The Squamish First Nation digital billboard at the north end of the Lions Gate Bridges has been installed and appears to be days away from being lit up.
Thursday, December 03, 2009
Squamish First Nation Billboards Installed at North End of Lions Gate Bridge
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39 opinions/comments:
This is supposed to be good news?!?
Shame if something happened to it.
Actually saw the one on Burrard Bridge today as well. The location of the Burrard one IMHO is not as bad as the Lions Gate one.
It hit me as I was coming off the Lions Gate bridge today that they have put a big distraction in an already troubled area of traffic. It would have been better if it was a lot closer to the bridge.
Where it sits is right at the spot where people really need to pay attention to all the lane changes happening around them and not be distracted by a bill board. If you are coming off the bridge and what to go up Cap road you need to get over a 2 or 3 lanes and people coming from West Van who do not want to go up Cap Road are all trying to move over 2 or 3 lane as well. Have had many a close call at this location.
Can hardly wait to hear what accident rate climbs to as people start to look at the billboard.
OK folks - can anyone link to hard evidence of the "billboards cause accidents" theory?
If not please stop trying to dress up your aesthetic concerns as a safety issue.
Really, it would be more honest to just say "I hate billboards."
Yeah, I saw on the off ramp, too, and thought the same thing as Anon 2:32. Ugly as sin, ain't it? When can we start suing the Squamish First Nations for their idiocy?
How about you sue Jimmy Pattison while you're at it? He's responsible for one heck of lot more billboards and advertising than the Squamish band but no-one seems to mind his signs.
The Squamish are electing a Band Manager and 16 Counselors this weekend. Maybe it's time to take an active part in talking about those North Shore politics?
Take look at the number of people running for counselor, and then at their bios. There are a lot more interesting people running for the Squamish positions than in any other election I've seen in years.
People that I would actually vote for instead of by default.
Unless you're a band member, you can't vote.
Take a look at the voting numbers in federal and provincial elections. It is the lowest in all the North Shore.
Where was Wayne Hunter when all this was going on?
Dennis Bevington
I know that Saxton is very busy on his taxpayer funded global junkets but here was a perfect local issue where an MP had a chance to actually do something.
Other than hide, what did Saxton do?
What could he have done?
He has no jurisdiction over Squamish Nation land, does he?
Anyways, he has bigger fish to fry: China, for starters. And the global warming alarmist-types were protesting in front of his office yesterday. Looked the police were involved at one point.
It was the most excitement at 3rd and Lonsdale since the nearby furniture shop declared that, after three years of advertising to the contrary, no it wasn't going OUT OF BUSINESS afterall.
The approval process for the billboards was federal.
Saxton is theoretically our federal representative.
If it is true that the federal MP has no input on a federal decision, what are we paying him for?
The Department of Indian and Northern Affairs could find no reason why the billboards should not be put up, despite receiving petitions with thousands of signatures. What kind of power do you think an MP has to overturn a whole department, for heaven's sakes.
Not to be outdone, the first-nations folks living along 3rd Street just east of the five-way intersection at Marine and Keith have installed second-rate 4x8double-sided plywood billboards in their front yards. Talk about an eyesore!
Can you spell b-o-y-c-o-t-t?
Can you spell h-i-s-t-r-i-o-n-i-c?
Tis indeed a shame that the unparalleled beauty of Marine Drive is being sullied by signage.
No longer can I bring visitors over Lions Gate Bridge, turn right onto Marine, and enjoy their ooohs and aaahs as they compare that ever so scenic route to the boulevards of London, Rome, and Paris.
Alas, the trophy for most lovely drive in British Columbia will continue to rest with Kingsway...
Barry R. if you want to give your friends a look of what Marine Drive DID look like before the First Nations planted their sign... use Google's Street View.....
No sign ruined Marine Drive. That distinction goes to much of the horribly maintained buildings along that strip.
?? "The Department of Indian and Northern Affairs could find no reason why the billboards should not be put up, despite receiving petitions with thousands of signatures."...?
...yes indeed, given that there was not a peep from the local MP, who dutifully kept his mouth shut at the behest of his master.
A great example reflecting Trudeau's contempt for the trained seals in the house of commons. Too bad they are such expensive trained seals.
Why is everyone going after Saxton when the Sign is technically in the West Van riding. If your going to blame someone blame John Weston
Hang them both some would say.
As far as why Saxton, he is at the Cabinet table and in theory has access to the various ministers. What he does with that access is telling. Nothing for North Van and as much as possible for the Conservative Party. See his collection of propaganda mailouts for proof of that.
Indian Affairs jurisdiction is a finding of fact and conclusion of law - theres no room for discretion. If Saxton had found a way to block these billboards, you'd be calling it political interference.
Nothing for North Van eh? Just last month folks were complaining that Conservatives are doing too much for their ridings.
Below pulled from: http://andrewsaxton.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=47&Itemid=2
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•Upgrades to the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge
•Improvements to Capilano Road
•Port related infrastructure upgrades on the North Shore
•A replacement for the blue bridge on Marine Drive that crosses Capilano River
•Improvements to westbound approaches to the Lions Gate Bridge
•Spirit Trail construction, such as the paved leg from Park Royal into North Vancouver
•Upgrades to SeaBus security
•A new film centre for Capilano University
•Modernization of the Capilano Salmon hatchery
•Upgraded baseball facilities at Chris Zeuhlke Park
•A new running track and turf field at Windsor School
•Bridge seismic upgrades (Marine Drive bridge over Mosquito Creek, Cotton Road bridge over Lynn Creek)
•Replacement of the Bewicke bridge
•Construction of the Green Necklace Greenway on Keith Rd between St Andrews and Grand Boulevard
•Rebuilding of five pedestrian sidewalks
•Bicycle lanes on Marine drive
•Lynn creek flood protection projects
Thanks for the list Andy but, between your cocktails abroad, you're watching way too much L.A. Law....
"Indian Affairs jurisdiction is a finding of fact and conclusion of law" ????
Give me a break.
You're not too old for law school if you really want to use such phrases and you can learn what they mean.
"Why is everyone going after Saxton when the Sign is technically in the West Van riding. If your going to blame someone blame John Weston"
Because the Liberals know they can't beat John Weston so they lie that it is Saxton's job to deal with issues in West Vancouver.
Won't help them with a Party in the midst of a civil war and an election that won't happen for a couple of years with a candidate who is a turncoat to his own (Green) Party - the Liberals are certain to lose.
Thanks for the list. Let's take a closer look, comments below....
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•Upgrades to the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge - Pacific Gateway initiative, predates Saxton and is being driven by the Port/Province
•Improvements to Capilano Road - Would have happened without the stimulus money AND it's in Westons' Riding
•Port related infrastructure upgrades on the North Shore - Pacific Gateway, see above
•A replacement for the blue bridge on Marine Drive that crosses Capilano River - Again, not in the riding
•Improvements to westbound approaches to the Lions Gate Bridge - Again, not in the riding
•Spirit Trail construction, such as the paved leg from Park Royal into North Vancouver - Again, NITR
•Upgrades to SeaBus security - responsibility of Port and Translink and in response to Fed regs... the Feds should pay.
•A new film centre for Capilano University - Kudos, and if Saxton really wanted to help the industry he would deal with the tax credit issue that is hurting us and helping Ontario.
•Modernization of the Capilano Salmon hatchery - Um... OK. Should we comment on the Gov's overall management of the salmon stocks?
•Upgraded baseball facilities at Chris Zeuhlke Park - Would have happend anyway. LL championship host site
•A new running track and turf field at Windsor School - Would have happened anyway, Canexus kicked in $1.2 million and it has huge community support.
•Bridge seismic upgrades (Marine Drive bridge over Mosquito Creek, Cotton Road bridge over Lynn Creek)- would have happened anyway as seismic upgrading isn't optional.
•Replacement of the Bewicke bridge - see above
•Construction of the Green Necklace Greenway on Keith Rd between St Andrews and Grand Boulevard - This will create how many permanent jobs?
•Rebuilding of five pedestrian sidewalks - I can see the payoff on this investment, speedier mail delivery! Fabulous investment in our economy.
•Bicycle lanes on Marine drive - would be included and funded by Translink or the Muni regardless of the stim money.
•Lynn creek flood protection projects - Kudos, this is happening at a faster pace becasue of the money.
So he gets kudos for two initiatives, has claimed success for four that are not in his riding and mostly has been throwing money at projects that would have happened anyway and won't create any long term economic prosperity. Nice collection of Photo-ops though!
I'd like to see him do something really worthwhile, like get our third ferry back on track to increase the frequency of daily runs between the quay and waterfront station. I'm a little surprised that this hasn't become a larger issue for North Shore commuters.
Anon 5:11...
Those things wouldn't have happened, and didn't happen with Don Bell and Blair Wilson as our reps, they were all funded with Weston and Saxton.
The Port infrastructure is stimulus funding not Gateway funding.
I'd like to add my voice to the poster who was browned off about how placidly we have reacted to the loss of our third Seabus that was supposed to improve the level of service we got.
The current Translink 10 year plan is taking $225M off the North Shore and giving us $45 million back. That's 20 cents for each dollar of the property tax levy we pay!
Of that roughly 1/3 was supposed to go to a depot (which I'd argue shouldn't be paid by local taxpayers specifically in any case). That's gone - at least for now. (Yes I did oppose the depot in the proposed location - it was geographically badly place but Translink wrote their requirements to pick only one choice of site and tried unsuccessfully to ram it through)
Another 1/3 was for a third Seabus to improve local service.
The remaining 1/3 was supposed to be for additional buses.
Do YOU think North Shore taxpayers are getting our money's worth?
No, we most certainly are not and I think we aught to hold our municipal leaders to task for this. They certainly don't seem to be fighting Translink strongly enough.
Saxton had little to do with grants or improvements to the North Shore.
It was locals who made these things happen.
I agree that Saxton and Yamamoto have both been asleep at the wheel while the North Shore lost one of its most vital infrastructure upgrades, the third Seabus.
That TransLink just pulled this from North Van is astonishing and disgusting - especially given how much this region gives to Translink, and the pathetic little we get in return.
Bill Bell - I hope you write about the Seabus bait-and-switch for your column in the North Shore News. As a former poster mentioned, our municipal politicians allowed Translink to roll right over them on this one!
Translink had to roll over. Their new Golden Ears bridge is not generating the revenue they though it would (so much for all those expensive studied huh?)and they've not yet been able to sell off the old ferries.
Mind you - the broker they're using to sell the ferries seems to think the way to sell a ferry is to SPAM advertise it on the local Craiglist! What a joke!
Incompetence on top of incompetence on top of incompetence. But that's OK - they'll just arbitrarily and non democratically put the PST on parking up to 21% from it's current rate of 7%!
Translink - you disgust me and you can your (my?) bottom dollar that every single chance I get to destruct you, I'll take.
Having seen the Hong Kong pre-paid fare card (known as the Octopus card which is used in numerous places beyond the subways) in action, I have to say Translink would be better served by such a system.
It would also have the effect of dramatically reducing fare cheats - no one in HK would dream of boarding a bus or entering a fare paid zone without swiping their card.
It's not red-hot new technology either.
Translink never planned to put a third Seabus in. The provincial government should dissolve them and put them under direct control.
The federal government and MPs have no power to do anything and indeed should keep their noses out of provincial jurisdication.
Thank you Lyle for the Hong Kong post.
London, Paris, Barcelona, Tokyo, New York - how many major cities have excellent systems that ensure that users pay?
Why is it that we can't seem to figure this out?
It's not rocket science as we travel the world and see fine systems and we can't even ensure that riders have paid a fare.
Surely our well paid Translink folks can figure this out.
It would be as simple as having the attendants, sitting around the seabus and skytrain stations with their thumbs up their butts, checking commuters for their tickets. But apparently that's not a part of their job description. Also, have the bus drivers stop giving away free rides because it's easier than arguing with a belligerent passenger.
If anyone wants to boycott, product of companies that is their perogative.
However, if any politician attaches there political weight behind this "issue" I will boycott that politician. Why do you ask? Well aside from education, the environment, the economy, the war in Afganistan, there are an addition Billion other issues that rank above this BS billboard issue.
GDNR
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