Burnaby’s Derek Corrigan calls other mayors “sheep” as TransLink gas tax passes

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      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.

      Comments

      17 Comments

      Denise

      Oct 7, 2011 at 2:19pm

      So why isn't the Province kicking in? It certainly would help reduce our collective emissions.

      Lindsay Dianne

      Oct 7, 2011 at 2:41pm

      Tax the drivers to fund eco-conscious mass transit? Sounds like a win/win to me.
      Everyone says that they want the environment put first, but then when you try to encourage transit use, and discourage the use of personal vehicle people get upset.
      This is what we should be leaning towards. Massive amounts of people commute in from the tricities to Vancouver daily. This project is kind of a no-brainer.

      Jim Brown

      Oct 7, 2011 at 3:33pm

      Is this the same Derrek Corrigan who was the un-elected Chair of the Translink board in the 90's and who policies dis-proportionally benefited his city while shutting out almost every other community? Is this the same man who is directly responsible for a good portion of the current gas tax? Corrigan is the perfect example of why you need to take myopic mayors out of the regions decision making process.

      Lee L

      Oct 7, 2011 at 3:44pm

      What makes you think that mass transit is ECO anything?
      1. Taking 1 car completely off the road forever and that car no longer emits CO2 in the amount of about 4 tons per year since it doesnt burn gasoline when standing still.
      2. A coal fired electric plant makes 20 million tons per year. To offset a SINGLE coal plant, you need to remove 20 million tons/4 tons or 5 million cars off Vancouver's roads FOREVER. But there are only 1.4 million cars in all of Metro Vancouver ( ICBC ). The 1 BILLION dollars in funding should be spent on something that will do some good.
      3. Any gasoline not burned by removing a car off the road will not be sequestered but will be sold to the USA or Europe or China or India where it will be converted to CO2.
      4. (PS.. China finishes a new coal fired plant at the rate of ONE per WEEK).
      Translink is a complete waste of a huge amount of cash.

      Whinger

      Oct 7, 2011 at 4:06pm

      GAS ALREADY COSTS TOO FUGGING MUCH!

      Lindsay Dianne

      Oct 7, 2011 at 5:50pm

      I would totally answer that if it was based in reality!

      Mr vancity

      Oct 7, 2011 at 6:26pm

      i guess yer 2 cents isn't free

      gassed up

      Oct 7, 2011 at 10:35pm

      There are enough taxes on gas already! Stop miking funds from people there really is almost nothing left to take from me!

      I will vote for the next BC polititican who will force the Metro Vancouver area into a single operating entity like Toronto or Montreal...There is so much waste and over paid pensions for our civic workers. How come none of these mayors want to address their own books!

      judi sommer

      Oct 7, 2011 at 10:44pm

      To Lisa:
      The Province and the Federal governments are funding part of this as well. Mayors were under the gun to make a decision asap or that support would be withdrawn.
      What I want to know is why light rail transit was not an option.As well, I trust this 2 cent raise will NOT be like the carbon tax to increase every year...And re: property tax increases, mine jumped 45% this year-I'm tapped out! The mayors don't seem to have much power when it comes to Translink and the Province seems to have the final say. Municipalities are the "hitmen" who deliver fiscal pain.
      The whole structure needs revision!