B.C. TransLink minister to Metro Vancouver mayors: 'Get on with the job'
'I am not prepared to change governance...How the people...work together is the issue.'
Peter Fassbender says he has no intention of shifting control of TransLink to mayors.
Instead, B.C.'s TransLink Minister said the province is "rolling up its sleeves" and getting on with the business of fixing B.C's endemic transit issues — and the mayors should do the same.
More accountability demanded
Fassbender responded to a call by Mayor Gregor Robertson to shift control of TransLink to elected mayors, so taxpayers can oust them if they dislike decisions being made.
"I am not prepared to change governance," said Fassbender.
"Governance is not the issue. How the people that are involved in governance work together is the issue."
Vancouver's mayor and others have been outspoken about their discontent with the current system, and much of this erupted after both the province and the region's mayors rolled out separate funding proposals last Thursday. All of this comes after a failed transit referendum left unresolved issues and tempers simmering for the past year.
"This is the time to rectify the accountability piece that a lot of people have expressed concerns about," said Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson.
"[Taxpayers] want to see elected officials in charge of the TransLink board and a clear structure of accountability. If people don't like it they have the option to vote mayors out of office."
Funding tug of war
Metro mayors announced their own 10-year plan transportation plan May 26. They called for $3 billion from the province over 10-15 years to make up a 33 per cent share of capital costs.
So far Fassbender has only committed to $246 million over the next three years to fund TransLink improvements.
"We are not rejecting [the mayors' proposal] at all," said Fassbender, calling this the "initial" offering.
Fassbender also announced how much he expects the region's municipal governments will contribute to the plan —$124 million — which he expects them to raise by taking advantage of rising property values around transit stations. The commitments are meant to match the federal government promise of $370 million to upgrade transit stations and SkyTrain cars, announced in the March federal budget.
Altogether, according to Fassbender, the three levels of government will be putting up $740 million for the three-year plan.
It is not enough said Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan.
"When you look at a $7.5 billion plan and count up the money this doesn't go very far in being able to take on the issues and doesn't provide the kind of ongoing funding necessary to be able sustain the system."
