It was with interest that I read the recent article regarding the TransLink vehicle levy. The article states the province has already blocked this levy three times since 2001.
Is this a case of “if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again”?
If TransLink asks for this levy often enough, is the province bound to eventually cave in and approve the levy?
The reference to it being a short-term solution makes me want to laugh. When has any tax ever been temporary?
Once in place, the resources realized from this tax will quickly become not enough and another method of taxation on the residents of Metro Vancouver will be sought.
With the newly constructed bridges being tolled as a method of covering costs, why was there not a toll placed on the newly upgraded Sea-to-Sky Highway?
What ever happened to the philosophy of user pay?
There are an ever-increasing number of people commuting daily from as far out in the valley as Chilliwack with no burden being placed on them to pay the TransLink levies that are placed on the residents of Metro Vancouver.
There are many people in Metro Vancouver who own one or more vehicles and who are not on the roads every day. As an owner of multiple vehicles can only operate one vehicle at any one time, these people would be shouldering a disproportionate share of this vehicle levy.
Lastly, a rapid halt has to be put to the free ride on SkyTrain that has been available for the last 25 years.
I have never seen another rapid transit system, in any other city I’ve visited, where there are not turnstiles in place to collect the appropriate fee from anyone using the system.
Shirley Kennedy
