Louis Hornung

The Sunshine Coast Bypass to Nowhere

Back in 1994 or so, the first leg of the Sunshine Coast Bypass was opened. This 3 kilometre stretch of highway bypasses the winding section of North Road, to droptraffic at the top of a hill, where it joins back onto North Road, before thundering on to points further north west of the Langdale Ferry Terminal. This achieved a two lane race to the top of the hill, where the traffic has to merge with little warning into one lane, before turning left to head to the old highway.

Thirty years later, this highway has not progressed another foot! Neither BC Ferries, whose property this is, nor Highways, can even be bothered to clean the sign.

The Sunshine Coast Marine Highway Needs Some Improvement!

The Lower Sunshine Coast is a 40 minute ferry ride that is 8.3 nautical miles from Horseshoe Bay, West Vancouver, on a peninsula of mainland BC that is not accessible by any road, and has limited access by air. BC Ferries operates the marine highway (ferry service) that allows tourists and local residents to travel back and forth. BC Ferries offers 8 returns trips per day.

The Upper Sunshine Coast is a 50 minute ferry ride that is 80.5 km, or about 75 minutes by road, and 9.99 nautical miles north-west of the Langdale Ferry Terminal, on another peninsula of mainland BC, but even less accessible by land than the Lower Sunshine Coast. BC Ferries operates the marine highway between the Upper and Lower Sunshine Coast, and also between the Upper Sunshine Coast and Vancouver Island. Upper Sunshine Coast residents might typically go to Vancouver Island, before making a journey to Vancouver, as most medical and shopping is available with just one ferry sailing. BC Ferries offers 8 returns trips per day.

How much water are we losing from leaks?

As we prepare to endure another year of water restrictions, and risk of forest fire, that we may not be able to fight without water bombers, how much of our precious resource is washing out to shore from Non-Revenue Water Loss? This is water lost through the distribution system before it reaches a paying customer.

The Canadian Water and Wastewater Association (CWWA) completed a study in 1997 to estimate the investment needs in water and wastewater infrastructure over the period 1997-2012. This study indicated that there were more than 112,000 kilometres of water mains in Canada with an estimated replacement cost of $34 billion. In addition, this study estimated that $12.5 billion would have to be invested over this 15-year period to replace existing (deteriorated) water mains and to construct new mains to service the projected growth.

Do 35,000 people really need 3 local governments?

Back in the 90s, the BC Government was in favour of amalgamation of the unincorporated areas of the Sunshine Coast, into one or more incorporated areas. This action would’ve given our remote area more autonomy into our own affairs. An example of this is the District of Sechelt, which governs a population greater than 5,000 people.

What was then known as the Sechelt Indian Government District would always remain outside of any other amalgamated areas, so they will not be considered a part of any restructuring conversation here.

Louis Hornung
For
Good Government
Do the Right thing!

We need to be an inclusive community, where everyone is represented equally, and fairly. We are all citizens of British Columbia, Canada, and as Canadians we need to show the rest of Canada, and the world, that we are, what being Canadian means; caring, just and fair.

We have endured decades of favouritism by all levels of government, and that is not what the Canadian Charter of Rights guarantees us. It’s time that we stand up for the right thing; equality!

Revising the BC Building Code to Protect Against Greed

Canada has a national building code, that sets the minimum standard for anything that falls under its jurisdiction. Each province may enact components that exceed the national standard, but that are pertinent to conditions found in that province. Most likely, every province has done this to meet and protect the needs of the people that it is responsible for.

Being a coastal province, BC would naturally experience different conditions than say, Manitoba. Some similarities might be consistent with mountainous areas in Alberta, outside of soil, precipitation, and ground water differences.

BC has had its share of loss, due to inadequate policies or allowances covered in the BC Building Code. The leaky condo situation would be one; while the sink holes of Sechelt would be another, or the landfill development site of Powell River. Everyone loses when the wrong thing happens.

Canadian Grocery Code in Action

Around the first week of May, PM Justin Trudeau announced the requirement for grocery chains to sign on to the Canadian Grocery Code; Loblaws responded that it was waiting for competitors to sign on, before it would agree to adhere to the new code.

I typically visit a couple of different grocery stores twice a week, as some of the fresh produce doesn’t have much of a shelf life, and meal planning is subject to change without notice.

I purchased some Tostito Scoops on 2024-05-11, to go along with a fresh, spring vegetable dish that I planned on sharing with friends.

Six days later, I had the need to buy more Tostito Scoops, to take along with a second bowl of the dip, while we watched the Canucks playoff game.