Originally the residents on the colony of Vancouver Island agreed to join the Confederation of Canada with the promise of a railway.
On August 13, 1886, the historic last spike of the Transcontinental Railway was driven by John A. MacDonald at Cliffside near Shawnigan Lake. The Canadian Pacific Railway relinquished its ownership of the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway to the people of Vancouver Island. The Island Corridor Foundation was formed to govern the E&N Railway.
Those appointed as ICF executive members, whatever their politics, want only to perpetuate those politics. Meanwhile, the people of Vancouver Island that they represent and the E&N railway are the end recipients of mismanagement.
Five years have passed since the railway passenger service was shut down due to degradation and unsafe conditions of the tracks and bridges. The Transcontinental Railway across Canada was built and completed in five years.
When there is no means of accountability, those in power have no fear of accountability. How will the residents of Vancouver Island know what transpires behind a cloak of secrecy surrounding the ICF? The deception and annual announcements that passenger railway service will return have been repeated since 2011. What is the value of governance by the Island Corridor Foundation if there is no accountability?
Philip MakowQualicum Beach
