TransLink funding plan a step closer

The province and Metro Vancouver mayors have come to a preliminary agreement to deal with TransLink's long-term funding crisis, officials say.

A memorandum of understanding was reached at a closed-door meeting Thursday in Coquitlam.

The goal was to try to find a way to fund major projects like the long-promised Evergreen rapid transit line, a project that requires another $400 million.

The memorandum offers no specifics on where the money would come from, but some of those at the meeting seemed reluctant to resort to tax increases.

"Everyone recognizes the congestion and that there's only one taxpayer," said Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson.

It was a phrase echoed by other municipal leaders.

"You know, we've got one taxpayer, everybody knows that," said Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts

"You and I, the premier, the ministers, the mayors know there's only one taxpayer," said Langley Mayor Peter Fassbender. "There's only one source of funding and it comes from all of us."

Dissenting opinion

B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell sounded less apologetic, saying that if transit-using taxpayers want more service, they should be prepared to pay up.

"If you want more transportation infrastructure, we have to find a way to pay for it," Campbell said. "There is no such thing as government money. It is only your money."

The contradictions and lack of transparency coming out of Thursday's meeting are unfair to the public, said B.C. New Democrat transportation critic Harry Bains.

"That's totally disappointing," said Bains. "I think the premier knows his days are numbered and he's trying to come up with these announcements to extend his stay and that's not good for the public."

The mayors are set to decide funding options for the Evergreen line before the end of the year. The options could include a carbon tax, hikes to property taxes or more tolls.

The line would link Lougheed Town Centre in Burnaby to the Coquitlam Town Centre.