WATCH: Transportation Minister Todd Stone joined BC1 to discuss the outcome of the plebiscite and get his response to the mayors’ call on the provincial government to sort out the funding dilemma
Metro Vancouver residents have voted a resounding ‘No’ to the 0.5 per cent congestion improvement tax.
Sixty-two per cent voted against the tax, and 38 per cent of voters said ‘Yes’ in the transit plebiscite.
READ MORE: Transit plebiscite results: No side wins with 62 per cent
Reactions from different stakeholders from across the region are now pouring in.
Jordan Bateman with the Canadian Taxpayers’ Federation, who led the ‘No’ campaign, says the results do not surprise him.
“This is a clear message to the minister of transportation, the mayors and the TransLink board of directors – we want change at TransLink. The public has spoken. They do not trust TransLink.”
Bateman says he wants to see more fiscal responsibility from TransLink, like collapsing the number of boards of directors and more transparency.
“Admitting there is a problem is the first step,” he adds.
WATCH: Jordan Bateman with the Canadian Taxpayers’ Federation reacts to transit plebiscite results
But Global BC Legislative Bureau Chief Keith Baldrey says the $7 billion required to make the necessary transit improvements can’t be found by simply “rejigging” Translink.
In a way, Baldrey says, the mayors are stuck in a difficult place because the voters have rejected the notion of increased taxation.
“I can’t see them going back and dreaming up things like a vehicle levy, a parking tax or a new gas tax,” he says.
WATCH: Mayors’ Council addresses the media after results of the transit plebiscite were released
Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson and other members of the Mayors’ Council say immediate governance changes are needed at TransLink.
Robertson says there is no ‘plan B’ for another source of funding for transit improvements now that the tax increase has been ruled out.
But, Baldrey says the provincial government does not want anything to do with TransLink or be seen as being responsible for the transit problems in Metro Vancouver.
He says the transit plebiscite is now “a political hand grenade” and premier Christy Clark is not likely to get involved.
Meanwhile, the B.C. NDP are putting the blame squarely on Clark.
“Transit riders and car drivers didn’t vote against better transit in the Lower Mainland,” said party leader John Horgan in a release. “They voted against political gamesmanship and unaccountable management at the expense of average people who rely on this service to live their lives. The premier needs to show leadership, not play political games. She forced this referendum in the first place. She can’t keep throwing it back to the mayors. They have done their job, now she must do hers.”
The Better Transit and Transportation Coalition calls the results of the referendum disappointing and says the outcome reinforces the need for urgent, region-wide transit and transportation improvements.
Co-Chair Peter Robinson says they are concerned about how the result will affect the region’s livability.
Unifor Locals 111 and 2200 are vowing to keep fighting for transit improvements.
In a release, the unions warn about what the referendum results spell out for them.
The fight for urgently needed transit and transportation improvements will continue but the two union locals representing transit operators and mechanics and their national union fear the No vote in the Metro Vancouver plebiscite means service cuts are coming.
Without a new effort to improve service, the No vote on the Metro Vancouver Mayors’ Council plan in a region-wide plebiscite means dramatic transit and transportation service improvements will not happen for many years.
A video statement from TransLink’s interim CEO Doug Allen has been released on social media.
Read Allen’s full statement here:
Today, Elections BC reported that 61.68% of voters rejected a 0.5% PST increase to fund the transportation improvements outlined in the Mayors’ Plan.
We are disappointed, but we respect the decision of voters and the fact that a majority do not support the proposed tax as the way to meet the transportation needs of a growing population.
The Premier decided to hold a plebiscite on funding to meet the transportation needs of Metro Vancouver.
And the Mayors responded by creating a well thought-out investment plan for better transit and transportation.
They did a great job of explaining the plan to citizens and defending the need for a tax in order to fund it.
The people of this region were asked to make a two-part decision: 1) Does the 10-year plan make sense; and 2) is the half-a-percent sales tax warranted?
In talking to hundreds of people over the course of the plebiscite, what we heard — especially from the younger generation — was support for:
- More public transit
- The good service we provide
- The plan put forward by the Mayors
But convincing people to vote for a tax increase is a tough sell, even when it will pay for much-needed transit and transportation improvements.
Our region expects to welcome over one million new residents over the next 30 years. A “no” vote doesn’t change the fact that our current transportation system will be challenged by this growth.
With no new funding, we will have no capacity to expand the transit system or provide increased service. Costs and customer demand will rise at a time when funding is essentially frozen. As a result, current service levels may be affected and we could face tough decisions in the weeks and months ahead.
Respected independent experts and analysts repeatedly point to TransLink’s record of cost efficiency and sound financial management. We will continue to earn that reputation by cutting costs and maximizing revenue opportunities wherever we can.
The need for funding has not gone away and we expect that the search for an acceptable source of regional funding will continue.
In the months ahead, we will work with the Province, the Mayors’ Council, our customers and the public to find a way to fund much-needed transit for our rapidly growing region.
Our commitment to running a safe and reliable transit and transportation system remains as strong as ever.
Although it ended with a no outcome, the plebiscite started a good debate across the region on the importance of transit. That debate will continue.
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