It’s voting day! And the region
It’s voting day! I’m kinda sad I didn’t get around to posting about amalgamation or the LRT, but neither of those issues are ending today, so there’ll be more time.
This blog endorses Jane Mitchell and Sean Strickland for Regional Council and Ken Seiling for Regional Chair.
I’ve been particularly disappointed about how the campaign has turned around the LRT. The provincial government failed to come through with its promised commitment. The region will have to come up with the remaining $250 million (or thereabouts). Some wag did a back-of-the-envelope calculation and decided that that meant a 9.1% increase in property taxes to proceed.
Except no-one would ever agree to that. I don’t agree with that. I might be okay with a 9% increase in property taxes for myself to fund LRT, because I think it’s that important, but I’m not a senior on a fixed income the majority of whose wealth is tied up in their house.
So that would never happen. But increasing property taxes isn’t the only way a government can pay for things. And we aren’t dealing with a fixed price tag anyway. The plan can adapt.
We don’t know what we’re talking about until regional staff can get back with options. Everything that’s been said about LRT during this election has been useless because we don’t know what we’re dealing with.
It’s all incredibly disappointing.
I’m voting for the people who I think stand the best chance of building the region I most want to live in. Although I’m a bit sad that no-one except Ken Seiling has seriously stood up for the LRT plan they voted for.
Please vote today! Hopefully I’ve been a little bit helpful.
Cross-posted from the flying squirrel