This is a selection of recent popular blog articles from VancouverIAM where you will find the best blogs from Vancouver, British Columbia as well as video uploads, social networking, rumors, and blog authoring.

South Fraser Transit Needs Long-Term Strategy

Price Tags, a blog written by former City Councilor Gordon Price, has declared that the current plans for transit in the South Fraser Valley area could create a long-term problem. Price acknowledges that the total commitment from the provincial government towards transit in the region is “twenty buses in six years.” While he declares that “it could be a start,” it is plain to see that the only feasible mode of transportation for people living south of the Fraser remains the automobile. Price declared, “For the next six years, we will design our built environment - our buildings, our streets, our subdivisions, our shopping centers - on the assumption that the car will be the No. 1 and only... Six years from now, however, our assumptions might be different.”

The post pointed to several long-term factors that could problematic in the future, exacerbated by the south Fraser areas current reliance on cars as the only real choice for transportation. “The reality of climate change - not the theory - is changing our expectations about the future. Add in peak oil, the geopolitics of energy competition, unexpected financial fall-out” were all listed as stumbling blocks that could make things more difficult in the near future. Unfortunately, even Price declared that there are very few examples of how we will be able to overcome this problem and not turn the south Fraser area into something akin to “Calgary” or the “905 belt of Toronto.” Price was adamant that “we’re going to need a few alternatives, and soon. Change is coming at us, and fast. If we stay on the present course, we’re going to be increasingly vulnerable as things turn ugly.”

Low-Profile Lyle Green Short-Listed for Award

The latest post from Lowell Ullrich's The Fifth Quarter, a blog focused on the BC Lions, has revealed that low-profile running back Lyle Green has been selected as the teams nominee for the Tom Pate Award. This particular award, voted by the players, recognizes a specific CFL Player for their outstanding contribution to the community. Ullrich declared that Green “has been working tirelessly behind the scenes ever since he joined the Lions six years ago. It's a worthy tribute.” The league winner will be announced during Grey Cup Week at the CFL Awards Ceremony.

The post declared that Lions coach Wally Buono has continually praised Green for his selflessness and sacrifice on the field as well. “Every time Wally Buono fields a question as to the role played by Green on the field it derives an empassioned response by the coach for his ability to accept a blocking role.” Green's distinct rejection of self-promotion was also noted by Ullrich, who stated that the running back “may hold some sort of record as the CFL player who has been with his team the longest without so much as even been approached for a media interview.”

Carol James Vows to Fight for Increased Minimum Wage

The Tyee.ca reports that a bill introduced by NDP leader Carol James to increase minimum wage from $8.00 to $10.00 and reduce taxes for small businesses from 4.5 per cent to 3.5 per cent, died today due to lack of government support. The post states that James issued a statement saying, "It's appalling that the B.C. Liberals won't debate a bill that will give B.C.'s lowest paid workers their first raise in six years. And it's unacceptable that while our minimum wage earners struggle to make ends meet, Premier Campbell has given himself a 54 per cent pay increase."

Olga Illich, the labour minister and the MLA for Richmond Centre rebuts by saying, "We don't think [minimum wage] needs to be changed and we think it would be harmful to do that. Every time you start raising the minimum wage you start to lose jobs exactly in the low wage sector." The post says that Illich supports this stand by pointing to “an Ontario study by University of Toronto professor Morley Gunderson that warned in March that between 90,000 and 180,000 jobs could be lost if Ontario increased its minimum wage by 25 per cent all at once.” Illich adds that the motion to cut taxes for small businesses is also problematic because “the government’s efforts to subsidize rents and medical service premiums are a better way to help”. This, according to Illich, allows low income earners more disposable income at the end of the day.

Carol James and party MLAs vow to push the issue by bringing petitions that support the raise to the legislature in the coming weeks. “It's still unlikely to get support from the Liberals”, says James, “but it keeps the issue alive”.

Boxing Hits Vancouver- Again

A recent post in Beyond Robson has noted that, after a lengthy period in the sporting wilderness, boxing is gaining a firm foothold in Vancouver. Professional boxing hasn't been on the local radar screen during the past few years, however, and it has taken a concerted effort by one of the lower mainland's biggest entertainment destinations to bring competitive boxing back to Vancouver. According to Beyond Robson, “three months ago the River Rock Casino in Richmond held the first Rumble at the Rock event to a sold out crowd--by all accounts a huge success.”

The post notes that “Rumble at the Rock II” is set to kick off this Saturday night with the main event set to feature Mark Woolnough from Qualicum Beach vs. Californian Tim Shocks for the CAM Super Middleweight title. Additionally, the audience will also be treated to six bouts including “cruiserweights Kevin Reynolds and Paul Tyrl; Ross 'The Boss' Purity, who is the former WBC International Champion; Super Middleweight Junior Moar and Middleweight Roberto McLellan to name a few.” The Rumble at the Rock series is proving that the Greater Vancouver area has an appetite for prizefighting and Beyond Robson declared that “there's definitely a boxing buzz growing in this city and I like it.”

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