ICF does not get government money to operate
Re: “Where does ICF money come from?”
Mr. Chapman suggests that I was not very transparent in my response to a previous letter to the editor in relation to the Island Corridor Foundation (ICF) and its finances. He states that I did not offer the “actual precise amount” of money the ICF receives from taxpayers.
In fact, I stated the following: “The ICF does not receive funding, from any level of government, to support its operations. The ICF is fully self funded by revenues internally. The answer to his question is it has not cost local taxpayers anything to support the ICF annually, let alone $500,000.”
I am not sure how I could be more precise. The source of funds supporting the ICF is set out in our annual Financial Reports which are available for anyone to review on our website at Islandrail.ca.
Mr. Chapman also provides his views that the Island Corridor should be utilized as a bike path. I indicated in my original letter, the ICF recognizes the value of trails and actively supports their development. What we do not support is a restriction of the corridor to a single use that limits the benefits of the corridor to a single user group.
He further asserts that I, as chairman of the ICF, am paid for these views. While I am allowed reimbursement of reasonable expenses, I receive no remuneration for the work I do nor do my fellow board members.
Lastly, Mr. Chapman suggest that the highways are “free to the buses”. I am sure Mr. Chapman knows the construction of those highways, and their ongoing maintenance, are paid for by taxpayers and represent an ongoing cost to taxpayers every year, just like the buses that operate on them.
Phil Kent
Chair of the Board
Island Corridor Foundation