Back in 1984, Brian Mulroney and John Turner squared off in an election debate over patronage. As part of the deal he made with the retiring Pierre Trudeau, Turner appointed umpteen Liberals to patronage posts just before the election call. In the televised debate with Mulroney, Turner squirmed and argued "I had no option." Mulroney attacked, told him he did have an option - he could have said "no."

Sixteen years later, lower mainland drivers are being told by TransLink and its chair, George Puil that if they want better roads and transit: pay up - they have no option. To justify that lack of choice, TransLink spent over $400,000 in its latest round of consultations and polls, all to tell us that people would rather pay a new tax than sit in traffic. No kidding - but a new tax is not the only option, no matter what the politicians tell voters.

TransLink wants $95 million via new auto tax. Fine. Here are some other ways to get that money. A warning: Some will require that all the politicians re-learn their kindergarten lessons on how to share.

The First Taxpayer Pot of Cash: $800 million over four years

Ottawa, the Province, and municipal governments just announced they will spend $800 million in B.C. over the next couple of years, money destined for infrastructure.

Yes, I know. 75% of it must go to environmentally friendly projects according to the federal Environment Minister David Anderson. Since TransLink will spend over one billion dollars on transit-related capital projects between 2001 and 2005, I'd say TransLink can make a case for chunks of that money.

The Second Taxpayer Pot of Cash: $575 million annually

Provincial and federal fuel taxes. The federal government charges 10 cents plus GST on every litre bought within greater Vancouver. The provincial government charges 15 cents per litre.

The Province transfers 8 cents a litre worth of money every year and plans to increase that to 10 cents a litre over the next couple of years. Ottawa hands over nothing, but does provide dollops of cash to everyone else when an election nears. Every cent in tax is worth about $23 million in the GVRD. That means Ottawa gets $230 million in gas taxes (not including the GST) while the Province takes in $345 million (though it does hand back $187 million.)

The Third Taxpayer Pot of Cash: $2 billion annually

Cities in the Greater Vancouver Regional District spend over $2 billion every year: Vancouver spends $688 million; Surrey's budget is $156 million; Richmond's is $136 million, Delta expends $124 million. You get the idea. So far, even municipal politicians who oppose the TransLink Auto Tax won't offer up a sliver of their budgets in order to embarrass senior levels of government into doing the same.

Voters are told every penny is sacrosanct. Try again, three years ago Edmonton councilors told their city manager to find 5% of a billion-dollar budget. He did, and councilors chose $31 million in spending reductions (out of a possible $50 million.) The fat came mainly from administration and duplication; GVRD politicians should try harder.

TransLink needs $95 million in cash Take it from the one-time $800 million Liberal M.P. re-election pot, the annual $2 billion spent by cities in the GVRD, or $575 million in existing per litre taxes that Ottawa and BC collect. (The Province can speed up its transfers.) Or take a chunk from all of the above - but don't impose a new auto tax. Taxpayers have had enough.