‘Transit referendum question should be relevant to everyone’

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VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Following  Friday’s meeting between Metro Vancouver mayors and the transportation minister, it appears it will be months before a clear-cut transit referendum question will emerge.

The president of the BC Chamber of Commerce hopes the option that will eventually be presented will be relevant to more than just transit users.

John Winter says transportation issues extend to Metro Vancouver businesses who also have a vested interested in seeing a region free of congestion. But he fears voters will think about transit instead of the overall transportation system when they head to the polls.

“There’s a danger that any debate over the referendum will get bogged down in bus service or transit service. We want to make sure the funding formula deals with the movement of goods and services,” he says.

“TransLink is responsible for more than just buses and subways. It’s responsible for the movement of goods. It’s important that that fact doesn’t get lost in the discussion.”

As to whether the Chamber will get involved in any campaigning to champion stable long-term funding, Winter says its role will be to explain the repercussions of a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’ vote.

Mayors, meanwhile, have until the end of June to craft a transportation plan and possible ways to pay for it.

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