Gas tax hike possible as Metro mayors green light Phase 2 of transit plan
Posted June 28, 2018 11:21 am.
Last Updated June 28, 2018 3:54 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
NEW WESTMINSTER (NEWS 1130) – Drivers in Metro Vancouver may be feeling the pain at the pump even more as the region’s gas tax might be going up to 18.5 cents per litre and some angry mayors are accusing the provincial government of forcing them to do this.
The increase from the current 17 cents per litre has already been approved by Victoria to help cover transit upgrades as part of the region’s 10-year improvement plan.
The mayors reluctantly approved Phase 2 of the transit plan, and have decided to explore their options for coming up with the $30-million annual gap. Some of them, like Langley Township Mayor Jack Froese, says the NDP government is backing out of a $30 million commitment to Phase 2 while others are angry the province only told local mayors it had chosen this increase as a funding option this week.
Froese proposed a motion to refer it to staff for more consideration, an idea that was rejected. “It’s unfortunate and that’s why I asked for a little bit of time… so we could have a week or so to look at some options. That failed, so now we move forward.”
Maple Ridge Mayor Nicole Read voted against the increase, saying enough is enough. “This increase in gas tax however small is still going to have a significant impact on people who have the longest commutes and we have to start shifting away from that. So, I felt that it was really important for me to send a strong message on behalf of my citizens.”
West Vancouver Mayor Michael Smith voted for the plan but is upset the province gave so little time to the Mayors’ Council to consider the tax increase. “I am opposed to a lot of the local funding options in the plan, but the bottom-line is you can’t walk away from $7 billion [transit plan.]”
The gas tax wouldn’t be implemented until 2019, adds Smith, who hopes another source if found to fund the plan.
Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan, who chairs the Mayors’ Council, voted for the expansion plan. “There are all kinds of pressure on the system to start moving on the 10-year plan and as a result accepting this as being a way to close that gap, was something, I think, the mayors agreed was not perfect — it was something that would allow it to happen.”
