VICTORIA: The BC division of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today said that part of the $800 million infrastructure fund, announced today in Vancouver by federal, provincial and municipal politicians, should help cancel TransLink's planned $75 auto tax.

"The fund announced today for infrastructure in B.C. is another reason why drivers in greater Vancouver should not be hit with a new car tax," said CTF-BC director Mark Milke. "Three levels of government want to spend money on roads and transit - so let them help TransLink out with precisely those priorities."

The CTF noted that TransLink's proposed auto tax would cost in $95 million in 2002. The CTF is on record as proposing that that money instead be diverted from existing provincial and federal fuel taxes, as well as the over $2 billion worth of civic budgets in greater Vancouver. The Federation noted that the "green" requirement for infrastructure funding would certainly be met by Translink's plans for mass transit improvements.

"Three levels of government have enough tax money between them to help drivers avoid a collision with a new TransLink auto tax," said Milke. "It's time senior governments learned the rules of the taxpayer highway: share existing taxes."