From the “Misery Loves Company” desk comes this little nugget: Maple Ridge Mayor Ernie Daykin wants Abbotsford and Chilliwack residents to pay taxes to TransLink.
What a classic political move by a mayor looking for reelection this fall: when in doubt, distract.
Daykin shows his ignorance of an important deal struck during TransLink’s formation in the late 1990s. Fortunately, Chilliwack Mayor Sharon Gaetz can explain:
She also called it an "apples and oranges" comparison because of the way TransLink was created in 1999.
Metro taxpayers were absolved of the requirement to pay tax to support hospital capital projects in return for them taking responsibility for regional transit costs.
The FVRD's transit costs, in contrast, are mostly subsidized by BC Transit, but Fraser Valley residents still pay for hospital capital.
If the Fraser Valley was to pay into TransLink, Gaetz suggested, Metro taxpayers ought to resume paying hospital taxes as well.
Point, Fraser Valley.
Is Canada Off Track?
Canada has problems. You see them at gas station. You see them at the grocery store. You see them on your taxes.
Is anyone listening to you to find out where you think Canada’s off track and what you think we could do to make things better?
You can tell us what you think by filling out the survey