NDP Leader John Horgan says Christy Clark must "show leadership" after transit referendum defeat

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      The leader of the B.C. NDP says the "no" vote in the Metro Vancouver transit plebiscite is the fallout from "10 years of meddling and broken promises" by the B.C. Liberal government.

      “Now we’re about to enter into another round of finger-pointing and second-guessing while people all over the region wait for buses and Skytrains that don’t come, break down or are so crowded they pass by," John Horgan said in a statement issued after Elections B.C. released the results.

      “Transit riders and car drivers didn’t vote against better transit in the Lower Mainland. They voted against political gamesmanship and unaccountable management at the expense of average people who rely on this service to live their lives."

      Across the region, 61.68 percent voted "no" and 38.32 percent voted "yes" on a 0.5-percent sales tax hike to fund billions of dollars in transportation improvements.

      Horgan asserted that a "properly funded, properly managed transit system in the Lower Mainland" would benefit both transit riders and drivers.

      “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," Horgan said.

      “If her contribution to this important issue continues to be limited to rejecting every proposal the mayors make, our economy and Metro Vancouver residents will continue to suffer.” 

      Comments

      9 Comments

      Just sayin'

      Jul 2, 2015 at 12:39pm

      Horgan certainly has the meaningless presser down to an art.

      Con Job

      Jul 2, 2015 at 12:45pm

      Hold a plebiscite on Translink accountability and reform.

      And reallocating the existing $300+ Million a year within the existing Budget to for added capacity today.

      BCNDP are a joke

      Jul 2, 2015 at 4:01pm

      What would Horgan know about leadership?

      Hah

      Jul 2, 2015 at 8:30pm

      Perhaps she will show some leadership. Maybe the ndp can learn something.

      Steve y

      Jul 3, 2015 at 7:09am

      People vote 2-1 against transit funding... Ndp we need it anyways! Ok....

      Michael Patz

      Jul 3, 2015 at 9:32am

      Maybe the 60+ percent of the population that voted no are to 'blame'. In Mazatlan busses are privately owned no shortage there. In most of the world private cars can be used to transport paying passengers. Maybe there are better solutions outside of the entrenched fiefdoms controlled by politicians.

      Raifon

      Jul 3, 2015 at 11:04am

      The good people have responded to and ever expanding line up at the trough for taxing priveleges. We were led to believe that it would have been a local tax only but when you consider that most of BC gets its goods and services from the lower mainland service depots, that means everyone would have subjected to an increase in taxes to service a local transit problem. If Christy were to be honest she could introduce a general tax increase to include funding for the Ferries, Toll Bridges and province wide transit problems. The problem always is that these tax allocations are soon lost in the general revenue model that now exists. The sin taxes use to be designated just as sales taxes were and fuel taxes as well. Christy can be blamed with the creation of gas tax revenue sharing and new taxes on fuels for transit needs. This move opens up the full spectrum of taxation to second and thrid parties which was never the intention. Transit cost should be borne by local revenue generators such as property taxes and fare rates. The government can take its finger out of its nose and make the hard choice to increase taxes to pay for the infrastructure we now have such as Ferries, Toll Bridges and Transit. Leave ICBC and Utilities out of the tax grab on net revenues to supplement revenue shortfalls. If Christy were to explain a sales tax increase of 2% province wide to pay for operations of Ferries, Tolls and Transit the public would be compliant, there would have to be a guarentee that the revenues for such wouldn't be syphoned off eventually only to become lost in meaning as that which has happened before. The Peace District was promised a four lane highway from the BC/Alta border 5 years ago, so far 1 km has been built, at that rate it will take 75 years before the road is completed to Fort St. John. I bet you it won't take that long for Christy to build the Okanagan second four laner on westside as she promised in the last election.

      ursa minor

      Jul 6, 2015 at 3:55pm

      I think it's time to establish a "Free Vancouver" political party to liberate Metro Vancouver, or at least the City of Vancouver from a "provincial" government who have proven to be anti-urban, anti-intellectual, and anti-future in order to shore up support with their knuckle-dragging "heartland" base.

      It disgusts me that Prince Edward Island, with a population of 145, 211 can raise their own income, property and sales taxes and control services because they're designated as a 'province' while Vancouver gets its nose rubbed in it by a snide little photo-op princess who fled to the Okanagan because she couldn't get elected here.

      When I was recently in New York I was discussing the transit plebiscite with a few locals, who could not imagine the state legislature in Albany dictating to NYC, the Port Authority and the MTA how the city's transportation system should be run.

      Kim

      Jul 7, 2015 at 10:40am

      Why is it that the province has to provide transportation for the city of Vancouver? Why aren't the owners that hove property in the city paying for transportation. If you own a home that is valued at a million or more perhaps these owners should be paying for the transportation.

      It appears the rich get richer and the consumer has to pay for services that are needed. If that consumer could afford a home in the city maybe the transportation system wouldn't be in the crunch that its in.
      Cheers