Here is the thing the BC Liberals and the mayors simply don't get.
Most of the mayors "voted to increase" the gas tax last year, ONE MONTH before the municipal elections with much controversy and whining. But despite the fact that Robertson, Watts, Stewart and Fassbender openly led to supporting the gas tax, they WON the municipal elections EASILY. Pretty much every other mayor who voted on this supposedly unpopular tax increase also won. And yet the BC Liberals, who is suppose to be blameless keep loosing support.
As a matter of fact, while Corrigan, Wright and Brodie were shoe-ins regardless of what they vote (since they already have excellent transit and don't need any other municipality getting improvements), one mayor, covered much by the media, that went against the taxes for the sake of his "community" is Rick Green who LOST the election (I know there are other factors but clearly opposing the much hated gas taxes didn't score him any points).
So perhaps all this political deflection of who raises what is simply mute to the voters?
Voters aren't really that stupid tbh, and at the end of the day, it seems they will not penalize municipal leaders for raising taxes as long as its for a good cause. But they will penalize politicians that are clearly doing things just for selfish political gain (like how they did with Rick Green and are doing with the BC Liberals now).
Kinda wish politicians in all levels of government realize this...
