Fare gates and fair rates > The latest in TransLink related issues Mercedes Deutscher News Editor s of late, a plethora of TransLink-related problems have risen, leaving passengers, TransLink staff, and the government scrambling. Compass fare gates started closing on April 4 and will continue to do so until the end of the week, but their list of problems hasn't. The closure of the gates means that those who have not received their card yet are scrambling to get them. Long lineup have formed at the Compass Customer Support Centre, located at Stadium- Chinatown Station, with wait-times often exceeding 45 minutes. Many have required assistance in obtaining a card, while others need to exchange old forms of fare, such as FareSavers, into digital form. Only days prior to the closures, a system-wide glitch in the gates caused them to close and not open with the tap of a card. The incident was reportedly caused by staff. Staff members in the stations were needed to open the gates to allow passengers to exit and enter the stations. While the incident may have led to some humourous quips on social media, such as #Gategate, it left others concerned that TransLink may have made the call too early to close all of the gates. “We can assure our customers that we are confident that the Compass system is working and that we are still ready to begin full gate closures,” TransLink said in a statement. As well, the closed gates will make for more difficulty getting through. Many unfortunate passengers have had the gates close on them while passing through them. Those who are elderly, disabled, or have a stroller may require further assistance with going through the gates. However, prematurely closing fare gates remain the lesser of disabled passengers’ concerns. Previously, the pass cost $45 annually to people on disability, and was available for anyone to obtain, although it was paid for either way. With the new change, the pass will cost about $52 per month, which will be deducted from disability cheques from those who specifically chose to use the pass. In addition, the government will be adding $77 per month onto the cheques. “The bus pass is still available,” Michelle Stilwell, BC Social Assistance Minister, told the Vancouver Sun. “The only difference is government paid it directly for them, now they will pay if they choose to have the bus pass.” (¥ When one door closes, another opens (¥ DCBC, Douglas College, FortisBC collaborate for on- campus dialogue (¥ Lynn Canyon claims another innocent life And more! ie Yet BC NDP leader John Horgan has been outspoken on the issue in the legislative question periods. Horgan said in question period, according to the Vancouver Sun: “I want to Photo by Joel McCarthy plead with the Minister of Social Development, listen to the people you're supposed to represent, not the spin doctors back at public affairs, and restore the bus pass for the most vulnerable people in BC” Low dollar equals high film production rates > Vancouver reinstated as Hollywood North “1 Aaron Guillen Staff Reporter [ goes without argument that 2015 was a fantastic year for film and TV productions in Metro Vancouver. Film productions in and around the city include big titles from Deadpool, the highest grossing R-rated movie of all time, to highly anticipated sequels such as Star Trek Beyond and War for the Planet of the Apes. TV productions such as The 100, DC: Legends of Tomorrow, The Flash, iZombie, Supernatural, Arrow, Zoo, and Wayward Pines are among a handful of small-screen shows filmed here. Currently, Wayward Pines is filming near Burke Mountain, and Zoo at Sasamat Lake, both in Coquitlam. With the majority of foreign film crews running to Hollywood North, there’s an important aspect that plays to Vancouver’s growing popularity: the value of the loonie. The Canadian dollar, compared to the US dollar, has seen a rollercoaster of a ride in the past year, starting at 0.79 cents last March, reaching a peak of 0.84 at the end of May, plummeting to a jaw-dropping low of 0.69 by mid-January, and bouncing back to a current rate at 0.77. While the dollar is keeping the productions coming, a contributing factor to the city’s success simply might be government subsidies. In 2013, the BC film industry saw a massive depletion in production and began urging the government to raise the tax credits. While a viral “Save Image via Entertainment Weekly @Eiic BC Film” campaign swept the province, government decided against taking action—and three years later, it seems like they made the best decision. “BC made an ultimately very wise move to hold steady, and the tax credits here have proven the most sustainable,” said Shawn Williamson, chairman of Burnaby-based Brightlight Pictures, to the Vancouver Sun. “It’s an ever-evolving issue,” he continued. “But we understand the government looking to be fiscally responsible with how much they want to provide in credits.” According to Vancity Buzz, film permits have increased by 30 per cent within the past month compared to 2015. Last year, over $2 million dollars was injected into the local film industry, with millions of dollars paid to locals. This record-breaking streak is projected to skyrocket as 2016 continues. “We see firsthand the enormous positive impact on film and TV productions on our city every day,” said Mayor Gregor Robertson in a statement to Vancity Buzz. “As one of Vancouver's high- growth industries, film is a big contributor to our nation-leading economic growth. Vancouver is home to world-leading talent in the film industry and the City is committed to supporting all levels and aspects of production.”