Translink
wants more money. It always wants more money. Here's an idea. Isn't this grand?
Let's increase the provincial sales tax. We'll make it very modest .5% increase
so people will hardly notice it, yet it will net us $250 million annually. We
will even call this .5% increase something other than PST, a distinct name, the
Congestion Improvement Tax. I'm not kidding. That's official. And further it
will not be imposed upon us, but rather this spring, there will be a
region-wide plebiscite. Voters will get to have a say, Yes, or No, that is, if
we can splash through the rhetoric, and believe me the persuasive oratory will
proliferate. Be prepared, the Yes campaign will spend several million dollars
to persuade you to vote Yes. And get this, Translink will contribute four
million dollars to that campaign. Yes, $4 million of your money to be spent on
promo to buy your vote to give Translink more.
Expect
to see Vancouver Mayor, Gregor Robertson's face a lot more. He is the chief
adman for the YES side blitz for the Congestion Improvement Tax. Already committed
to join him are city mayors,
The mayors and other civic representatives
who are backing a Yes vote on this regional plebiscite include Surrey Mayor
Linda Hepner, Port Coquitlam Mayor Greg Moore, New Westminster Mayor
Jonathan Cote, Langley Township Mayor Jack Froese, Langley City Mayor Ted
Schaffer. Each naively believes that Translink can deliver rapid transit or
improved service to its constituency. A .5% tax on all sales and services will
not deliver on any promises Translink make, because it doesn't know how to
manage money or fulfill its mandate now.
When you get your chance to vote, Vote NO. Otherwise this
will never stop.
Michael
Smyth discerns this catastrophe clearly in the Province article entitled,
No comments:
Post a Comment
I encourage your comments using this filter.
1. Write politely with a sincere statement, valid question, justifiable comment.
2. Engage with the blog post or a previous comment whether you agree or disagree.
3. Avoid hate, profanity, name calling, character attack, slander and threats, particularly when using specific names.
4. Do not advertise