Lobbying efforts directed at B.C. Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon have assumed Gateway proportions. According to the provincial lobbyist registry, veteran lobbyist Michael Bailey has been particularly busy.

The name of the former executive director of then–Social Credit premier Bill Bennett’s office pops up 13 times during a two-year period on the provincial Web site disclosing who is lobbying Falcon directly. In 2005-06, Bailey represented Abbotsford International Airport. He has other active files on behalf of both the Canadian Pacific and Canadian National railway companies, Cara Operations Ltd.—which owns Swiss Chalet restaurants, Harvey’s fast-food outlets, Second Cup, and Milestone’s Restaurants—the Coal Association of Canada, Fraser River Port Authority, P&O Ports Canada Inc., Parsons Corp. construction company, and Scandlines ferry corporation. These all lobby the Transportation Ministry directly.

Other lobbyists have been sent by the Cement Association of Canada, the Chamber of Shipping, and the B.C. Maritime Employers Association. Most of these organizations stand to benefit from the federal Pacific Gateway expansion strategy as well as Falcon’s $3-billion provincial Gateway program, which includes highway expansion and a twinning of the Port Mann Bridge.

On November 24, anti-highway groups chose to counter this at a “stop the highway party” at the Anza Club, where activist Ned Jacobs and David Fields, of the Livable Region Coalition opposing Gateway, spoke out against Falcon’s “highway to hell”.

“We were in Victoria for about four days in total, at the UBCM [Union of B.C. Municipalities meeting October 23 to 27]…trying to get time with various folks, including [Environment Minister] Barry Penner,” Fields, also transportation campaigner with the Society Promoting Environmental Conservation, told the Straight.

Falcon did not return Straight calls by deadline.