Yellow transportation and transit plebiscite envelopes emerged from cluttered desks and glove compartments all over Burnaby and surrounding communities on the last day of the vote Friday and found their way into ballot boxes at the Lougheed Town Centre service centre.
“It’s the panic run,” one Elections B.C. worker told theNOW two hours before the 8 p.m. deadline. “It’s definitely spurred a lot of people to take [the ballots] out of their car. They’ve decided it’s too late to mail it, so now they’re bringing them in.”
Although the vote was designed as mail-in only, Elections B.C. opened nine depots in Metro Vancouver, including the Lougheed Town Centre office to answer questions and collect ballots.
Reasons for casting last-minute ballots ranged from procrastination to indecision to misunderstandings about the deadline, according to voters who spoke to the NOW.
“I thought I could just postmark it, but then I was reminded on the news this morning it actually has to be received [today],” New Westminster resident Susan Wacker said after casting a Yes vote.
“I voted Yes because I recognize that we do need improvements in our transit system and also because I think that they’re going to find the money from us taxation-wise one way or the other, so this way it distributes it to all users; whereas, if they just tax property taxes, only certain people are paying.”
But Maple Ridge resident Yuriy Zhevelyuk said taxes shouldn’t have to be increased at all, so he voted No.
“I feel that they tax us enough as it is already,” he said, “and I believe they can improve efficiencies somewhere within their ranks to find ways to fund all those changes without having to tax us.”
Burnaby resident Andrew Acherman, meanwhile, voted Yes but likened the plebiscite to a shotgun wedding because the half-per-cent regional sales tax increase was the only funding option presented.
“My thinking was that the fallback would have been property taxes, and I find that unfair to people who buy property,” he said. “With this, you spread the expense across the entire year. Everybody pays something, so they have a stake in the system, and because of the way sales tax works, the things that are considered essentials – food, clothing for kids under 16, etc. – they don’t get taxed anyhow.”
Some No voters who spoke to the NOW were more concerned about TransLink management than higher taxes.
“I’m happy with paying more taxes,” New Westminster resident Andii Stephens said. “I’m a social democrat. I’m happy with paying more and getting more for it, but I’m not happy with the way that TransLink is being run right now. That’s my big issue.”
Coquitlam resident Samantha Phillips voiced similar sentiments about the regional transit authority
“I take transit and I see what a crap show it is every day,” she said, “and the fact that they’re spending money on things that they shouldn’t be spending money on, I don’t think this is going to fix it.”
Voters who cast Yes ballots cited the environment and Metro Vancouver’s need for transportation and transit infrastructure.
“The Lower Mainland’s only going to keep growing,” Burnaby resident Nicole Harrison said, “and if we don’t improve our transit, we’re going to be in gridlock all the time, even on the side streets.”
“We have two small kids and worry about climate change,” said Burnaby mom Marnie Burnham, “so, it just made sense to put our money where our mouth is.”
Bernard Gregov, who lives near Deer Lake in Burnaby, said voting Yes was the right thing to do for future generations.
“People are too selfish, I think,” he said, “and they vote No because they’re fed up with taxes. I am too, but that’s no reason to vote No in this case.”
Results of the plebiscite are expected this summer.
The Metro Vancouver mayors’ 10-year plan promises more buses, increased HandyDart and SeaBus service, upgrades to roads and cycling infrastructure, light rail in Surrey, a new Pattullo Bridge and a subway along the Broadway corridor.
Voters in the plebiscite were asked whether or not they supported a new 0.5 per cent “Metro Vancouver Congestion Improvement Tax” to help pay for the plan.
