Vancouver City council?s two newly elected Non-Partisan Association (NPA) members say they?ll push pro-business tax reform, private-public partnerships (P3s) for infrastructure projects and job creation.
?Right now our tax base is based on development, which is great, but that can?t last forever,? said new NPA councillor George Affleck who was voted in November 19 along with NPA councillor Elizabeth Ball.
?We need to look at other ways to earn tax revenue and to pay for things in this city – and that has to be about attracting businesses to this city,? said Affleck, who is also president and CEO of Curve Communications.
Affleck and Ball, who is also a business owner, argued that further tax reform is needed to reduce the property tax burden on businesses.
Ball said the NPA will push for a continuation of the tax-shifting policy that reduces the municipal property tax burden on businesses. The policy is currently set to end after 2012.
Affleck added that he?ll look at other areas needing tax reform, including ?hot spots,? where speculative property values have been driven up by business taxes.
Both NPA councillors also pitched ideas to stimulate job growth.
For example, Ball advocated a city-wide master tourism plan to help that industry. Affleck said Vancouver can do more to attract green companies to town.
As to policy areas where the NPA expects to butt heads with the Vision Vancouver-dominated council, Affleck pointed to ?their lack of interest in P3s for public transportation and other proposed infrastructure systems.?
He said the NPA backs P3s.
?The Canada Line P3 saved taxpayers $700 million and is a success in every way,? he said, advocating that the approach be used for a SkyTrain extension down the Broadway Corridor.
Affleck added that while he sees value in a plan for a streetcar – a central part of defeated NPA mayoral candidate Suzanne Anton?s election campaign – the Broadway Corridor is his top transportation priority.
As to how much clout the two NPA councillors expect to have on council, both spoke cautiously.
Ball emphasized the gain the NPA has made by doubling its council presence from what it was in the past administration, when Anton was the party?s sole council representative.
?When Suzanne Anton was on alone, there was no one to second her motion, no matter how good it might be,? she said. ?This way we?re able to move ideas forward, we?re able to have debate – which wasn?t happening.?
But Affleck cautioned that two votes still add up to a limited amount of power.
?They have seven councillors and [Green Party of Vancouver councillor] Adriane Carr is more focused on their side of the agenda than ours, so it will be two against eight,? said Affleck. ?It?s unlikely many of our things will get passed. But I hope that people – and Vision – will look at these things and say, ?Yeah, that?s a good idea; that?s important for Vancouver; let?s pass that.?? ?
