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The 2015 Lower Mainland transit referendum: hang on for the ride

December 2nd, 2014 · 23 Comments

Okay, go ahead and comment. What more can we say?

The new mayors’ council is about to see this Friday the proposed preamble and question that will go to the province for approval. By next Friday, they have to sent their tweaked version on to the province and cabinet.

Everyone is gearing up to take on this daunting challenge — getting a referendum on a new tax or fee with only a three-month campaign in order to pay for a complex $7.5-billion, 10-year plan that promises something for everyone in the region.

I feel tired just thinking about it. But … we have no choice because this is required for all major public transportation projects in the province. Oh, right, it’s not. Anyway, here we go. Your thoughts.

Categories: Uncategorized

  • Tiktaalik

    It’s baffling to me that seemingly all Vancouver business interests, including Christy Clark super fan, Bob Rennie, are strongly in support of improved rapid transit, and the BC Liberals are still opposed.

  • neil21

    Matt Taylor is the latest skilled volunteer footsoldier in the battle for public opinion. I can’t wait to see his Burj Kalifa montage in the Globe… 🙂 http://mtayloranalysis.wordpress.com

  • peakie

    One should follow (twitter, blog, etc.) Jeff Nagel, regional reporter of the Black Press suburban group on the Referendum. Point your browser to twitter.com/jeffnagel . And Jeff’s comments with an (non-Jeff) F. Bula and the Sun’s Jeff Lee on CBC Vancouver Radio One’s “Early edition show December 2, 2014.
    “Spin City panel on transportation referendum”
    cbc.ca/player/Radio/Local+Shows/British+Columbia/ID/2623121983/

    See Nagel’s 2100 word piece in the Surrey (+ North Delta) Leader. Many sub-links and all.

    “Q&A: Ex-transportation ministers criticize referendum, discuss TransLink”
    http://www.surreyleader.com/news/283278361.html
    “Former B.C. transportation ministers Blair Lekstrom and Kevin Falcon have spoken out about the planned referendum on transit funding.”

    [ And I see Disqus comments doesn’t work in SeaMonkey or Firefox browsers ?? just Windows Explorer. Yech. ]

  • boohoo

    Certainly, I have rarely seen such universal agreement on the need for something but such a void of leadership to deliver it. Even former Liberals and the minster of transport himself are saying this needs to pass.

    I’m pessimistic about this one. It doesn’t really matter what the question is because people like Bateman and other anti-tax parrots are going to label this as ‘giving translink money’ and that whole anti-translink sentiment will run wild.

  • Warren12

    We need Gordon Campbell’s leadership back on this topic. He was certainly a champion of public transit.

  • Brilliant

    Who said they’re opposed? They just aren’t willing to climb over the backs of motorists to cater solely to transit users.

  • Brilliant

    Given that the .media just revealed the very generous vehicle allowance for Translink execs, the taxpayer is right to be skeptical. If they don’t believe in their own product why should we?

  • Richard Campbell

    Hardly. In a decade, there was only one rapid transit protect completed, the Canada Line. Meanwhile, he wasted billions on overbuilt underused roads. That is the main reason why projects are being delayed now, I expect the Province’s books are a mess.

  • Internet made me obsolete

    My Firefox 34.0 runs it just fine. Maybe not on Android.

  • Internet made me obsolete

    Particularly since all the Metro mayors and the MLAs didn’t have to run on the “Vote for me and I’ll raise your property and gas taxes to build a subway to service condo racks above stations” platform. Not a lot of votes there.
    What if the referendum doesn’t get a majority of taxpayers out to vote one way or the other? Will we see the return of the tieleman/ van der Zalm anti-tax show?

  • Allan

    Gee, it’s not like motorists benefit from lower traffic congestion by having transportation alternatives….do they?

  • spartikus

    My Chrome & Firefox run Disqus perfectly.

  • spartikus

    And who appointed these execs and set their compensation package?

    Oh right, the BC Liberals.

  • Keith

    Time for us to update how we run the finances of this province. All major capital funding should reside with a provincial authority, that can go to the bond market and get financing at the lowest possible rates.

    All Crown corporations and major capital users should be required to go through that financing authority for their projects. Crown corporations should be divided into those that can be relied on to generate surplus funds, and those that require an operating subsidy. Surplus funds would be earmarked for paying down long term provincial debt. Approval to increase the “debt ceiling” for major projects can be added to the provincial ballot, much like municipal elections.

    The government of the day would be judged on it’s financial and economic performance. It should be judged on how well it manages the day to day recurring costs of providing taxpayer funded services and interest payments. It would also be judged on it’s performance on financing and building the necessary infrastructure of the province. The political football that is the debate around every single Crown corporation in this province and their surpluses and capital needs and services would finally be placed on something resembling a rational footing.

  • jenables

    The bc liberals have done so much damage to this province I don’t even know where to start. Christy Clark isn’t any better than Campbell, but Campbell was a real piece of shit.

  • boohoo

    So….about this… maybe they’ve decided to scrap the actual vote and just do a ‘man on the street’ style vote. First to 20 wins.

  • Brilliant

    Why is it the chattering classes get their panties in a twist over letting the public vote in a transit referendum? Why do they hate democracy?

  • boohoo

    You aren’t this dumb brilliant, come on.

  • penguinstorm

    Eloquence, thy name is @jenables:disqus

  • jenables

    Well, it’s a pretty big can of worms. I was trying to stay on topic. Plus, I apparently lack the creativity to call someone a piece of shit while maintaining decorum.

  • TessaGarnet

    Why is it the B.C. Liberals refuse to let the people vote on car projects? Why do they hate democracy?

  • MGordon

    We live in interesting times. Notice how prominent the issue
    of public transit was in the Vancouver, Surrey and Toronto elections.

    I am 60 and lived in Toronto until 1972 and recall taking
    the Bloor streetcar from suburban Toronto downtown and it sure took a long time
    to get downtown. My Dad car pooled until the Bloor Danforth Subway was built
    and then he could walk to the subway station and be downtown at work in about ½ an hour. The Ontario government and therefore taxpayers invested billions of
    dollars in the Toronto subway system. Toronto is now looking at investing a lot in public transit and even a right of centre politiian, John Tory, championed that. When I arrive in Toronto at Pearson it is great I can get on an express bus (soon to be a train) to the subway and be on my way for a relatively modest cost…so thankful for the investments in Toronto public transit.

    Here in Vancouver, beginning in the 70’s we had the livable
    region plan which envisioned town centres and the downtown linked by transit. Beginning with the Socred government and in particular the wonderful Grace Mccarthy championed the expo line which linked downtown, metrotown and New Westminster. Since then, public investments have continued to link town centres in the region. I think our metro area is more livable because of the transit
    investments.

    I think that the challenge for public investment in
    infrastructure is the budget demands of a public health system. It is approaching 50% of the provincial budget. My dad is 92 and when I take him to the doctor or the hospital I am relieved we are not asked for his or my VISA card. Household incomes have risen modestly since 1980 and ideology of many is market oriented and some are resistant to spending on transportation infrastructure due to the taxes associated with it.

    In any case, I am a big supporter of transit as I use it regularly and am convinced it expands peoples’ choices and that is a good thing in a ‘market’ society.

    I do have a car, her name is Vivian and she is a 1991 Volvo…good
    to have her for going to IKEA or to visit friends in the suburbs…but here in
    Vancouver thanks to transit I have choices.

  • jenables

    Oh, and my Twitter is @bluejenables, not @jenables… That was already taken :p