Will the B.C. Liberals campaign for ‘Yes’ in the transit referendum they forced on the Lower Mainland? It depends who you ask, and when.

The transportation minister vowed late last year that he was “committed to success.” But later, the premier told reporters a very different story. Now, it appears, she has overruled her transportation minister yet again.

Nov. 23, 2013
“The premier did not make this commitment to just run through a process — maybe it’ll work, maybe it won’t, whatever, and we’ll move on. We are committed to success. I, as the minister, am committed to success on this referendum.”
-Transportation Minister Todd Stone, Vancouver Sun

Oct. 2, 2014
“We’re going to let mayors lead this.”
-Premier Christy Clark, in an address to the Vancouver Board of Trade

Dec. 5, 2014
“Through a spokesperson, Mr. Stone later said he would be advocating for a Yes.”
-Globe & Mail

Dec. 17, 2014
“It’s the mayors’ question. It’s their campaign.”
-Premier Christy Clark, Global

Dec. 29, 2014
“The government will not be supporting either side – Yes or No.”
-Statement from the Ministry of Transportation

Quote from New Democrat TransLink spokesperson George Heyman:

“Yet again, Premier Christy Clark has undermined her transportation minister – and rather than doing what’s right, she’s doing exactly what she wants. While Minister Stone made it clear that he was ‘committed to success’ in the referendum, a ministry statement confirms what Clark has hinted at: the B.C. Liberals will ‘not be supporting either side.’

“Premier Clark forced this referendum on the Lower Mainland, and now she is simply walking away. Either she wants to duck responsibility for the serious long-term consequences to B.C.’s economy and Metro Vancouver’s growing traffic congestion if this referendum fails, or she just doesn’t care.”