Dear Editor
As a member of the Green Party of Canada I will vote Yes in the coming transit referendum. Believe me, this is not in support of the mis-managers at TransLink; rather it is in spite of them. I'll vote Yes because increased, secure and stable funding for public transit will be better for the environment, our health and the economy. The first priority of the mayors of Greater Vancouver is an increase in bus service by 25 per cent.
Should we be having a referendum? No. This is another example of the provincial government avoiding its responsibility and handing it off to the regional politicians. The mayors originally opposed the need for a referendum for the same reason I do. There was no referendum when the B.C. Liberals and the federal Conservatives chose to spend our tax dollars on a new Port Mann Bridge and the expansion of Highway 1. They didn't ask us if we thought this would be a wise way to use our tax dollars. Rather they promised there would be a reduction of congestion and that they would put public transit on the new bridge and highway.
As of writing there is only one bus line that crosses the Port Mann, and that doesn't go downtown. The CBC recently sent a reporter from Langley to their offices downtown using public transit and it took him in excess of two hours.
We need more public transit in this region now and in the years ahead. We also need better government at the provincial and federal levels.
David W.G. Macdonald, Burnaby
