Cities are establishing taxes on electric cars and other low-emission vehicles to reduce traffic and raise infrastructure funds
The state of Oregon recently became the latest devotee of a variation of congestion fees. The system falls short, even if the goal is worthy. It’s a sort of tax on road use more commonly directed at motorists and commercial vehicle drivers who access the central area of a city. Those drivers presumably add to…
Huge financial losses, massive layoffs and stringent safety protocols for the few remaining passengers sets a dark tone
Many Canadians look forward to travelling when the COVID-19 pandemic comes to an end (whenever that may be). Unfortunately, flying the friendly skies is quickly becoming far less friendly. Air Canada temporarily suspended all flights to the U.S. on April 26. Passengers are required to wear masks for the entirety of any trip, and flight…
For weeks, the government told us that we’re prepared for COVID-19. Its early actions demonstrated something entirely different
Provide a timely response. Ensure transparency. Tell the truth. These are just some of the basic tenets of crisis communications, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his crisis response team would do well to take them to heart because, so far during the COVID-19 crisis, their statements and actions have missed the mark in every…
In the wake of COVID-19, we need to reconfigure our economy and society so they are less vulnerable to external shocks
American historian Frank Snowden pulls no punches. He says the “coronavirus is emphatically a disease of globalization.” And the most severe blows strike at cities that are “densely populated and linked by rapid air travel, by movements of tourists, of refugees, all kinds of businesspeople, all kinds of interlocking networks.” In this respect, the virus…
While authorities quibble over the pros and cons of personal transportation devices, plenty of manufacturers are churning out cheap options
Despite the fact that it’s pollution free, efficient and tremendous fun to ride, the self-balancing Segway is still stuck in limbo because, says Transport Canada, personal transport devices (PTs) are not “compliant.” And while the federal government and the provinces try to make up their minds, nobody’s going anywhere on them … at least not…
The young Swedish climate activist has raised the public consciousness about our day-to-day energy consumption choices
A new term has entered our language: the Greta Effect. This refers to the impact of Greta Thunberg, the teenage Swedish climate activist who was named the 2019 Person of the Year by Time magazine. Thunberg has made it clear that we’re in a climate crisis and the time to act to avert disaster is…
Most of Canada’s transportation system, from Halifax to Vancouver, has been undercapitalized for years
After a harvest from hell across the country, farmers now have to deal with a new problem: the CN strike. Over 3,000 Canadian National Railway Co. employees out of about 24,000 in Canada and the United States are off the job. They’re asking for better working conditions and safety improvements. Perhaps it’s not the most…
The land leases that the federal government requires of the 26 largest public sector airports under its control in Canada are entirely avoidable
Travellers will be annoyed at yet another hike in the airport improvement fee (AIF), from $20 to $25, on every airline ticket originating at Vancouver International Airport (YVR). But that’s a relatively minor irritant compared to another major airport expense that raises costs to airlines and, as a result, air fares. The land leases that…
The airline also announced it’s adding more than 300 Dreamliner departures to key transatlantic routes out of Calgary, including London, Paris and Dublin
WestJet will offer seasonal non-stop service between Calgary and Rome on the airline’s state-of-the-art Dreamliner starting May 2, 2020, the company said on Wednesday. The service is subject to government approvals. “Whether they have Italian roots or are dreaming of a bucket list destination, Western Canadians have never had convenient, non-stop access to the Eternal…
Governments and taxpayers need to look more closely at several factors, including transportation, impact and costs
Listen to the promoters and you would think the Vancouver-to-Seattle-to-Portland high-speed rail proposal is a great idea. For many, high-speed rail is a panacea that promises to solve all of our transportation and environmental problems. But governments and taxpayers need to look more closely at several factors, including transportation, impact and costs. High-speed rail has…