VANCOUVER, B.C.: Everyone… But The People, a new book by Jordan Bateman and Hamish Marshall chronicling the successful campaign against the TransLink sales tax, was released today by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF).

The book hit shelves exactly one year after TransLink fired its CEO Ian Jarvis – a move widely regarded as the key point in the campaign.

Everyone… But The People offers insight into the NO side’s campaign plan, strategy and tactics. It also includes media commentary and YES side information gleaned from Freedom of Information requests and other sources.

“The TransLink referendum is already being studied by people around the world, and we felt it was important to fully present our side of history,” said Bateman, the CTF’s B.C. Director and head of the No TransLink Tax campaign. “W.A.C. Bennett used to quip that everyone was against him, but the people. We certainly felt that way as everyday taxpayers strongly rejected the elites’ ham-fisted YES campaign.”

The book provides guidance and ideas for others looking to run small-dollar campaigns, and also gives an account of how the $40,000 No TransLink Tax effort evolved as the YES side’s $7 million campaign blitzed the region.

“Winning campaigns don’t happen by accident – they happen by design,” said Marshall, the No TransLink Tax campaign manager and president of Torch Agency. “They take strategy, planning, execution and, most importantly, a message that resonates with the public. The No TransLink Tax campaign had all of those elements.”

Vancouver Sun columnist Barbara Yaffe, a NO voter, contributed the book’s foreword.

Everyone… But The People, in both print and e-book form, is available exclusively on Amazon. To order the book, visit www.notranslinktaxbook.com. The book’s prologue is available below.

The No TransLink Tax campaign is a finalist for three Campaigns and Elections Reed Awards, which will be handed out Feb. 18 in Charleston, SC.

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For more information, contact Jordan Bateman at [email protected] or 604-999-3319.

An excerpt from Everyone… But The People:

On the morning of Feb. 3, 2015, Greater Vancouver mayors, clinging to a four-point lead in the polls, were out selling voters on a 0.5% sales tax to fund TransLink, the unpopular regional transportation authority.

Greg Moore, the mayor of Vancouver suburb Port Coquitlam and influential chairman of Metro Vancouver’s regional government, sat on the familiar red couch in Global BC’s Burnaby TV studio, finished his pitch for the tax, and listened as Morning News hosts Sophie Lui and Steve Darling set up the next segment, an interview with Jordan Bateman, representing the NO side.

“Oh, you found the only guy opposed,” Moore mocked, interrupting the hosts. “Jordan Bateman. He’s the only one opposed.”

Off-camera, just a few feet away, Jordan chuckled at Moore’s arrogance. But Moore should have been confident. After all, his side had all the politicians, the unions, the business groups, the environmental organizations, the student groups and a massive war chest. Moments later, Moore was out the door and Jordan was on the same red couch.

“The mayor just said you’re the only voice, you’re the only one that doesn’t like it,” Darling said.

“Well, this should be a slam dunk for the mayor,” Jordan replied.  “Why are they spending five million taxpayer dollars to try and get a YES vote if I’m the only person opposed?”

Five months later, on July 3, Moore and Jordan were back on the Global BC Morning News. The TransLink plebiscite vote results had just been announced: a massive 24-point landslide win for the No TransLink Tax campaign.

“The only guy opposed” had returned, this time with 467,031 other NO voters. Moore and the TransLink mayors blew a 14-point lead, wasted nearly $7 million in taxpayer money, and outspent the NO side 170 to 1, all to lose by an astonishing 24 points.  Moore’s own city voted 68% against the tax.

The YES side had everyone … but the people.

This is the story of how the people won.