NPA Councillor says parking tax unfair to Vancouver

Vancouver—NPA Councillor Suzanne Anton is urging Mayor Gregor Robertson to ask Translink to reverse the new tax on pay parking. Anton says the 21% tax unfairly targets Vancouver.

“The burden of this new tax falls overwhelmingly on parking and businesses in the City of Vancouver because that is where all the pay parking is located,” says Anton. “It encourages businesses to locate outside of Vancouver where the parking is free.  This is not a good environmental solution.”

Anton says the new tax makes it more expensive to do business in Vancouver, where many businesses are forced to rely on pay parking for their customers.  It is extremely detrimental to the opening of new businesses in the city.

Anton says that Mayor Robertson never brought the tax issue to council, did not ask for council’s help or support, and failed to oppose it at Translink. “He completely failed to defend the interests of the City of Vancouver.” says Anton. “The Mayor talks about supporting business but fails to act.”

Anton is bringing a motion to Vancouver Council on 19 January requesting that Translink reverse the tax.