Bringing rapid transit to the North Shore and the impact of taxes and housing on local businesses were all on the menu as three local MLAs sat down to breakfast with North Vancouver Chamber members Thursday.
Following the recent provincial announcement of a feasibility study into rapid transit between North Vancouver and the rest of Metro Vancouver, businesses are curious about “what’s it going to look like five years from now?” said moderator Peter Leitch.
North Vancouver-Lonsdale MLA Bowinn Ma said nobody knows the answer to that question yet. “We don’t know what will work,” she said. The first step is “let’s find out what’s physically possible,” she said, followed by what’s possible from a financial perspective.
West Vancouver-Capilano MLA Ralph Sultan hinted he was skeptical the study would lead to anything concrete.
“The principal outcome of the half-million-dollar study will be to assure Bowinn’s re-election in North Vancouver-Lonsdale,” he said.
But Ma said it wasn’t fair to dismiss the study as a political ploy. “How are we going to build it ever if we don’t know how it could physically work?” she said.
The impact of increasing taxes on local business was another hot button topic.
Ma said the finance ministry is aware that skyrocketing land values have resulted in huge increases in property tax for some businesses in recent years. Ma added the issue isn’t a new one but is something the government is examining.
North Vancouver-Seymour MLA Jane Thornthwaite also criticized the NDP for saddling business with the new employer health tax, adding the phase-in of the tax means employers are paying portions of both the new tax and existing MSP premiums. “I’ve heard stories of small businesses that have closed their doors,” she said.
Ma acknowledged in her comments the transition between the two health taxes was “not ideal.”
All MLAs also spoke of the need for housing in order to relieve traffic congestion from commuters and make it easier for employers to attract workers.
“I find it hard to believe we’ll become known as a low-income neighbourhood,” said Sultan.
But Sultan said changes will depend on decisions of municipal councils. “We have to look ourselves in the mirror and see if we are going to make the necessary changes,” he said, before taking a swipe at recent decisions by the District of North Vancouver to turn down affordable housing projects. “We must make room for them in our neighbourhoods,” he said. “Our city councils and municipalities have to bite the bullet.”
