Regiona (Liberal) Mayors Vote To Increase Gas And Property Taxes
It seems, the provincial Liberals called in its markers as Liberal mayors in the Vancouver metro region voted to support gas and property tax increases to further fund TransLink. TransLink was holding a dud poker hand but bluffed regional politicians who were holding all the aces. Such weak tax and spend politicians should be defeated in the next round of civic elections.
While ignoring the real reason TransLink is coming begging for more money, which is building hugely expensive SkyTrain and or metro on routes that do not have the ridership to sustain them, Metro mayors voted for new SkyTrain construction, even when transit watchdog, Martin Crilly, is now sounding alarm bells over the Evergreen Line.
Not tackling the real issues that embroils TransLink will continue to cause financial chaos, and regional mayors have now created an massive tax monster, where TransLink will come begging at the door with sad stories of doom and gloom, expecting regional politicians to cave in and shake the regional taxpayer down for more cash to feed this insatiable monster.
As Derek Corrigan says, those who voted for more taxes are nothing more than sheep, who care nothing about the taxpayer, obeying orders from their handlers in Victoria.
As it stands, regional mayors (who no absolutely know nothing about regional transit) approved tax increases demanded by TransLink (who know very little about transit and will only plan for hugely expensive SkyTrain or a SkyTrain clone), which the minister responsible for TransLink (who resides in northern BC and knows absolutely nothing about regional transit), which will be approved by the BC Liberal party and supported by the NDP (who have vested interests in building more SkyTrain) in Parliament, without any questions asked.
John Cummins, are you listening?
From the Georgia Straight
Burnaby’s Derek Corrigan calls other mayors “sheep” as TransLink gas tax passes
The gas tax will help fund the building of the long-promised Evergreen Line.
Stop being sheep.
Outspoken Burnaby mayor Derek Corrigan issued a challenge today (October 7) to fellow mayors of Metro Vancouver. It came as elected local politicians prepared to vote for a new public transportation plan that will again pick the pockets of residents in the region.
“Have courage,” Corrigan urged. “Stand up for your communities.”
The plan, which was approved, involves increasing the gas tax by two cents a litre effective April 1, 2012. It will also require municipalities to raise again property taxes in 2013 and 2014 if the province doesn’t give TransLink the means to raise funds in a sustainable manner.
Addressing his colleagues at the Mayors’ Council on Regional Transportation, Corrigan mused that members have limited powers over TransLink. He also said they needed a history lesson on how transportation planning and funding have been controlled by the provincial government.
Using the sheep analogy, Corrigan noted that the provincial government has treated mayors like docile beings to “herd” and “shear”.
The Burnaby politician recalled that it was not too long ago when the mayors’ council passed a resolution on April 22, 2009, stating categorically that mayors will no longer support any increases in property taxes to fund regional transportation expansion.
According to the plan approved today, the two cents per litre increase in the gas tax will generate $33 million in 2012. It is expected to grow to $45 million in 2014.
The remaining funding requirements of the 2012-2014 plan will supposedly come from new long-term sources to be implemented before the end of 2012.
However, the plan provides that if no new funding sources are tapped at this time, there will be property tax increases in 2013 and 2014.
In his address at the mayors’ council, Corrigan also recalled how mayors approved light rail as the rapid transportation model for the northeast sector of the region. However, according to him, the province later came in and imposed its preference for SkyTrain technology that will be used for the still pending Evergreen Line.
The new plan approved today will fund the construction of the Evergreen Line and other expansion projects in the region.
Corrigan wasn’t alone in his criticism of transportation planning and management.
Delta mayor Lois Jackson said at the meeting that transportation funding should no longer be made at the expense of property-tax payers.
While other mayors declared that they are taking a leap of faith, Jackson said that she doesn’t have much confidence over the “vagaries of the future”.
Richmond mayor Malcolm Brodie suggested that the motion brought to the meeting should be severed into two proposals: one for the two cent gas tax increase, and another for the property tax hikes.
According to Brodie, mayors have time and time again been told to hike property taxes with the promise that a sustainable source of transportation funding will be made available by the province. He has had enough of this.
“I don’t want to take a leap of faith anymore,” Brodie said.
Corrigan, Jackson, Brodie, New Westminster mayor Wayne Wright, Langley Township mayor Rick Green, and Pitt Meadows mayor Don MacLean voted against the plan.
