It appears Christmas has come a little late for several organizations on the Coast - but we suspect they are not in the least disappointed.
Community Futures will be taking advantage of $3 million from the State for Western Economic Diversification. How much depends on what organizations approach Community Futures. We suspect the Sunshine Coast Botanical Garden Society is pretty much a lock to get funds to help create their garden in West Sechelt. The Town of Gibsons is looking at harbour improvements, and the District of Sechelt is looking at beautifying its waterfront and creating a dayfloat. Both projects could get a kickstart due to this funding.
Transportation is getting a much-needed improvement, thanks to more than $220,000 earmarked for a transportation plan co-ordinated through the Sunshine Coast Regional District. This money comes from federal gas tax funds. This is a huge windfall for the SCRD. At a time when budgets are going to be tight, it's nice to know the SCRD can get this plan off the ground without sacrificing dollars in its budget that could be used for something else.
The provincial government also spread some good cheer as they announced a new radar-enhanced speed program for all provincial forest service roads. The province has purchased six new radar guns for a total of 10, giving all forest regions in the province an additional two radar guns, allowing for safer forest service roads and ultimately, safer roads for everyone.
Despite what many economists are saying, it's clearly not all doom and gloom out there, but really, what does all this funding and good news mean? Well, it is election season, as voters in the province will head to the polls in May. And we could be heading back to the polls at the federal level, too.
Parliament resumes Jan. 26 with finance minister Jim Flaherty releasing the Conservative budget on Jan. 27. Did we mention that Flaherty was in our riding for a public budget discussion this week - one of two such meetings he's holding across Canada? You can put two and two together. We suspect the Conservatives are setting themselves up for either a good news budget and providing this riding and, more specifically, the Sunshine Coast with lots of infrastructure opportunities, or they are trying to put themselves in a good position if the budget fails to pass in the House, triggering a loss of confidence in the government and another election.
We're not complaining, mind you - well, at least not about the funding. The money is great. The Coast has a ton of projects that need to be completed, and a little money certainly doesn't hurt.
