public outcry for democracy.

HandyDART is a service, and not to be run for profit.

Two HandyDART users -John & Elizabeth Beeching,. Contact betjohn@shaw.ca

TRANSLINK

Tuesday April 10, 2012

Transportation is once more in the news. This time Translink wants a 12.5% increase in fares.

Fares already in place, and now the threat of an increase have made some riders talk about going back to driving their cars. It reflects the new appointed Translink Board by former Premier Campbell's government focus on cars rather than improving the transit system. That systems original aim was to get people out of their cars and into the transit system. The boards focus is doing just the opposite their improvements are for cars not transit.

Next year there will be a provincial election. BC citizens have the opportunity now to begin a 'Right the Wrongs' campaign. The liberal government made several in the past. Ferry system is well into the private sector. The Fast Cats would have come in handy when the ship on the norther route sank are just two. The South Coast Transit System is also slated to be privatized. so it seems. HandyDART is a 'contracted service' as are some other companies under Translink - Coast Mountain Bus Company symptomatic of privatization.

We suggest that two things need to be done to improve the transit system in the South coast BC. The South Coast British Columbia Transportation Act - Translink Board needs to be returned to elected mayors.  Second, any company under the act that is a 'contacted service' needs to have contracted removed and then they should be made the same as any other corporation or company under Translink - Coast Mountain Bus Company.

A Right the Wrongs Campaign should canvass every candidate and party to ascertain their position on these questions.

Two HandyDART users.

US-Israel Axis -World Domination

A new emperialist system is being built in the 21st century - the USA at the head.

The United States with Israel and NATO allies is aiming at world hegemony. We veterans of WW II fought to defeat Hitler Nazism/Fascism and succeeded. Now in this century it is rearing its ugly head again.

We need such campaigns as the following.. Our young people are showing us the way. Remember the G8/G20? Remember Occupy mocvement? Remember the Middle East and Europe?

WORLD FEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS

WFTU INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR PALESTINE For the immediate release of all political prisoners held in Israeli jails

Dear Colleagues,

Today in Israeli prisons there are 4,600 Palestinians imprisoned militants. Of these:

560 have been convicted to life imprisonment by Israeli courts.

220 are children.

24 are Members of the Parliament.

204 prisoners have died in Israeli prisons.

Among the prisoners there are great Palestinians and Arab militants who have dedicated their lives to the struggle of the Palestinian People to get their own independent homeland.

The WFTU from the first day of its establishment is firmly on the side of the Palestinian People. On April 17th is the International Day of Action for Palestinian people for the release of all prisoners in Israeli jails. All of those militants kept illegally and undemocratically by the imperialists and their organs.

For years now the International Organizations are limited to words. They show indifference. They allow the government of Israel to kill, to imprison, and to terrorize the people of the region.

The WFTU in a joint meeting with the GUPW held recently in Ramallah decided to call upon all our affiliates and friends to act on April 17. To submit statements to the Israeli embassies in their countries, as well as international organizations and to demand the immediate release of all the militants from Israeli prisons.

We ask you all to act. To express active solidarity with the best possible way. All together on April 17 calling for:

- The immediate release of all political prisoners kept unfairly in Israeli prisons.

- To stop the settlement activity and the dismantling of the settlements.

- The immediate lifting of the unfair and inhumane blockade of Gaza Strip, the withdrawal of the Israeli army from all occupied territories, which is there since 1967, including the Golan Height and the Shebaa area of southern Lebanon.

- The demolition of the racist wall.

- The creation of an independent, democratic and truly free Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital and the return of all Palestinian refugees to their homeland.

- The international community to undertake its responsibilities and to implement all decisions of the United Nations and the Security Council!

Send your protest letters, photos and statements to the following e-mail addresses:

mohammad_yahya2007@yahoo.com, mohiqn62@gmail.com, international@wftucentral.org

- UN Human Rights Council: civilsociety@ohchr.org

- Israeli Foreign Minister: sar@mfa.gov.il

-High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy: COMM-SPP-HRVP-ASHTON@ec.europa.eu

4/4/2012 THE SECRETARIAT

40, ZAN MOREAS STREET, ATHENS 11745 GREECE

Tel. +302109214417, +302109236700, Fax +30210 9214517

www.wftucentral.org E-mails: info@wftucentral.org, international@wftucentral.org