Vancouver, BC (March 2, 2006) – Organizations representing more than 23,000 small, medium and large businesses from a broad range of sectors have banded together to form the Park The Tax Coalition, BC’s largest-ever anti-tax alliance to urge TransLink to cancel its new parking tax. The coalition continues to grow and includes organizations and businesses from the retail, industrial and service sectors and other taxpayers.

"I haven’t seen small business owners this angry in a long time," said Laura Jones, BC vice-president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, which recently released a survey showing 95 per cent of its members oppose the tax, with 88 per cent of them strongly opposed. "We need a better alternative than this new property tax which is simply being disguised as a parking tax. It unfairly targets small businesses, many of whom are already paying property taxes four to five times what residential owners pay.

TransLink’s $1.02 per square metre tax imposed on lower mainland businesses covers more than vehicle parking space. It is levied on a business’ total parking lot area they own including loading zones, material storage areas and even truck turnaround space.

"Quite simply, it’s not fair to expect just one class of property owner to pay this tax and this coalition is just the beginning," said Mark Startup, President and CEO of Retail BC. "This tax singles out commercial properties to shoulder an additional tax burden not required of anyone else. No wonder such a wide range of business organizations has joined this fight against the tax. It simply makes no sense to overtax a select group of businesses which continue to drive economic growth in BC and provide jobs. Until TransLink listens, this coalition will continue to grow and will be difficult to ignore."

"The business sector has no problem paying its fair share of taxes but this is too much; this is not a fair tax," added Stuart Swain, Chair the Building Owners and Managers Association of British Columbia Property Tax Committee and Vice President - Pacific Centre Leaseholds Limited, Cadillac Fairview Corporation.

"This is just another layer of taxation on BC businesses already operating under a significant tax burden. There is a limit to what any one business can pay in taxes. TransLink must go back to the drawing board and develop a more responsible and fair way to raise the funding it needs."

The parking tax will raise 25 million dollars this year; however it will cost $5 million to implement the tax. Further, TransLink’s 10-year transportation plan will need an estimated $1.9 billion in revenues, with revenue sources yet to be fully identified for most of the 10 year period.

On behalf of the businesses they represent, the Park the Tax Coalition is asking TransLink to reconsider the parking tax and bring in revenue generation policy based on principles that support good transportation planning.

Representatives of the Park the Tax Coalition have met with TransLink officials about the parking tax and will appear before the TransLink Board of Directors at their next meeting on March 6th.

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For more ifnormation:

Mark Startup

604 730-5252