For Immediate Release
July 2, 2015
Re: 2015 Metro Vancouver Transportation and Transit Plebiscite Results
“First and foremost, I’d like to thank The Vancouver Board of Trade’s thousands of members and partners, who have shown a tremendous amount of support for our organization over the past six months, as we poured time, energy and resources into this unprecedented referendum campaign,” said Iain Black, President and CEO of The Vancouver Board of Trade and one of the Better Transit and Transportation Coalition’s four co-chairs.
“We knew from the outset that this campaign would be an uphill battle. Never before in Canada have voters been asked to approve transportation investments and funding through a referendum. Despite the odds, our organization felt an obligation to stand up on behalf of Greater Vancouver’s business community, given that transportation and transit is the backbone to our regional economy. The Vancouver Board of Trade has been helping lead conversations about transportation since our inception in 1887, and we will continue to be a strong voice for the business community in the years to come.
“While we are understandably disappointed with the result today, we respect the decision made by voters, and will now shift our focus to ‘What’s next?’ The Vancouver Board of Trade will take some time to digest these results and come up with options that will best serve our members— business owners and job creators across Greater Vancouver. We remain concerned that today’s ‘No’ outcome will negatively affect livability in the region, and that our economy and businesses will suffer without transportation improvements. The Vancouver Board of Trade is dedicated to working with our members, our own VBOT Metro Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the Mayors, the Province, and stakeholders from across the region on determining solutions to improve the movement of people and goods.
“Finally, thank you to our partners at the Better Transit and Transportation Coalition. Obviously today’s news is not the result we were hoping for, but we can stand tall knowing that we were part of a historic undertaking. With support from 145 organizations, our coalition was the broadest and most diverse in British Columbia’s history. That’s something to be proud of, and it underscores there is support in our community for better transit and transportation options in our region. That support doesn’t end with today’s results.”
-30-
About The Vancouver Board of Trade:
Since its inception in 1887, The Vancouver Board of Trade has been recognized as Pacific Canada’s leading business association, engaging members to positively impact public policy at all three levels of government and to succeed and prosper in the global economy. With a Membership whose employees comprise one third of B.C.’s workforce, we are the largest business association between Victoria and Toronto. We leverage this collective strength, facilitating networking opportunities, and providing professional development through four unique Member programs. In addition, we operate one of the largest events businesses in the country, providing a platform for national and international business and thought leaders to further enlighten B.C.’s business leaders.
