VANCOUVER — The transit plebiscite took off on March 16.
The ballot gives more than 1.5 million eligible voters the option of paying 0.5 per cent sales tax in exchange for an upgraded rapid transit system, hundreds more buses, additional ferries and a new bridge.
And with less than a month left to vote, the “no” side took to the skies today to get their message across to last-minute voters. They flew a banner with the message, “vote no to Translink tax.”
READ MORE: A third of registered voters have cast ballots in transit plebiscite
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“I hope this banner will help and hopefully we can get a little bit more flight time next weekend as well and make an impact,” pilot Chuck Rebstein told Global News.
The inventive marketing campaign was paid for by crowd-funding.
“When you’re being outspent 200:1 it’s a daunting challenge. That’s why we have to do creative things like this instead of just relying on blanketing the region with “yes” ads, like the mayors do,” says Jordan Bateman, No TransLink Tax spokesperson. So far they have raised $37,000 towards their campaign.
In comparison, the well-funded “yes” side says their advertisements and other campaign expenses are necessary.
“It’s another thing to take a very complex plan, break it down so that whether you live in Maple Ridge or downtown Vancouver you’re going to understand what’s in the plan for you. You’re going to understand the effects of the tax on you. You’re going to understand what a “no vote” means for you,” Port Coquitlam Mayor Greg Moore told Global News.
Voters have until May 29 to cast their ballots.
–With files from John Hua and Yuliya Talmazan.
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