Before the Metro Vancouver Mayors even begin to talk about throwing more Gas Taxes onto the backs of already extremely
highly taxed Greater Vancouver residents, there needs to be a full accounting of the money
currently being collected from the regional Gas Tax right down to the last $1,000.
Virtually nobody knows exactly how much money is being collected from the
current Gas Tax, and specifically how
that money is being dispersed for Greater Vancouver transportation
infrastructure - virtually nobody knows whether the Gas Tax money is being properly
spent, or whether it's being wasted in overpriced contracts or useless endeavors.
Where there's smoke, there's fire; and the fact that the exact amount of money
currently being collected from the Gas Tax, and exactly how the money is being
spent is not transparent, tells me the money is probably not being spent wisely.... every quarter (that's every 3 months) the amount of money being
collected from the Gas Tax and how that money is being dispersed right down to
the last $1,000 needs to be published for all residents of the Greater Metro
Vancouver region to see - only then can the taxpayers of the region be in a
position to see how, when, and if additional (or maybe even a reduction) in Gas Taxes should be contemplated.
Until there is an accurate, transparent, and regular accounting of the current regional
Gas Tax for all Taxpayers too see, regional residents should demand to Axe The Gas Tax.
BTW ... here's a video clip of the last Translink public meeting in 2007 just before the BC
Liberals decided to make the Translink meetings private without public oversight
(resulting in taxation without representation) ...