Vancouver city council studying financial relief for Broadway businesses hurt by subway construction
Businesses affected by the construction of Vancouver's Broadway subway may soon be eligible for financial relief from the city.
City councillors voted unanimously in favour of a motion aimed at providing such relief at their Standing Committee on City Finance and Services meeting last week.
Proposed by Coun. Colleen Hardwick, the motion directs city staff to "explore options on ways to provide relief to commercial properties affected in the 'cut and cover' locations along the Broadway Subway corridor," and specifically cites a City of Montreal program that offers up to $40,000 per year to merchants suffering revenue losses related to major construction projects.
The motion also floats the possibility of property tax reductions for affected businesses as an option staff should consider.
"Construction of the Broadway subway has disrupted the business of merchants and commercial operators along the Broadway corridor," the motion reads. "The loss of business has had a profound impact on the livelihoods of both property owners and renters of commercial space along the Broadway corridor."
While the Broadway subway is being constructed with boring machines, rather than the full "cut-and-cover" method used to construct the Canada Line ahead of the 2010 Olympics, the motion notes that some sections still require the more disruptive method.
Canada Line construction prompted lawsuits and led many businesses to close due to lost income.
More than a decade later, businesses along the Broadway corridor have complained about the loss of parking and foot traffic during construction, and the motion says "mitigation measures have not been effective at offsetting business losses."
In a statement on Twitter last week, the B.C. chapter of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business praised Hardwick and the rest of council for approving the motion.
"Hopefully a relief package with concrete measures will be adopted soon as we continue to hear from business owners suffering revenue losses and lack of customers driven away by the Broadway construction," the federation said.
The CFIB also called on the provincial government to introduce a standard construction impact mitigation policy for provincially funded projects like the Broadway subway.
The $2.8-billion project will extend the SkyTrain Millennium Line from VCC Clark Station to Arbutus Street. Currently scheduled to be completed in 2025, the 5.7-kilometre route will take passengers from one end to the other in just 11 minutes.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
Pastrnak scores winner, Bruins down Leafs 2-1 in overtime in Game 7
Sheldon Keefe told his players hockey history would remember them one way or another.
Madonna's biggest-ever concert transforms Rio's Copacabana beach into a massive dance floor
Madonna put on a free concert on Copacabana beach Saturday night, turning Rio de Janeiro's vast stretch of sand into an enormous dance floor teeming with a multitude of her fans.
What a judge's gag order on Trump means in his hush money case
A gag order bars Trump from commenting publicly on witnesses, jurors and some others connected to the matter. The New York judge already has found that Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, repeatedly violated the order, fined him US$9,000 and warning that jail could follow if he doesn't comply.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Trudeau 'absolutely' best person to lead the Liberals in next election: LeBlanc says
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc insists he's not planning a leadership campaign to head the Liberal party, should current leader and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resign, seemingly quashing rumours he's planning to make a move for his boss' job.
Bombarded with spam texts? Stats show the problem is getting worse in Canada
In particular, messages that involve phishing — an attack where a scammer tries to trick the recipient into clicking a malicious link, downloading malware or sharing sensitive information — are on the rise.
The American paradox of protest: Celebrated and condemned, welcomed and muzzled
Americans cherish the right to assemble, to speak out, to petition for the redress of grievances. It's enshrined in the first of the constitutional amendments. They laud social actions of the past and recognize the advances toward equality that previous generations made, often at risk of life and limb. But those same activities can produce anger and outright opposition when life's routines are interrupted, and wariness that those speaking out are outsiders looking to sow chaos and influence impressionable minds.
King Charles III’s openness about cancer has helped him connect with people in year after coronation
King Charles III's decision to be open about his cancer diagnosis has helped the new monarch connect with the people of Britain and strengthened the monarchy in the year since his dazzling coronation at Westminster Abbey.