VICTORIA, B.C. After flip-flopping on liquor privatization, is the B.C. government poised to ignore another promise made to taxpayers

Vancouver's regional transit authority, TransLink, has a 10-year plan that needs money. Lots of it. And to get part of the nearly $4-billion required to build new roads and bridges, open new rail lines, and introduce new passenger ferries, to name but a few projects, TransLink proposes increased property taxes, a hike in transit fares and a tax on pay parking.

To its credit, TransLink understands that its bold (and expensive) capital program isn't a matter of casual importance to taxpayers, and so a "public consultation" process has begun and will conclude in November. The first meeting, held in Vancouver on October 29, went very badly for the transit authority.

"It isn't likely to get any better for TransLink, or the Campbell Liberals," said David Hanley, BC Director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, "because there is one very large promise, made by the government, that still must be kept."

On page 9 of the Liberal's "New Era" document (go to www.bcliberals.com to find it), the following commitment is made:

"A B.C. Liberal government will: Require taxpayer approval by regional referendums prior to authorization of any new type of TransLink tax or levy."

A referendum is categorically not a series of public meetings. It is a vote.

"It is time for Doug McCallum, chair of TransLink, and Judith Reid, B.C. Transportation Minister, to tell us the date of that vote," said Hanley.

"For surely there won't be any more broken Liberal promises, right "