Mission mayor Paul Horn is joining BC Transit’s board of directors, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure announced on Tuesday (Feb. 21).
“I believe it will be important to be a voice that speaks in favour of transit services that connect rural areas with our major centres, including the corridor along the north Fraser,” Horn said. “Creating functional transit connections between outlying areas and cities is fundamental to achieving our targets around climate, reconciliation, affordability, and unemployment.”
Four new members have been appointed to BC Transit’s board of directors, joining three continuing members. Other than Horn, the new members that have been appointed to the board are Victoria mayor Marianne Alto, Sooke mayor Maja Tait, and Smithers mayor Gladys Atrill.
“I’m excited to work with Transit leaders and other mayors to ensure we continue to evolve our transit resources,” Horn said. “I know just how much transit matters when it comes to affordable access to work, healthcare, school and childcare so I’m looking forward to getting started.”
The BC Transit board of directors is responsible for supervising the management of BC Transit and appointing the chief executive officer.
READ MORE: As transit strike action continue in Fraser Valley, CUPE asks for online pledge support
Members of the board must feature two elected local government officials, two members of the Victoria Regional Transit Commission and three other individuals appointed by government through an order-in-council.
“I recognize that I have much to learn, and my experience is that good board governance begins by listening and getting background. That’s how I plan to start off my work on the board. I’m looking forward to the orientation process which will begin next week,” Horn said.
Horn joins the board amidst job action from CUPE Local 561 which operates under First Transit. BC Transit contracts the services of private operating companies to deliver transit services and the labour dispute is between BC Transit’s contractor, First Transit, and their unionized employees
In a BC Transit news release on Friday, the organization notified its riders that services would be impacted by the job action and services would cease on Monday (Feb. 27) and Tuesday (Feb. 28) in the Agassiz-Harrison, Central Fraser Valley, Chilliwack and Hope transit systems.
The job action is expected to impact customers in Mission, Abbotsford, Agassiz-Harrison, Chilliwack, Hope and customers using the Fraser Valley Express. It won’t impact handyDART service in Mission, Abbotsford, and Chilliwack.
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dillon.white@missioncityrecord.com
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