Area250.com Solutions:

DEMOCRATIC SOLUTIONS: Should discussions on this site arrive at a sensible consensus on any subject, the 'suggestions' on this page will be amended, deleted, or added to reflect that. We stress the 'sensible' part as any group can overwhelm another in numbers and we will only post ideas that can help an area without hindering another.

STV Now! The citizens of British Columbia voted 58% for the Single Transferrable Vote. This is a clear majority, and we demand the wishes of the majority be respected. Unlike many, we feel STV would benefit the outlying areas. While you may lose your local MLA, you will gain 2 or 3 MLAs that must compete to win the votes from your town. Probably at least one will be from the ruling party. STV will increase your importance in the Legislature.

A percentage of stumpage and royalties should be earmarked for distribution to the communities in the riding where they were collected from. The money should be earmarked for infrastructure: roads, sewers, water mains, treatment plants, parks, swimming pools, arenas, etc. Reserves should be included as municipalities, and the distributing Ministry must ensure the money is properly spent and accounted for by all.

The Roads Must Roll: Highways and secondary roads must be brought up beyond par. Pavement on major trucking routes must be upgraded to standards that will accomodate their weight. Main highways should be all a minimum of 4 lanes. Other highways should only remain two lane where bridges, rock faces or other obstacles make 4 laning too expensive. Flat streches should be upgraded to 4 lanes. Toll roads should be avoided, in no case should a community be linked solely by toll roads. If Prince Rupert port expansion is to be taken seriously, Hwy 16 to Prince George must be 4 laned!

Link the Island: A fixed bridge should be built to Vancouver Island. Tolls equal to regular car & driver and truck fares could be collected to cover the cost and upkeep. It should not be viewed as a replacement to the BC Ferries, but to accomodate growth and overflow.
Upgrade Ferries: The BC Ferries fleet should be maintained and upgraded to more than a lowly shuttle. Privatize the kitchen, bring back the dining rooms. Entertainment proposals should be offered by the private markets: small movie theatres, cheap Internet access for travellers, tour guides should be encouraged on board. The ferries should be a chance to relax and enjoy a respite from driving, an alternative to the fixed bridge that remains affordable.

Railway Issues: The line between Prince George and Prince Rupert must be double-tracked to service the port expansion.

Return Passenger Service on the old BC Rail track: Ski-train to Whistler, Tourist service to Prince George

Railways to Alaska:

Ask the People: A serious problem has developed with 'consultants', 'specialists', and people from Ministries that do not live here making decisions for us. Do we need road improvements, do we need better Internet access? Ask us, we will tell you what we want and what we think is the best way to do it. Then DO IT! Stop cutting backroom deals with big business that implements thier monopolies with our tax money. We have been paying for 911 service we don't get, yet Victoria is seriously considering giving more money so the telcos will do the job they are required to do by law!Stop surprising us with second-rate roadwork and expect us to believe you didn't know it would be substandard. We're not stupid, but the decision makers sure appear to be!

Stop Pandering to Special Interest: at the expense of communities. We don't want to be keepers of the Holy Great Bear Forest because a voter bloc that does not live here wants it so. Nor do we want to be at the mercy of the Company Town. Allow us to build sustainable communities.

Buy Local: We are all told to shop local to save our communities, but the provincial government is the worst offender by committing to central purchasing and servicing. In the quest to 'save an almighty dollar' that dollar saved for a Vancouver taxpayer costs five to a rural taxpayer. If a local Ministry runs out of toilet paper, it's couriered in from a central supplier. Just buying ass-wipe might take one person off welfare and employ them at the local grocery store. If a computer gets a virus, a BCGEU tech from the Mainland is flown up to remove it, instead of taking it to the local computer store. We're aware of instances where an entire gov't office stopped working because it ran out of paper, and no one would go pay $10 at the drugstore for enough to keep the office open until the courier got there with more. That is complete bullshit and an insult to the community the office serves.

To Discuss any of these issues with others: click the map in the top left corner and you will access our discussion board. You must register to post or reply to posts. The more posts you make, the more privileges you earn on the board. Participation is encouraged, and neither "leftist" nor "rightwing" flaming or dogma are tolerated. We are seeking solutions not political statements.