Alternate Approval Process for Bridge Borrowing Deadline Close

By 250 News

        The deadline for  people to  register their opposition to the City of Prince George borrowing  nearly $6 million dollars  for the  construction of the Cameron Street Bridge is closing in.

Those who oppose, have until 5 p.m. today to  sign the "Alternate Approval Process" petition at City Hall.

5535 voters would need to register their opposition if the City is to be prevented from borrowing the money.

Eric Allen has been trying to get people to sign on, as he  beleives the existing structure could be repaired and plenty of dollars saved, but collecting those names  has been a challenge.

"We tried to set up in high traffic areas, but  were not able  to get  permission to set up  in the mall, or at  Huble Homestead or  at the Museum." says Allen.  He figures  his  team has collected about 700 signatures,  he is not  certain how many people may have gone directly to City Hall to sign their opposition to the  borrowing plan.

Allen says the  process has changed since the Terasen Gas "counter petition".  For that effort, only 5%  of the voting public needed to sign says Allen  "Things have changed and you now need  10% or  just over  five and a half thousand signatures."   Allen says that  percentage is  very high. "When you think that  just  over 17 thousand people voted for Mayor last time,  we are being asked to come up with  nearly  33% of the number of actual ballots cast."

The whole issue that the bridge can be repaired has been down played says Allen "90% of the people I talked to  said just to keep the bridge , they want a bridge to get down from the Hart right now. They would have been happy to have it repaired right now."

There were  different camps accroding to Allan , one the Heritage group that wanted the bridge kept for a bicycle and walking bridge, those who wanted the bridge repaired and back up and running and yet others who don’t want the money spent.

Even though only 700 signed the peition he says there is still a message there that Council should be made aware of.

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