I contacted my friend Erin McConnell who works for Translink (I also asked Ken Hardie on Twitter, and he was kind enough to respond to my concerns). I am posting in its entirety Erin’s response (with permission)

Thanks for the email – I want you to know that since we first saw your tweets, we’ve been talking about your idea internally. In a word, yes, we absolutely would love to promote voting and think your idea is terrific. Unfortunately, the remedy isn’t easy or cost-effective. As I understand it, when we bought the electronic display system we had the opportunity to have the company that supplied it pre-program it with some “fun” messages like Go Canucks Go, Go Whitecaps, etc.

At the time, we didn’t think about using the screens to promote voting – instead, we focused on sharing excitement around larger sporting events as so many customers take transit to the games. We’ve since looked into whether or not we can program in new messages (like Vote Today!) and we can, but the cost is substantial – more than $15,000, not including people hours, which is formidable – we would have to program the system and each of the buses manually. The time component is so great in fact that cost aside, it’s not something we accomplish before voting day.

But I was serious when I said we like the idea. Apparently we are able to go and re-program the system at key points throughout the life of the technology. As a result, we’ve slated the voting message to be programmed as an option at that point so we can use it going forward. In the meantime, we’ll be tweeting and reminding folks to vote on Monday and we’ll also be putting reminders on the SkyTrain station TVs, which will reach a lot of our customers.

Ken Hardie’s tweet to me and Diamond Isinger also mentioned this:

RT @kenhardie: @diamondisinger @hummingbird604 – Yes! Vote Today will get big-time play on SkyTrain screens on Monday.

I’m really pleased with Translink’s approach to listen to customers and the fact that they addressed my concern ASAP. And for the love of God, if you are Canadian, and of legal voting age GO VOTE ON MONDAY.

Related posts:

1. UBC Vote Mob: Rock Your Vote! Wed Apr 20th 12:00-14:00
2. Vote for me?!
3. Restaurants in Richmond along the Canada Line

Charlie Smith (The Georgia Straight)

Linda Solomon (The Vancouver Observer)

Related posts:

1. Where’s The Money in Media? (Upcoming Event)
2. New Media and Traditional Media Roundtable liveblog
3. Giant Ant Media Open House Liveblog

Vancouver’s leading independent media makers lead a panel and discussion about proposed government bailouts of corporate media, the impacts of cuts to the public broadcaster, and exciting alternative models for media.

Featuring:
Charlie Smith, Editor, The Georgia Straight
Marika Swan, Interim Manager, Redwire Native Youth Media
Colin Preston, Library Coordinator & Canadian Media Guild Secretary for CBC Vancouver
and other special guests

Suggested Donation $7 in advance, $12 at the door
no one turned away for lack of funds.
Snacks will be served
bus tickets available
Free childcare available onsite with advance request

Seating is limited! To save your spot, please R.S.V.P. by net, phone, or email:

to register online: http://moneymedia.eventbrite.com/
by email: naava.smolash [at] gmail.com
by phone: (604) 875-8455 (please leave a message)

More information on the Facebook page

Related posts:

1. Where’s the Money in Media? Liveblog
2. Upcoming event – Vancouver MetBlogs Meetup
3. Upcoming fundraiser event – Comedy Night at Jupiter Cafe (for NetChick’s Team Diabetes Cause)

Credit: KeepItSurreal

Environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGOs) take it upon themselves to participate in various ways in the environmental policy-making process. Human rights organizations often seek to galvanize public opinion and protect disadvantaged people. This the basis for a healthy, participatory society.

Unfortunately, it would seem as though not everyone is interested in engaging in public participation processes. Earlier last week I voiced my discomfort when I found out that there was much more interest from people who are on Twitter in the American electoral process than in Canadian or Vancouver electoral issues.

I was relieved to find a number of comments on my post agreeing that we need to focus on local issues (although we can’t forget international affairs). More recently, people have started to tweet more and blog more about the upcoming Vancouver mayoral election and the potential Federal election that could take place as early as mid-October 2008. These are, in my view, good news.

That’s why I would like to encourage my readers to take it upon themselves to put back the public in public policy. There are HUNDREDS if not thousands of issues that we need to focus on, and I am going to highlight just a few (all of them, which I’ve written about before).

* The need to support small local businesses.
* The lack of a strong, nation-wide water policy in Canada and a deficient regional strategy in Metro Vancouver, particularly in the management of wastewater.
* The lack of transparency in the development of Bill C-61.
- The need to re-assess the whole Eco-Density concept and understand the heterogeneities within the Vancouver urban region.
- The whole Provincial Transit Plan of British Columbia and how other countries can teach us lessons on transportation policy.
- The lack of a homeless strategy that really addresses the needs of the needier (which are affected by, amongst other things, snow and other climatic elements).

I could go on, and on, and if you have been reading my blog for a while, you’ll easily find the issues that galvanize MY opinion : water, environment, sustainability, homelessness, urbanization, human rights, electronic rights. Oh, and POVERTY. Let’s not forget about poverty. Now, let’s go back to the issues that galvanize YOU! Never has the phrase “think global act local” been more relevant than now.

I also want to take a minute to thank people who have voted for me on the Vancouver Election Blog contest. Rebecca Bollwitt (Miss604) has been the leader for a few weeks now, and that’s awesome and deserved since she’s been covering all things Vancouver (which have included political issues too!) for over four years. David Eby is also in the ballot, and he has always been a strong advocate for homeless people. There are new blogs, like VanCity Buzz who are highlighting small, local businesses (which is a series I enjoy), and there are more experienced bloggers too, of course… there’s Gordon Price and Paul Hillsdon and Frances Bula and Stephen Rees.

I have also seen the evolution of the contest, and I have to say that, in my view, every one of the nominated blogs are deserving, as each one provides a unique perspective on Vancouver. People may or may not agree on what bloggers write, on their style or their ideas, but as it has been attributed to Voltaire (although some disagree on this too!), “I may disagree with what you are saying but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it” (I found that some people attribute these words to Evelyn Beatrice Hall).

Related posts:

1. My interview with David Berner on The Power of Social Media in Public Policy
2. Public policy, budget prioritization and the money question
3. Public policy lessons on homelessness for Vancouver’s next mayor

Related posts:

1. Thursday link love – Post Tazzu WordCamp :)
2. Rejecting Bill C-61 in its current form – The online discussion
3. Outrageous: Canada’s Copyright Bill C-61 lack of public consultation