Do you support a 0.5% increase in sales tax to pay for transit?

WATCH: We now know how Metro Vancouver’s mayors will ask Lower Mainlanders how they want to pay for transit improvements. Ted Chernecki has the details. 

VANCOUVER – Do you support a 0.5% increase in sale tax in Metro Vancouver to pay for transit?

The Metro Vancouver Mayor’s Council is meeting today and voted 109-19 in favour of the referendum question. The money would be used to fund a proposed $7.5 billion in transportation improvements.

The funding would be used to upgrade transit service and the Pattullo Bridge.

The council also considered some other options including a vehicle registration tax or increasing the carbon tax, but in the end the mayors decided this 0.5% increase would be less of a hit on the taxpayer.

We want to ask you, would you agree to this?

Vancouver’s Mayor Gregor Robertson says this is a good idea, in his opinion.

“This is the most affordable way to improve our transit and our transportation network throughout our region and help people get around,” he says.

“This is quite a modest and practical plan compared to what comparable cities south of the border are making to ensure their transportation is more efficient.”

Burnaby’s Mayor Derek Corrigan is not in favour of the question, saying he does not feel right bringing this question to the voters next year.