Dear Editor:
Re: Mayor steps back from transit fray, Burnaby NOW, March 11. I have just read your lead article in your March 11 issue and you've got me confused. The article quoted Mayor Corrigan as saying that, because the majority of the Mayors' Council voted in favour of the Yes option, he will not oppose, or get in the way of his fellow mayors by obstructing their decision and actions. You quote the mayor, stating, "But I just cannot countenance giving the system more money when I think it's being spent irresponsibly and I have no way of controlling it."
It is my understanding that the Mayors' Council will have active oversight of all TransLink planned expenditures to assure that the money is being spent in the best interests of the citizens in British Columbia and then monitored by the Mayors' Council. As an added benefit to assure that TransLink are spending the funds wisely and effectively, our local billionaire, with a long history of judicious and successful management, will also have oversight and input into the planned expenditures before funds are committed. I doubt very much that the amateur executives at TransLink would ever be able to pull the wool over Mr. Pattison like they have done with the tax payers in the last few years.
Because of this dual oversight and active involvement by the mentioned parties, I have changed my vote from No to Yes solely on the basis of this dual oversight. I don't trust the TransLink executives to make, and execute, extremely wise decisions, but I certainly do trust the active oversight groups.
Dr. James D. Tindle, by email
