Following from the argument below – “The Soft Strategy” – what question could be put on the ballot that has a reasonable chance of getting a majority yes?
How about this:
Should Metro Vancouver be able to raise money for transportation? Yes or No.
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A few assumptions:
This is not a vote on TransLink.
This is not a vote on specific projects. The citizens of Metro are voting to fulfil the vision embedded in the Regional Growth Strategy and, consistent with it, the Regional Transportation Plan.
Only the citizens of Metro will be taxed. Only their elected representatives will decide on the mechanisms.
There will be no more referenda.
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Even with a generally worded measure, it will not be easy. Here, for instance, are the results of a survey done as part of the consultation process by TransLink on the Regional Transportation Strategy currently in draft.
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Now don’t let your eyes glaze over. Take a closer look at the first bar labelled “Invest, ” in which 53 percent of respondents gave support to investing in the strategies of the plan.
I’m assuming that means that just slightly over half were currently prepared to pay to get more transit in this region.
“Slightly over half” – and that’s in a general survey, without even getting into the hard choices and trade-offs.
It’s going to be a tough sell.
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[Days before last possible referendum date: 480.]
