The Delta Chamber of Commerce is calling on members of the community to invest in the future by voting "yes" in the upcoming transit and transportation referendum. "Our community has a lot on the line with this vote," said chamber board chair Orville Nickel. "A 'yes' vote means less congestion, a stronger economy and a healthier community for us all. But a 'no' vote will strand us without critical transit and transportation improvements - potentially for decades."
The local business group supports the Mayors' Council's transportation vision and has joined the Better Transit and Transportation Coalition, which features a broad spectrum of stakeholders from business, labour, environmental and other community organizations. "With the predicted growth of one million people in the Metro Vancouver area over the next 30 years, the mayors' vision not only addresses our current congestion issues, but future ones as well," said Nickel. "It's vital that we invest in needed transit and transportation improvements for our entire region today."
The Delta Chamber of Commerce will proactively lead discussion to ensure the community understands the importance of the referendum.
"With so much at stake, our community stands at a crossroads," said Nickel.
"Quite simply, we can't afford to get this wrong."
A Metro Vancouver congestion improvement tax will be put in front of voters through a mail-in referendum this spring.
The proposed 0.5 per cent hike to the provincial sales tax is expected to generate $250 million annually, money that would be earmarked for transit improvements identified in a 10-year, $7.5-billion plan put together by the region's mayors.
