It’s not only a new year but also Canada’s 150th anniversary of the coming into force of the British North America Act (now the Constitution Act, 1867).
It will also be a year of change for city council. In a rapidly changing environment with emerging issues such as the upcoming legalization of marijuana, comes a need for a fresh approach. You will notice that I, with council’s agreement, have instituted some shifts within the council, enabling each councillor to take on different positions on committees and new duties. Along with new duties come new accountabilities. You will see and hear from each of them as they take responsibility for a specific issue or item of concern/importance to the city.
Transportation is a critical component of our day-to-day lives and something that municipal government plays an important role in.
As we know, Salmon Arm is impacted, both positively and negatively, by the highway corridor that runs through the city. Council has heard your concerns and is committed to revisiting the TCH Corridor Safety Study that was completed in January 2013. You can view the full report and recommendations on the city’s website at http://www.salmonarm.ca/documentcenter/view/532. In addition, both the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure and the RCMP have increased their presence and will be keeping a close eye on commercial drivers and private vehicles as they pass through.
As for travel by air, I often get asked why the Shuswap Regional Airport is not offering scheduled flights like those coming in and out of Revelstoke. This is a complex question because there are several factors that have contributed to this short ‘pilot project’ getting off the ground, including over $85,000 of funding that was made available through the CSRD Economic Opportunity Fund, Revelstoke Mountain Resort and Revelstoke Accommodation Association. We have work to do at the Shuswap Regional Airport, there is no question, but we are committed to moving forward with projects such as brownfield studies and enhancements to our fuel system and taxiway Charlie with the focus of opening up further development and increasing access.
This is a fast-moving world we live in and it is often easy to forget that safety is everyone’s responsibility. Please remember that no matter what mode of transportation you use, it is your job to be on the lookout for hazards.
Lastly, I also encourage you to participate in some of the many Canada 150 events that have been planned in our community, throughout 2017. I know there will be something for everyone.
