Editor: We are about to have a referendum for the first specific tax for specific purposes: the 2015 Metro Vancouver Congestion Improvement Tax.
Now if the referendum results are positive, I have some predictions. The floodgates will open, because politicians have learned a new way to market new tax sources.
Be ready for some new “worthy cause” referenda.
They could include the following:
2016: Education Class Size Reduction Tax
2017: Health Wait Time Reduction Tax
2018: Policing Enhancement Tax
2019: Poverty Reduction Tax
2020: Affordable Housing Tax
2021: Utility Infrastructure Replacement Tax
2022: [Insert popular issue here] Tax
Let’s not forget the general tax revenue fund. It will continue to exist, but will be left for whimsical projects.
This referendum is about bigger issues than just transportation. It is a test. Be aware of the implications of voting yes.
Allan Alton,
Surrey