At its essence, it's a referendum on improving the region's transit system, but the debate has become so much more, which doesn't appear to be good news for those championing the "yes" side of the equation.
The idea of reducing congestion in the Lower Mainland through a variety of initiatives, from a Broadway subway to light rail in Surrey, makes sense, but that singular benefit is being forced to compete with a host of contrary viewpoints as voters get set to receive their mail-in ballots.
The biggie, obviously, is that people already feel overtaxed, so the notion of willingly paying an additional levy is hard for many to swallow. Even if you think the projects are worthy, your individual cost-benefit analysis might help torpedo the plan. And if you don't stand to benefit a great deal from the proposed improvements, it makes your decision that much easier.
However, this has gone way beyond the usual debate between what we want and what we can afford (or are willing to pay for), a development that has bolstered a "no" side that's far less capitalized and politically connected. The disdain for TransLink and the way it manages our money has been palpable, providing opponents with another plank to attract voters. There are also concerns over whether the proposed improvements will actually be delivered and fears that once it's in place, the half-point bump to the provincial sales tax could carry on in perpetuity or be raised without our consent.
What's more, despite the best efforts of the Mayors' Council on Regional Transportation to come up with goodies for everyone, there are certain jurisdictions that stand to benefit from the referendum more than others. As a result, the "yes" side has been trying to appeal to all by issuing area-specific lists that provide reasons why you should cast a vote in the affirmative.
I knew there wasn't much for Delta, but my suspicions were confirmed when one of the proposed improvements for this area was a promise that bus drivers would smile more often. OK, so I'm stretching it, but the discrepancy between the have and have-not areas will be yet another issue to factor into referendum voting.
The well-financed "yes" side is doing its best to steer the narrative toward reduced commute times and how that's good for both the economy and the environment, but that message is competing with many other voices, ones that may well be loud enough to carry the day.
