CKNW Editorial
for October 27, 2000

I wouldn’t want it to be thought that I don’t have sympathy for George Puil in his capacity as Chair of Translink because I do. He wants badly to deal with the transit problems of Greater Vancouver and believes there are solutions. He is convinced that I am holding up his progress and that if I’d just shut up all would be fine. In fact he’s dead wrong.

I spoke yesterday about the appalling public relations George and Translink brought to the exercise. In trying to convince people that a levy on vehicles would have a positive effect on the environment because people would drive less was just plain stupid. This so demonstrably untrue that it is really hard to believe that a seasoned politician could make such an error. I can only assume that George listened to his bureaucrats who don’t have to rely upon public support.

Leaving aside the bad PR, the scheme is simply unfair. As I and others have pointed out, a mum with six kids in the van going from rink to rink in the neighbourhood pays three times as much as a stockbroker in his Porsche and other examples of the inequity abound. The public simply won’t buy what is clearly unfair.

What I find more astonishing than anything else is that Translink has no efficient way of collecting any impost even if they came up with a fair one. Using ICBC, either as the principal gatherer or through agents requires provincial government legislation, and in the case of collection through agents there would be a commission. Does George really think that any government is going to find ways to impose a new tax on voters in an election year? Would any government-in-waiting promise such a thing? Even if George can wait it out until after the election the winners are not going to place any more unfair burdens on taxpayers … especially ones that carry with them an annual reminder. The only other way the money can be collected is by a tax on homes. This would mean that if there were a taxpayers revolt – as well there might be – thousands of small claims processes would have to be filed, the cost of which would nullify the system. The answer is simple – the levy is just not on which means that George Puil can do one of two things – he can return to the drawing board or spend the rest of his days cursing his opponents.

There is no doubt that we must have decent transit. And this must be paid for. Moreover the case seems strong for the proposition that the federal government give up some of its gas tax revenues.

But here is where I’ll surprise you. If Translink can come up with a transit plan that is fair to all, not just NDP held ridings … that doesn’t just improve public transit but makes it so it’s fair to citizens of the GVRD no matter where they live … I think a gas tax in the hands of Translink is in order. Before stacks are blown, let’s look at some facts.

We badly need a good transit system and quite frankly, against the advice of many, I think it should be above and below ground. There are several reasons for this the principal one being that all eggs in the bus basket simply further clogs the roads. This is catch-22 … motorists won’t take the bus because it is just as slow as a car so why not take the car?

Secondly, we’re spoiled rotten with our gas prices in this country. We pay about one half what people pay in Europe. Admittedly, they drive smaller cars but if we were truly troubled by high gas prices here we would do the same. If, as I’m told, three cents on the litre would capitalize Transit we should pay it.

Thirdly, while there is no absolutely equitable way to spread the cost of transit this is the fairest for it hits the heavier driver the heaviest.

It can readily be determined that I’m no expert on transit but I do know something about politics and, although George has been around the game longer than I, he evidently hasn’t learned that if a levy is seen as unfair people simply won’t pay it.

Finally, if George is as convinced as he says he is that the public will support him, hold a referendum. I think George would find that people would support a good transit plan and would be prepared to pay for it provided it’s fair.

And that’s the bottom line here … it simply isn’t fair and George Puil and Translink are faced with public resistance and senior government resistance, a fatal combination.