Clark in talks with Ottawa about transit
Almost $7 billion needed to fund Lower Mainland projects
VICTORIA — Premier Christy Clark says she’s working with Ottawa to find a way to build Metro Vancouver’s transit projects without having to call another referendum.
In an interview with The Vancouver Sun on Wednesday, Clark said she and her ministers have engaged the new federal Liberal government on funding for B.C.’s infrastructure needs and, in particular, big transit projects in the Lower Mainland.
“They are really interested, as we are, in transit in Surrey, in Vancouver, and of course the George Massey Tunnel as well, because all of those things are going to reduce our impact on the environment because there will be less idling, less people in cars, and those sorts of things,” said Clark. “So we’re talking to them about how they will step in and fund that. And there is a law that says if there’s a new tax mechanism required to fund transit at the municipal level, there will have to be a referendum.
“But we’re talking to the federal government about how they might be able to step in and avoid a new tax on the people of the Lower Mainland. So we’re working on those things.”
The government has a list of almost $7 billion worth of projects it hopes Ottawa will fund out of $20 billion the federal Liberals promised for infrastructure during the federal election campaign — including rapid transit in Surrey and a Broadway subway line in Vancouver.
TransLink Minister Peter Fassbender and Transportation Minister Todd Stone were in Ottawa on Wednesday to meet with federal officials.
Clark’s Liberal government has in the past insisted Metro Vancouver municipalities come up with one-third of transit projects, and that they be forced to take any new revenue sources to a referendum for approval. A plebiscite on raising the provincial sales tax to cover Lower Mainland transit upgrades this year failed to pass.
B.C. has asked the federal government to alter the traditional three-way funding model on transit projects (a split between the municipal, provincial and federal levels), which could potentially add more federal cash to the mix and lower the region’s share of the bill.
“I think we want to get it done as quickly as we possibly can,” said Clark.
“A referendum will take some time for sure, but it’s the law. And people will get their say if there’s a requirement for taxes to go up municipally.”
Clark ruled out using any future increase in the carbon tax to fund transit projects, which is what Alberta plans to do with its newly announced carbon tax. NDP Leader John Horgan has said he thinks British Columbians would prefer Alberta’s model.