Group of separatists hope to create new Province of Vancouver Island

[nobbiep]

Would we get equalize payments from Ottawa like QUEBEC? For every $1 we get back $2 or $3? BONUS Get er done...lol

[Cpt.Clutch]

Using their qualifiers for being a province:

1. the lower mainland is roughly equal to pei in land size (only 500 square km smaller)

2. the lower mainland has 17x greater population than pei (2.4 million vs 140,000)

3. the lower mainland has a greater population than 9 provinces

4. resources are business, tourism and farming (still probably more income than the island, but that's just my guess)

5. they cannot steal our legislative assembly, get your own dammit

6. Vancouver is rich in history itself along with fort langley and new westminster

Lower Mainland should be a Province!

[Tortorella's Rant]

Get lost, separatist dicks.

[ronthecivil]

Using their qualifiers for being a province:

1. the lower mainland is roughly equal to pei in land size (only 500 square km smaller)

2. the lower mainland has 17x greater population than pei (2.4 million vs 140,000)

3. the lower mainland has a greater population than 9 provinces

4. resources are business, tourism and farming (still probably more income than the island, but that's just my guess)

5. they cannot steal our legislative assembly, get your own dammit

6. Vancouver is rich in history itself along with fort langley and new westminster

Lower Mainland should be a Province!

[ronthecivil]

A few thoughts as an Islander who has spent several years in the Lower Mainland and other parts of Canada...

First of all... not happening. While there are some different issues that are important for Vancouver Islanders that may not register for the rest of the Province (ie. the Ferry System) and vice versa (ie. Metro Vancouver Transit) I think that in general shared representation is beneficial. Also, as most Vancouverites feel a strong affinity to being British Columbians so do most Vancouver Islanders.

Secondly, while Vancouver Island is under-represented provincially compared to the Lower Mainland many Islanders outside the Victoria area similarly feel under-represented even solely in regards to Vancouver Island. I guarantee that splitting into another Province would solve nothing in this respect and could actually exacerbate the issues as those in Victoria look to develop resources in the Northern part of the island once they lose access to those available on the mainland. It is way too simple to say that we have "the resources necessary" when you must contemplate having to tap into those reserves and how communities are affected (In some cases this may actually be beneficial, but not in all). I can guarantee this "lets separate!" idea is coming from (a small number of) Victoria residents.

Thirdly, in response to the "hippie" label... you'd be surprised at how much more conservative chunks of Vancouver Island are than Vancouver. You may be grouping Vancouver Island in with smaller gulf islands but I assure you that the culture on these smaller islands is much more "unique" and less mainstream than that of Vancouver Island. I may personally be a "left-wing greenie" and there may actually be a Green MP on Vancouver Island but I suggest you look at our electoral history before judging everyone to be an NDPer (many of our ridings are perennial tossups between Orange and Blue).

Lastly - no bridge or tunnel is ever likely to be built. Full feasibility studies have been done and unless there is a "eureka" moment there exists no financially feasible way of installing a fixed link to the lower mainland. It is feasible to perhaps island hop with tunnels and bridges North of Campbell River but what would be the point? There are no urban centers to justify it that far North. Besides I need to keep my options open with potential employment on the ferries.

Study: http://www.th.gov.bc.../fixed_link.htm