They call British Columbia “the most beautiful place on earth.” A statement that bold and general can, of course, be debated in a number of ways, but that is beside the point. We live in a province rich with serene natural beauties and indulge in extraordinary lifestyles that utilize our blessings of nature. We also live in a province wrought with complex debt issues and high costs of living, amongst other problems. No province, state, or country is perfect and British Columbia is no exception.

2010 marks the beginning of a new decade, and more is likely to happen on Earth in the next 10 years than in any decade past. We are looking at the conglomeration of an exponential rate of technological growth, a rapidly increasing population rate, and looming threats of dangerous environmental turbulence. The world is positioned atop a pedestal with nearly seven billion people looking on. But that is a scope far too grand to grasp in one fell swoop. Here, I focus on B.C., and the major events and concepts of the year 2010 that will shape our province.

The Olympic Games — Good and Bad
First and foremost is a historically and globally renowned event—the legendary Olympic Games. This sporting event, by modern standards referred to as the Olympics, dates back to ages long past in Ancient Greece, but its torch has been passed on (quite literally) and burns as bright as ever even in this new millennium. It is held every two years, rotating between summer and winter versions. This year, our very own Vancouver hosts the Winter Olympics and that means many things for Vancouver and B.C. Our city is inarguably one of Canada’s greatest in terms of overall development. But with the Olympics turning us into a magnet that will attract the world, Vancouver has stepped it up a gear. With this kick into overdrive, we are seeing waves of new major housing developments such as Whistler Village and magnificent architectural restructuring projects such as BC Place. Vancouver is also seeing major construction overhauls on our roadways that aim to reduce congestion and increase traffic flow throughout the Greater Vancouver Regional District.

As good as this flurry of developments is for our city, it does come at a cost. Nothing is free, especially when it comes to improving a span of several cities and towns. These big-time projects are costing the province of B.C. hundreds of millions of dollars, and that sort of money doesn’t sprout from the ground with magic beans. This is taxpayer’s money that’s being used to prepare Vancouver for the Olympics—your money. And financial planning has gone awry: our original budget was smashed to pieces and is now several times higher. It’s almost exponential growth, combined with very little public discussion on the matter, has left taxpayers in a nerving fog. What’s most unsettling is a severe lack of true ownership for the debt; nobody wants to touch the bill but everybody wants to spend, spend, spend. And this also comes at a time when vital education and healthcare sectors are seeing major cuts in their budgets. Are two weeks of sporting worth our education and health?

On top of that, debt will become a close neighbour to inflation, on account of hotel, housing, and food prices (among virtually every imaginable product and service) seeing sharp increases. It seems that Vancouverite business owners are intent on gouging tourists to the maximum extent that the economy will allow. Will the Olympics skyrocket our tourism for the long term or will Vancouver be known as that bastard city that pickpockets its overseas visitors?

On the topic of exploitation is a matter quite similar: exposure. And by this, I am referring to our homelessness crisis. How will it look when tourists come prancing down the street in their newly purchased Zellers Olympic hoodie and walk smack into a crazed old man shooting up with a heroin needle? Probably not super great.

Most likely, the Olympics will trigger an abundance of both good and bad effects. No city can do its hair and makeup and dress to absolute perfection. Mistakes will happen, gaps will be left opened, and the world will see our flaws. But hopefully they will also see the incredible natural beauty our land possesses and the (mostly) wonderful people that walk on it.

Either way, the Olympics are going to shape Vancouver and B.C. in 2010 and beyond.

The HST — Ugly
Some of you may remember my feature article back in late September last year. Aptly titled “Attack of the HST;” the article was bursting at the seams with biting humour but the cold hard truth of it all, for regular B.C. folk, the HST is bad news. If this tax is imposed, which is currently looking to be the case, it will definitely shape B.C., both economically and politically.

On a political level, Gordon Campbell will have a bull’s eye between his eyes (a bigger one than usual), because the vast majority of B.C. strongly opposes the imposition of this tax. On an economic level, several major industries, such as the restaurant business, will take hits; who wants to suddenly pay an extra seven per cent on their night out, especially with people still getting back into the work field after a considerable recession? No one.

In December, an Ispos Reid poll proved (for the hundredth time) that the Harmonized Sales Tax is deeply hated in British Columbia. 82 per cent of those surveyed said they oppose the HST, with 61 per cent “strongly opposed.” Need more? 91 per cent think it will hurt the economy by negatively impacting consumer spending. Need even more? Just 12 per cent support implementing the HST and a mere two per cent strongly support it. That two per cent, by the way, is assuredly B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell, Finance Minister Colin Hansen, and the B.C. Liberal caucus. Other polls dating back to September all show the same results.

The Harmonized Sales Tax is looming larger than ever, and, after a vote in Parliament in December that saw a landslide vote in favour of imposing it, looks ready to rumble. Prepare for the worst, because that is what’s coming.

Transit — Good
As North America attempts to make the transition from wasteful smogtown to sustainable eco-dome, environmentally conscious methods of transportation grow increasingly more vital for the success of our land’s infrastructural development. And while hybrids and electric cars are big steps in the right direction, rapid public transportation is the true answer to eliminating the inefficient congestion we deal with now. With the new 2009 Canada Line servicing Vancouver and Richmond, in addition to the existing Expo and Millennium Lines that service Burnaby and New Westminster, the area tightly wrapped around downtown Vancouver is blessed with efficient rapid transit. That is not the case, however, with those in the rest of Metro Vancouver. Anywhere north, south, or east of these places see naught but mediocre bus lines. Too far east, and you’re begging for mediocrity. A little farther, and residents aren’t quite sure what exactly a bus is. And a SkyTrain? The mere concept would blow an Agassiz resident’s cap off.

In 2010, construction of the fabled Evergreen Line will commence. This rapid transit line is planned to thread through Burquitlam, Port Moody, and Coquitlam, touching on all the major stop zones, including Lougheed Town Centre and Douglas College’s David Lam Campus.

Unfortunately, this project will not be in motion until 2014—but the mere fact that this is taking place is a monumental stage. We are finally seeing Vancouver’s fingers reach beyond its next door neighbours and lend a helping hand to those who are really in need.

These tremendous transit changes could easily transform how we transport ourselves, but there is a snag: TransLink is seeking to, yet again, inflate ticket prices. Their aim is to jack prices up 10 per cent in 2010, and up to 40 per cent over the next decade. This increase far exceeds even the wildest predictions for inflation and constitute a complete lack of logic across the company’s executive board. TransLink has no turnstiles installed and estimations for fare evasion range from 50 up to 85 per cent. As well, roughly just 20 percent of people pay for the fare evasion tickets they receive.

So with as little as one in nine people actually paying for tickets, and then just one in five redeeming their sins, TransLink decides to ignore the real problem and instead gouge the few good service payers they have. Instead of investing time and money into long-term fare retention rates and ticket discipline, they push away the remaining few good citizens still willing to pay for a service that is basically free. TransLink can shape B.C. in 2010 and well beyond for better or worse, but they’re walking on rotten ice and one wrong step will have everyone sinking.

Post-recession economy — Good
It was what most of the world heralded as the worst recession since the Great Depression way back in the 1930s. It was a stock market murderer, a job security slaughterer, and an employment rate obliterator. "The downturn in activity this year has been extensive, impacting virtually all parts of the B.C. economy," said Craig Wright, a chief economist with RBC.

But now it’s over.

The B.C. economy is poised for improvement and expected to enter a state of solid recovery this year. According to many reputable economists, 2010 promises a widespread turnaround in economic performance, a sharp contrast to the global meltdown we all saw in 2008 and 2009. The prospect of a buzzing economy is generating a considerably more sanguine context for B.C.’s financial sector and boosting consumer confidence, which will effectively supplement the last wave of stimulus spending by government.

Overall, the B.C. economy has been forecasted to grow by more than three per cent in 2010, the second fastest rate among all Canadian provinces, and will continue that number through 2011.

Turning the page of 2009 ends not only a year but an entire decade. We shall fondly remember the ‘00s with Facebook groups in the future such as, “You know you’re from the 00’s when ‘Avatar’ was actually considered good 3D filmmaking,” and “Anyone remember MP3 players? LOL.” But perhaps we shall more fondly relish the present, as hosts of a legendary gaming event, leaders in a new economy and residents of the most beautiful place on earth.