Save the Blue Bridge
A Cultural Icon
WELCOME to the Victoria Blue Bridge web site dedicated to saving the Johnson Street Bridge. We are committed to RENEWING and REJUVENATING the Blue Bridge, and towards fighting the costly alternative of $63 million to replace it.
We believe that the public is supportive of RENEWING and REJUVENATING the bridge. In order for the City of Victoria to move forward with the huge cost of replacement, the Mayor and Council began by seeking funding from the federal and provincial governments.
On 25 October 2009 Federal Transport Minister John Baird announced that the federal government would commit $21 million which left the City of Victoria to find an additional $42 million of the $63 million total cost.
On 26 October 2009, despite the federal government’s contribution of $21 million, the Provincial Transportation and Infrastructure Minister, Shirley Bond said there would be no committed provincial government funding.
As a consequence the City of Victoria’s Mayor and Council wanted to borrow the remaining $42 million but they needed public approval to do it. They could have done it by calling a referendum but instead on 19 November, 2009 they chose to use the ALERNATIVE APPROVAL PROCESS. They wanted 10% of Victoria’s eligible voters, ie 6,343 people to sign a COUNTER PETITION first to prove a referendum was necessary.
Well before the deadline of 4.30pm on Monday, 4 January 2010, over 9,105 valid COUNTER PETITION signatures were delivered to Victoria City Hall. And these petition signatures did not include those submitted directly to City Hall itself. This is the first time the ALTERNATIVE APPROVAL PROCESS has been successful since the City of Victoria guidelines were changed from 5% to 10% of eligible voters. The credit for success should go to three key frontline activists - Ross Crockford, Mat Wright and Yule Heibel from johnsonstreetbridge.org - and to over 40 dedicated volunteers who canvassed tirelessly through a 45 day period over the Christmas/New Year period.
In accordance with the City of Victoria guidelines, the threshold of above 6,343 peitions has well and truly been met, 6,343 being the legal number required for Council to go to referendum on borrowing $42 million. So for now, the City of Victoria has been stopped from going forward with the replacement option without a City wide vote.
The question now arises as to what the Mayor and City councillors will do. They still have a number of options. A closed meeting of Council was held Wednesday evening, 6 January where the Blue Bridge was a subject of discussion.
CONTINUE YOUR SUPPORT for RENEWING and REJUVENATING the bridge.
Get Involved!
Have your say in how millions of dollars will be spent, or wasted. To learn more, please visit johnsonstreetbridge.org
Click on Latest News and Articles tabs above to read up-to-the-minute news as it is breaking.