VANCOUVER – B.C. New Democrats are calling on the transportation minister to scrap the transit referendum.

“The minister and the premier have completely bungled this referendum idea, and it’s too late to get it back on track. It’s time to scrap the idea and go back to the drawing board to work with mayors on an equitable transit funding formula,” said New Democrat TransLink critic George Heyman.

“The premier and the transportation minister have proven to be completely incompetent in dealing with lower mainland transit service. Their decision to hold this referendum is holding transit users hostage, and they are being disrespectful of the mayors, the business community, and most of all, the residents of Metro Vancouver,” said Heyman.

Transportation Minister Todd Stone intends to table legislation next month to hold the transit vote in conjunction with November’s municipal election. However, the mayors continue to oppose to the referendum, and the government has rejected their proposals with no solutions in sight.

“Commuters sit in traffic jams and wait for overflowing buses, goods are held up on their way to port, costing our economy billions of dollars, while the government plays divisive politics.

“Transportation is the foundation for economic progress and livability in Metro Vancouver. It has been assessed that the cost of road congestion to the entire B.C. economy is $1.5 billion annually.”

Heyman noted that while Minister Stone says he’s committed to the passage of the referendum question and wants a clear question, he’s at odds with Premier Clark, who has favoured a multiple-choice question but says the government won’t get involved.

“We need leadership and clarity when it comes to the future of transit in Metro Vancouver. Unfortunately, the Liberals are playing politics and the residents and businesses of Metro Vancouver are suffering.”