For Immediate Release
Jan. 25, 2008

VICTORIA - Gordon Campbell has billions of dollars for Vancouver transportation infrastructure, but he continues to abandon Cowichan Valley, Malahat and Capital Region commuters, says Opposition MLA John Horgan.

"The B.C. Liberals have fiddled long enough with the Malahat," said Horgan. "If they're not prepared to support the common sense of commuter rail, then at a minimum they should implement the recommendations for commuter bus service from the Cowichan Valley, over the Malahat and into the Capital Regional District." 

Horgan has long supported public transit options for Cowichan residents to manage the Malahat commute.

"Safety improvements such as lighting, median barriers and straightening in some sections of the road should have begun the day the Malahat Corridor Study hit the ministers' desk," said Horgan. "Almost three years after the study was commissioned, we are no closer to implementing solutions."

Horgan made his comments following an open house yesterday sponsored by B.C. Transit promoting a rapid bus plan in the Douglas Street corridor.

"Commuter rail along the E. & N. corridor is a cost effective way to address congestion, reliability and climate change," said Horgan. "Where are the B.C. Liberals on this question?  Absent and disinterested.

"You would think that a $14 billion provincial transportation plan would have found some spare change for the Malahat and the people of the Cowichan Valley.  I guess Gordon Campbell doesn't care about Vancouver Island," Horgan concluded.