VICTORIA: The BC division of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today congratulated the provincial government for refusing to help TransLink impose a new auto tax on lower mainland motorists. The CTF renewed its call for more provincial and federal gas tax revenues to be shifted to TransLink to fund transportation improvements in the greater Vancouver area.

"It was the wrong tax, designed in the most complicated way, to be imposed at the wrong time," said CTF-BC director Mark Milke. The Federation submitted 18,000 signatures to TransLink in November and received another 7,000 since that time.

"25,000 people expressed their opposition to the tax through the CTF and they and other lower mainland taxpayers are the winners. This proves that citizens can make a difference," said Milke.

The Federation renewed its call for an increased share of gas tax revenues to be transferred from provincial and federal governments to TransLink.