Editor:
The referendum on the proposed hike to the PST to fund TransLink is nearly upon us. The "yes" side claims that you have to vote "yes" or all manner of evils will occur. Wrong!
It claims a 0.5 per cent PST hike is the only option available and that a "no" vote is a vote against public transit. Wrong and wrong!
A "no" vote represents a vote against yet another tax being foisted on a public that is already being squeezed by the monstrously inefficient organization we know as TransLink.
The latest attempt to extract more money from us uses the new tactic of trying to get us to agree to it first.
Rather than change their prey, they are changing their hunting technique with a referendum.
They need to pick a new target and I would like to suggest one.
The projected growth in population and the resulting pressure on public transit in the Lower Mainland is fuelled by the development industry. Each new development that increases density or rezones land represents a windfall for the owner of that land, a windfall that was, in effect, granted to them by the residents of that municipality.
Take for example the Southlands here in Delta. The rezoning of that farmland has given Century
Group a windfall, but Delta residents get left with increased congestion, years and years of construction, pollution, etc.
My suggestion is that a "development" tax be levied in such cases so both the taxpayers and the developers benefit from rezoning. Maybe a 50 per cent tax rate, maybe more.
The developer gets his windfall and can still add to his profit with the actual construction phase, TransLink gets its funding, and population growth and transit improvements are neatly linked to one another.
So, my recommendation is vote "no" and make them look at other options.
Peter Malim
