Here’s how the transit strike will impact your commute

Good morning,

The saying goes, whoever smelt it dealt it. But not in this case with the smell that wafted around Vancouver on Sunday.

A weird, toxic-smelling smell isn’t even the biggest story today. That honour goes to the transit strike this morning. We’re breaking it all down and what it means for your commute. Hint — you may need to find an alternative way to get to work.

Let’s get into it!

— Geoff Sharpe, Vancity Lookout editor

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WEATHER

Monday: 4 🌡️ 3 | 🌧️

Tuesday: 6 🌡️ 4 | 🌧️

Wednesday: 6 🌡️ 4 | 🌧️

STRIKE

Busses and seabus shut down today, with SkyTrain impacted potentially this afternoon

This story is accurate as of 4:30 am. Some information may have changed since that time.

What happened: Transit supervisors have walked off the job this morning as there was no agreement in place last night during negotations with Coast Mountain Bus Company. Seabus and TransLink bus services will not operate this morning until Wednesday morning, according to Urbanized.

But the impact could be felt more widespread — CUPE 7000, which represents SkyTrain workers, notified members that they do not have to report to work if SkyTrain stations are picketed as part of the job action, according to Global. 

At around 12:15 am this morning, Urbanized reported that the CUPE 7000 TransLink workers could join the strike as early as Monday afternoon. The memo noted:

• “All CUPE 7000 SkyTrain members should be prepared to report for work. This might change later in the day on Monday, but at this time we don’t know when that might happen. The CUPE 7000 executive board will update you on any changes."

Yes, but: TransLink says that workers are only in a legal position to picket bus terminals and Seabus stops, which would mean no disruption to SkyTrain services.

But the union has asked the BC Labour Relations Board to intervene, alleging TransLink and others, by not allowing them to picket SkyTrain lines, are reducing the impact of their ability to strike, according to CityNews. Their goal is to be allowed to picket SkyTrain stations. 

• The hearing was not able to be held over the weekend and will be held today, which could mean Expo and Millenium Lines may be picketed, and therefore not running, later today.

Background: It’s been four weeks since CUPE 4500 representing transit supervisors presented Coast Mountain Bus Company with their proposal, and no response has been forthcoming, according to CUPE. The union is asking for a 25 percent raise over three years, while the employer is offering 13.5 to 15 percent. 

One flag: If SkyTrain workers were to be impacted by a picket line, it’s unclear if the Canada Line would be impacted, as workers there are represented by the BC General Employees Union. The Westcoast Express and West Vancouver Blue Bus are still expected to operate.

For students: Universities such as UBC and SFU, where students overwhelmingly rely on transit to get around, say they will move to online courses but will not notify students until 6 am this morning (after this newsletter was published), according to CityNews.

What it means: With so many people relying on transit, a strike like this is a big deal. While it will only last two days, the workers who number 180, are in a strong position to leverage their situation into wage wins. It’s hard to imagine the employer allowing the strike to drag on a very long time, given the potential impact.

Looking ahead: The strike is set to take place for 48 hours, according to Vancouver is Awesome, but with no deal on the horizon, there could be escalating strikes.

VANCOUVER NUMBERS

📈 3 million: The number of residents Metro Vancouver is projected to reach on July 1 of this year. The data says by 2029, Surrey will be the biggest city in the region with a population of 785,619 compared to Vancouver’s projected 780,075. [Vancouver Sun]

🌧️ 100 mm: The amount of rain expected to fall in Vancouver this week. The Weather Network says we’re in the “final act” of the wintry weather. [Daily Hive]

ENVIRONMENT

No, you didn’t imagine it, that was a weird smell

I wish I could write this to say the weird smell reported throughout Vancouver on Sunday was benign, but in fact, it was more serious than that…

What happened: The smell everyone noticed on Sunday was emanating not from Vancouver, but from the Parkland refinery in Burnaby due to a fire in the building, according to CBC. The fire was under control as of yesterday, but an air quality bulletin was released calling on people to close windows if they could smell anything. The smell was caused by the refinery flaring — burning — away the chemicals.

• A public advisor was issued in the morning and then was ended at 2:30 pm, according to CityNews.

Background: The Parkland refinery provides one-third of BC’s fuel, according to their website. 

The fire started at 7:30 am on Sunday. The odour itself came from snuffing out the fire, according to CityNews. The worst part of the smell was registered in East Vancouver, close to the refinery, but people from Kitsilano and Coquitlam said they also could smell it. Over 100 odour complaints were reported by officials. 

• A metro Vancouver spokesperson told CBC they were assessing the refinery’s air quality permit as part of the investigation. 

Metro Vancouver posted at 9:42 pm last night that the refinery announced they would be shut down and they would be undertaking increased flaring.

Outstanding questions: How dangerous are the chemicals? When will the public know the extent of how widespread it was? Why did it take so long for the company to issue a notice to the public? There are many questions that still need to be answered.

What’s next: Environmental regulation and enforcement officers were on site to collect data on the situation. As of now, officials say there were no health risks to the broader public. But as noted in the advisory bark Parkland listed above, there may be more flaring.

NEW JOBS

Discover your dream job in Vancouver:

1. Manager, marketing and communications at Life Science BC

2. Manager, key account at Red Bull

3. Director of marketing at Parq Vancouver

4. Business manager at Traylor Bros

5. VP and market lead, Vancouver at CWB Financial Group

THE AGENDA

⚡The weather this weekend caused almost 7,000 residents to lose power across the Sunshine Coast and Lower Mainland. In Vancouver, 1,300 lost power in Dunbar-Southlands. Snow and freezing rain were to blame. [Vancouer is Awesome]

🏥 A man who lives near Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) claims that in the last four to five years, he’s witnessed the hospital discharge people, many of whom didn’t want to leave, onto the street, with some crawling trying to get back to the hospital. VGH said in a response that some people who are disruptive are escorted out of the building. [Global News]

🏠 Another day, another story about questionable no-fault evictions. The tenants said their landlord approached them about doubling their rent. Then he proceeded to claim a family member was moving in, which required them to vacate. It’s now before the Residential Tenancy Branch. [CTV]

🏒 In what should be a surprise to no one, Canucks President Jim Rutherford just had his contract extended by another three years. He took over in 2021, and has overseen the team make a major turnaround to first place in the standings. The team also just won 6-4 over the Maple Leafs. [CBC]

🏗️ A temporary modular housing complex at 525 Powell St. is set to be replaced with permanent social housing. The 10-storey building will be mixed-use and the land is owned by the city. It currently houses 39 studio units but will be replaced with 158 social housing units set at different affordable rates. [Urbanized]

🌊 A major milestone was just reached in the $450-million Annacis water pipe project. It and others are part of a plan to revamp the region's water systems, part of a $35 billion dollar pipeline infrastructure project to make the system more resilient to earthquakes, but more importantly, accommodate the projected increase in population growth through the region. One major challenge recently are rising project costs due to inflation. [Vancouver Sun]

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Of course we’re featuring more snow photos. The purple street lights really add a different vibe. 

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• This restaurant is the perfect community spot, and every neighbourhood should have one. [Vancity Lookout]

• Abel Collective is back with Hotel Empress and Humanoid No More, 8 pm, Feb 3rd at Red Gate (1965 Main St) Tix $15. Purchase here. [Sponsored]

• What a bizarre-looking crash between a Vancouver snow plow and a vehicle. [CTV]

• I always love local videos of neighbourhood animals and this beaver at Hinge Park in False Creek is no exception. Very cute! [Reddit]

• That’s a whole lot of birds around Stanley Park! [Reddit

• Want to have your announcement featured? Learn how here.

VANCOUVER GAMES