TransLink's requesting $2.9 billion in funding

Good morning,

I had a really great chat with a reader this week for a story I’m working on. It’s a reminder that there’s nothing better than actually talking with people! 

Our team here is thinking about potentially hosting Vancity Lookout events in 2025. I’d love to hear if that’s something you’d be interested in attending.

Today we’re looking at a call by TransLink for more funding, some food recommendations from yours truly and a big list of events this weekend.

Let’s dive in.

— Geoff Sharpe, Lookout managing editor

PS - If you find this newsletter valuable, please consider forwarding it to your friends. New to the Lookout? Sign-up for free.

WEATHER

Friday: 9 🌡️ 6 | 🌧️

Saturday: 9 🌡️ 6 | 🌧️

Sunday: 11 🌡️ 7 | 🌤️

Monday: 10 🌡️ 6 | 🌧️

TRANSPORTATION

Spare any funding for transit?

ell, now that the provincial election is over, we can get back to normal. That is, unless you’re TransLink…

What happened: The organization that runs transit throughout Metro Vancouver is calling on funding to cover a massive budget shortfall, according to CityNews, by preparing to launch a Save Transit campaign targeted to different levels of government.

A couple million? A billion? No, try $2.9 billion. A year. That’s how much the Mayors’ Council, the regional body that oversees TransLink, says they need from all levels of government to fill their budget deficit. With the election over, the organization is now in a better position to advocate for funding from the provincial government. 

• The organization is asking for $500 million a year for their operating deficit, along with that $2.9 billion for capital projects, such as SkyTrain expansion.  

Background: The funding problems are not new. TransLink warned back in July that they faced a $600 million operating deficit, which could result in cuts to 30 per cent of SkyTrain and SeaBus service, and a shocking 50 per cent reduction in bus service, according to CBC.

• Explainer: Operating deficits are different from deficits for capital projects; the former is the costs to maintain the system at its current level. 

Looking ahead: The Mayors’ Council announcement is all about getting the attention of the BC NDP government as they return to power. But Premier David Eby has stated that there are no plans to introduce new legislation during the fall sitting, according to the Times Colonist. That’s certainly not ideal for TransLink, with the budget issues coming to a head next year. 

What it means: Let’s be clear — there is practically zero chance that senior levels of government would let transit services be cut by as much as TransLink has said could happen, considering how important Metro Vancouver is for all party’s electoral prospects, especially in places like Surrey where the NDP suffered huge losses. 

• But the timing is not ideal. With the spring session and a potential for difficulty governing if the NDP cannot find a non-NDP MLA to serve as speaker — it would result in a split between the BC NDP and the BC Conservatives/Greens — any sort of large legislation around this issue may prove more challenging. That’s not even accounting for the tumultuous situation federally, where a minority government means an election could be on the horizon at any time…

VANCOUVER NUMBERS

📈 10x: The spike in costs for hotels for when Taylor Swift is in town. The cheapest hotel one family found was $1,200 a night… [CityNews]

🏠️ $1.4 million: The price a detached home sold for. But before you think, hey, what a great price, it’s entirely for the land — the property itself was estimated to be worth $20,500. [Urbanized]

📆 50: The number of years that Afghan Horseman has been serving up food. [Straight]

🍫 $100: The amount of additional money Canadians are expected to have spent on Halloween this year. [CTV]

RECOMMENDATIONS

My favourite dishes of the summer

Many of you might not know, but I write food reviews in our Vancity Lookout Eats newsletter. I eat. A lot. My waistline may not enjoy it, but it’s truly a highlight of my work at the Lookout to be able to share so many interesting restaurants in the city.

Since many of you aren’t subscribed to that newsletter, I wanted to share a few of my favourite bites this summer:

Favourite soup: Spicy pho at Ivey’s Kitchen

It’s a small spot, south on Main, without the fanfare or recognition of Anh and Chi. It’s not the fanciest soup, but after coughing after inhaling the spice, I settled into pho that is unique enough that it was the top soup of the summer. 

Read the review

Favourite dessert: Carrot cake at Collective Goods

What is there to say about the carrot cake at Collective Goods? I’ll let my review do the talking:

“It’s not a heavy carrot cake. There’s a lightness to the lemon buttercream and hazelnut praline, which complements the thin layers of cake. But all of that was forgotten as the salted coffee caramel hit my mouth. Dark, rich espresso and just the right level of sweetness with the cake, you could visit just for this dessert. And at $12? It’s a steal.”

Read the review

Favourite bakery: Bahar Bakery and Cafe

I love Persian food. I love baking. So it stands to reason I would love a Persian bakery.

Bahar is getting rave reviews, and rightfully so. They’re bringing high-quality French baking and Persian ingredients that elevate everything that makes baked goods great. The bishti wasn’t something I’d had before, and the light, almost croissant-like item was a highlight of the summer. 

Read the review

To get the rest of my recommendations in next week’s newsletter, subscribe instantly by clicking here.

THE AGENDA

🏒 I usually don’t lead off the agenda section with sports but after the Canucks’ 6-0 loss last night… “Utterly listless” is how coach Tocchet described it. Part of the problem is goaltending, with goalie Arturs Silvos having the worst save percentage in the NHL right now. The other problem is a defence that is just not clicking. With that said, the team is still 4-2-3, good enough for 3rd in the Western Conference. [Province]

🔥A fire that destroyed three homes on Oct. 8 was started by a discarded cigarette in someone’s backyard. Flames from the fire reached 30 metres into the air and displaced a dozen people. [CBC]

🎃 That’s certainly one way to get attention. One homeowner put together Halloween lawn decorations that critiqued a number of local issues. My personal favourite? A sign that ridicules Chip Wilson’s election sign about communism, with it reading, “Trick or Treaters seem to forget when people give them candy, they are participating in the evils of communism.”

👮 The Vancouver Police Board (VPD) will review two complaints about the use of excessive force against pro-Palestinian protestors at a CN Rail track protest. Police deployed military-grade pepper spray and placed knees on necks which is not allowed per the VPD’s own policy. [CityNews]

🏗️ WorkSafeBC is investigating after a crane dropped its load on Tuesday morning in Strathcona. No one was injured. [CityNews]

👍 Good news for sign fans, the big sign spelling VANCOUVER will be back in Coal Harbour west of Cactus Club next to the seaplane terminal. [Urbanized]

❌ If you’re planning to leave the city to visit Golden Ears Park, you should make alternative plans. The park is closed after damage from the atmospheric river, with damage to roads and broken pavement. There is no timeline for re-opening. [CityNews]

EVENTS

Vancouver Entrepreneur Networking Event | Karma Lounge | Nov. 1, 7 pm-9 pm | Stylish, professional networking meetup to facilitate meaningful conversation | Tickets $12

Luke Wallace Album Release Concert | The Wise Hall | Nov. 1, 7 pm | Local musician is launching a new album, The Dandelion Resistance | Tickets $28

Kanpai! Sake Celebration | Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre | Nov 2 5 pm-10 pm | Sip on sake, try delicious food and learn about all things sake | Tickets $26

Planetarium VidLaser | BCIT Planetarium | Nov. 2, 7 pm | Beautiful laser show with music, many choreographed live | Tickets $30

Cheese and Meat Festival | 115 Victory Ship Way, North Vancouver | Nov. 2, 3 pm onwards | Just what it sounds, if you like meat and cheese, this is for you | Tickets $84

12th Annual International Fashion Gala | Christ Church Cathedral | Nov. 2, 2 pm-9 pm | Afternoon and evening showcase of fashion with the theme Romance and Power | Tickets $33

Not a Film Festival | The Cinematheque | Nov. 3, 1:30 pm | Films featuring filmmakers that refuse to be confined by traditional labels | Learn more

Circle Craft Holiday Market | Vancouver Convention Centre | Nov. 6-10 | Over 300 artisan showcase their wares for you to buy, the perfect Christmas gift opportunity | Tickets $12

Transform Festival | Vancouver Playhouse | Nov. 6-9 | The Cultch presents the electrifying performances from local community artists | Tickets 

Vancouver Asian Film Festival | Multiple locations | Nov. 7-14 Showcasing 100 films from Asian creators | Tickets $15

Ocean Film Festival Canada World Tour 2024 | Centennial Theatre | Nov. 7, 7 pm | Come watch a lineup of films focusing on the ocean, both underneath and above it | Tickets $27

Eastside Culture Crawl | Nov. 14-17 | All around Strathcona | Four days of artists showcasing their work and opening up their studios, a fun event for everyone | Learn more

Hibernation Harvest Dinner | Locando dell’Orso | Nov. 18, multiple times remaining | A five-course Italian family-style dinner capturing the essence of autumn | Tickets $139

Turkish Film Festival | Various locations | Nov. 21-24 | Come see films showcasing the rich, diverse world of Turkish cinema | Pass $49

VIDEO OF THE DAY

We’ve done some in-deoth stories on public engagement both if which I’ll link to below. Here’s another interesting video from one of my favourite YouTube channels About Here.

Related stories

PHOTO OF THE DAY

This is a great use of a tree stump.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• We profiled a restaurant serving special Chinese noodles and now a new one similar to its opening, also on Robson Street. [Vancouver is Awesome]

• There’s a new Asian eatery opening up in Richmond called House of Dawn, located at 130-8171 Ackroyd Rd, focusing on modern Asian cuisine.

• The city is asking for people to adopt a catch basin, to help with flooding in the city. [City of Vancouver]

• You can now catch a zipline over Vancouver’s waterfront. [Urbanized]

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

GAME TIME

Wednesday’s Vancouver Guesser proved to be a challenging one. Congrats to Norman, Kevin, Nick and Linda who all guessed correctly

Think you can guess today’s Vancouver Wordle? Play now.