Editor:
Can we afford so much bureaucracy?
When TransLink, a quasi autonomous, non-governmental organization, was initially proposed I remember going to a public information meeting at which members of Delta council were in the audience, none of whom opposed the idea.
Vancouver councillor George Puil was chair and proponent of this idea, which was a spin-off from B.C. Transit. The public was allowed to make brief presentations, and I incurred the wrath of Puil in querying the idea of creating yet another large quango.
It would be interesting to know whether there has been any reduction in the staffing of B.C. Transit during the years since TransLink was created, and the growth factor of TransLink staffing in that period.
We appear to have created an organization that has an insatiable demand for revenue. Initially it had no authority to levy taxes on homeowners. We know this has changed, and that wherever you live in the metro area homeowners are vulnerable to an escalation of property tax to satisfy the plans and supposed needs of the TransLink board, irrespective of local needs.
This province is labouring under the weight of an excessively staffed civil service and bureaucracy. The many layers of government, and the incessant meetings and paper that is continually produced, has led to an exponential increase in the cost of administration. Wish lists far exceed the potential revenue from taxpayers.
Should we have a change of government, which looks increasingly likely, it will be very interesting to know if the NDP will commit to a thorough re-evaluation of the way this province is administered.
This might be anathema to a traditional tax and spend philosophy, and Adrian Dix should be asked for his response.
Peter Duffey
