Jordan Bateman, B.C. Director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, released this statement following the TransLink Mayors Council’s announcement that they will not support a referendum:

“During the spring 2013 campaign, Premier Christy Clark was crystal clear: ‘Today’s BC Liberals will work with the Metro Vancouver Mayor’s Council and TransLink to identify possible sources of funding for transit improvements. Any new revenue sources would then be subject to a referendum to be held at the same time as the municipal elections in November 2014.’

“This is not the mayors’ call to make. The voters made the decision when they elected Premier Clark.

“These mayors sound a lot like Kim Campbell when they say an election is no time to discuss serious issues. Every mayor in Metro Vancouver seems to be trying to grab the wheel of the bus – too bad for them it’s the Premier that’s in the driver’s seat. These municipal politicians better start respecting the intelligence of the electorate or they’re going to find themselves in the ditch this November.

“Today’s vote boils down to a bunch of mayors trying to save their political hides by avoiding discussing TransLink during this fall’s campaign. They’d rather sweep it under the rug and launch a raid on taxpayers in 2015, once the election is out of the way. Taxpayers deserve better.”