Andy, you're being a bit naive. You actually think the purpose of the TransLink referendum is to serve democracy? Ha!
The TransLink referendum has only one purpose: to camouflage yet another government tax increase. This time, a referendum is setting up TransLink as the villain for an inevitable transportation tax increase.
It's the latest wrinkle in a tried and true BC Liberal strategy started by Gordon Campbell and eagerly adopted by Premier Christy Clark: Make a Crown corporation confusingly semi-private - just private enough that you can blame them for rate increases while simultaneously scooping millions in dividends from them each year.
BC Ferries gives the BC Liberal government $6 million per year. We pay that tax in continuously increased ferry fares.
BC Hydro is good for $545 million this year, $611 million next year and $684 million the year after that. British Columbians will pay that tax in raised Hydro rates - as much as 60% in the next five years.
ICBC gives government $226 million per year, another hefty tax British Columbians pay in regularly increased insurance rates.
Make no mistake, these are all tax increases and the TransLink referendum, while wrapped in altruism, will end up with British Columbians paying more taxes while the BC Liberal government can again blame an arms-length agency.
In 2007, TransLink was given an expanded, impossible mandate, including responsibility for a bunch of old and not yet built bridges like the Pattullo and Golden Ears. TransLink was set up to fail and to be the scapegoat for government transportation tax increases.
The TransLink referendum will likely offer five options:
raise property taxes;
raise gas taxes;
institute road pricing (tolls);
add an ICBC insurance levy ($300 to $500 per year);
raise each of the above a bit.
The referendum won't offer an option for no increased taxes, or for a progressive tax increase, or to increase corporate taxes.
Whatever we "choose" in this referendum, we'll be paying more taxes.
But by using the referendum subterfuge, the BC Liberal government will make TransLink the enemy that requires more money from us, just as it has done to BC Hydro, ICBC and BC Ferries for years.
That's the purpose of the TransLink referendum, Andy, not any profound reverence for democracy.
