Dear Editor,
Canadians are acting locally to resist the onslaught of threats to our sovereignty and economy. People around the world are resisting corporate subsidies at the cost of health care, education, transportation, and other critical services.
Corporate subsidies are not always transparent. Paratransit (HandyDART) in Metro Vancouver has been contracted to foreign companies since 2009. Starting with MVT and subsequently First Transit which was bought by Transdev, tax dollars helped support massive profits.
In our society profit is not necessarily a bad word. Private investment in infrastructure like buildings, fuel, vehicles, computers, and software are often considered when government contracts out services. Canadians may understand their tax dollars being directed to private companies when these companies take some measure of financial risk.
Tax dollars funneled through TransLink have invested in all the infrastructure necessary to operate HandyDART. There is no such investment by operating companies like TransDev.
Over decades TransLink has created an industry out of contracting this service to foreign multinationals with no valid explanation. The provincial government鈥檚 election platform promised an end to this parasitic partnership, instead an 18-month extension has been awarded to Transdev. One can only hope this extension is gifted with the intent of transitioning from this tax-leeching relationship and not an excuse to circle the wagons.
Mark Beeching, 黑马磁力 City
