Thursday, March 12, 2015
Metro Vancouver, B.C. – The Better Transit and Transportation Coalition is pleased today to welcome nine associations representing tens of thousands of post-secondary students in Metro Vancouver to the Yes campaign.
Student associations from the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Vancouver Community College, Douglas College, Emily Carr University of Art + Design, Capilano University and UBC Graduate Students and SFU Graduate Students have all joined together to urge students vote Yes for better transit and transportation.
Student groups launched their campaign Wednesday and Thursday with events to voice their endorsement of a Yes vote in the upcoming Transit and Transportation Plebiscite, with ballots starting to be mailed March 16.
“Students have a huge stake in this referendum,” said Bahareh Jokar, a Better Transit and Transportation Coalition campaign co-chair and UBC Alma Mater Society Vice-President.
“Not only because so many students rely on transit to get around, but because the outcome of this plebiscite will impact the future of our region, including where we choose to work and live,” Jokar says.
“We have to stop asking students to spend twice as much time commuting as they actually do in classes,” Jokar said. “The Mayors’ Plan will put the transit services in place that students in our region need to be able to spend more time studying, working and with their families and less time stuck in traffic.”
BTTC campaign co-chair and David Suzuki Foundation CEO Peter Robinson praised the students for their environmental and civic leadership.
“Students all across our region are saying we can’t wait years and years for the improvements urgently needed to our transit and transportation system. It’s inspiring to see this next generation of leaders taking such an active role in this plebiscite,” Robinson said.
“Not only are students often the ones who are suffering the longest commute times now, but they are also the ones who will bear the brunt of the environmental consequences down the road if we don’t act now,” says Robinson.
The Better Transit and Transportation Coalition now has over 130 member organizations representing well over 400,000 people in Metro Vancouver.
The Coalition founding members include the Vancouver Board of Trade; the BC Chamber of Commerce; the David Suzuki Foundation; Unifor, Canada’s newest and largest private sector union; Tourism Vancouver; the Downtown Surrey Business Improvement Association; and the Greater Vancouver Gateway Council.
See our NEW website: bettertransit.info
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Media contact:
Bill Tieleman
Better Transit and Transportation Coalition / West Star Communications
Cell 778-896-0964 or Office 604-844-7827
