Local Jobs and Transportation Threatened by Olympics

JUSTINE HUNTER
Globe and Mail, March 9, 2009

VICTORIA — The Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games are supposed to be a jackpot for the province's economy, but 200 casino workers caught in the “red zone” of security will be collecting pink slips instead of payouts.

Not only will the slots be silent at Hastings Park during the Games, but residents of several B.C. communities may be shut out when B.C. welcomes the world for the Games.

The CEO of Pacific Coastal Airlines said on Monday he has given up trying to negotiate with the RCMP for a way to keep running direct flights to Vancouver from seven B.C. towns such as Powell River, Trail and Bella Bella during the Olympics.

Flights from the communities have been banned because security checks at their airports are not adequate.

“This is not acceptable. Now we are telling the communities so they can take it up,” Daryl Smith said. He said some flights may be rerouted at additional costs. It's a major headache for his company and he predicted it will affect about 10,000 customers.

In Victoria, the New Democratic Party opposition highlighted the plight of workers at the Hastings race track in Vancouver. The Games will take place during the off-season for horse-racing, but the casino and off-track betting operation will be closed for about a month in the name of Games security.

“How does throwing 200 British Columbians out of work work as an economic stimulus for the Olympics?” asked NDP Leader Carole James.

Finance Minister Colin Hansen, the minister responsible for the Games, maintained that the Olympics “will be one of the greatest job generators in British Columbia's history” and workers who are displaced could look for other opportunities that will be created during the event.

Howard Blank, vice-president for Great Canadian Gaming, said his company's bid to stay open was formally rebuffed last week by the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

“We'd love to be a part of the Olympics,” Mr. Blank said. “But it's not going to happen.” The company is now trying to negotiate preferential hiring for its staff for Games-related employment opportunities.

The racetrack is next to the Pacific Coliseum, which will host short track speed skating and figure skating.

For travellers from airports that do not have full security screening, visiting anywhere within the “Olympic airspace” will be a challenge. The RCMP has established a virtual bubble over Vancouver and Whistler, as well as a corridor in between.

For a two-month period surrounding the Games, enhanced airspace security means flight arrivals must be pre-screened for security, Mr. Smith said. That's not an option in many of the small communities serviced by Pacific Coastal, nor for Gulf Island communities that rely on float plane service.

“We supported the bid, it seemed like a good thing,” Mr. Smith said. “Now I am starting to wonder.”

A July, 2008, “aviation planning” communiqué also shows the Olympic control area will ban sightseeing flights, hot-air balloons, ultra-lights and hang-gliding in Olympic airspace.

Helicopter and float plane operators will have to install new security screening if they want to maintain their commuter services to Vancouver.

Randy Wright, senior vice-president of Harbour Air, said the changes will mean delays for passengers from Nanaimo and Victoria to accommodate new security screening for flights into Vancouver.

He said services out of the Gulf Islands may have to be routed through Nanaimo to check through security there.

“Security is going to affect everyone,” he said. “I'm excited about the Olympics but it is going to slow us down a bit.”