NDP business relief bid rejected by government

B.C. Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon has rejected the premise behind an NDP private member's bill to provide financial help to Vancouver businesses hurt by the construction of the Canada Line rapid transit project.

New DemocratMLA Gregor Robertson said businesses in the Cambie Street Village are suffering because of thehuge trench that has been dug down the street for the underground rail lines.

He introduced a bill in the legislature Monday that would grant the businesses an amount equal to their property taxes and provide interest-free loans.

But Falcon said TransLink is already doing enough to help businesses affected by the project with a marketing campaign, adding that the bill would see the province give money to banks and oil companies.

Robertson has suggested the legislation could be tailored to apply only to businesses with fewer than 100 employees, to rule outmajor corporations.

Falcon also denied there are fewer businesses open now than there were before construction began in late 2005.

"There's no difference in the number of empty businesses that there were before thisproject started and today. It hasn't changed by one."

Robertson said he's counted 35 vacant storefronts along Cambie Street between Broadway and King Edward Avenue.

"It's astonishing to me that he could be in denial of this, particularly when hundreds of business owners have been outspoken about this. They have made their case. The media has covered it. It's no surprise the damage has happened."

Falcon said he expects the bill to die on the order paper.