Over the weekend, some TransLink supporters had a conniption over comments by Premier Christy Clark on next year’s TransLink referendum. The Globe and Mail’s Gary Mason claimed Transportation Minister Todd Stone was “left… to clean up the mess created by his boss.”

I had a chuckle on that one. Clark has been completely consistent on her wishes for the TransLink referendum. There has been no wavering from her while the minister tries to navigate the myriad of agendas pushed by the TransLink mayors, the TransLink executives, and the TransLink board of directors. Another Globe comment that Stone “gently contradicted her on all of her key points” is backward: my read is that the Premier is the one “gently contradicting” the minister.

The Premier hasn’t wavered in her commitment to put any new TransLink tax sources to the public, and that there would be the option to vote against giving TransLink any of it. She has never said the province would champion one side or the other (although her minister seems all-too-eager to jump in – one wonders what BC Liberal MLAs in TransLink-unfriendly seats think about that).

Her election platform – which, in the post-HST era has to be considered practically gospel – was clear: “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.”

Her press conference announcing the referendum was also clear: “I believe that British Columbians and people in the Lower Mainland... should have the chance to decide how much transit they want to pay for.”

The campaign interviews were also clear: “If voters don't want it, we're not going to impose it on them,” Clark told Black Press. “I'm sure one of the options is going to be a status quo option. And the status quo option is the same thing as not approving any new funding.”

Seven months later, Clark hasn’t changed her tune one note. “We really want to ask people: How much transit do you want and how do you want to pay for it? How much change do you want or do you want no change to the system at all?” she told the Globe. “The people will decide. People will need to do their homework to make sure they get the answer that is right for them, but I’m not going to try to decide for people what their answer should be.”

Heaven forbid the people actually be consulted and trusted on a public policy issue! One can only imagine the chaos that will ensue if the majority gets their way!

As for the timing of the referendum, now looking to be tied to the municipal election, the mayors have no one to blame but themselves if they don’t like it. Stone, in what I perceive to be an attempt to build a bridge to the mayors, opened the door to an earlier date, but the mayors’ dithering and infighting (and downright disbelief the referendum would happen) pushed that timeline back.