REVscene - Vancouver Automotive Forum

whitev70r · 07-01-2018, 01:11 PM

We are not the only big metro type of city. I don't see Toronto gas prices this high, they have a sh*tload of more transit to grow and potholes to fix. It's frigging Trans link mismanagement. Those who think 1.5 cents is nothing, don't forget we already pay 17 cents per liter toward Translink already. Translink and politicians are hoping you would say exactly that ... oh what's another $50 a year ... bend over .... and not raise a stink.

nsx042003 · 07-01-2018, 04:07 PM

^ what can we do? I'd really love to see what can be done.

it's not like we want to bend over, it's the fact that there's NOTHING to be done

StanleyR · 07-01-2018, 06:10 PM

It's not that there's NOTHING that can be done. You can reduce this cost by simply driving less.

I prefer a higher gas rate as it's a variable cost (drive less), whereas an increase in insurance from ICBC is a fixed cost (regardless on how little or much you drive, you pay the same rate).

whitev70r · 07-01-2018, 08:49 PM

Raise sh*t about the Translink board members.

https://globalnews.ca/news/3754401/t...ars-last-year/

Compensation paid to TransLink’s board of directors cost taxpayers well over half a million dollars last year.

For 2016, combined payments to the board that administers the region’s transit and transportation cost a total $649,000.

That was up about 13 per cent from a total of $574,916 in 2015, according to a Financial Information Act Filing and Remuneration Report.

The board is made up of 10 directors and one chair, Don Rose, who was paid $100,000 for attending 60 meetings. That works out to just about $1,700 per meeting.

westopher · 07-02-2018, 01:36 PM

I find it odd that so many people have issues with the taxes we pay on gas, where the money goes to pay for amenities and infrastructure we can use, as opposed to taking issue with the profits that massive oil companies pull in, which provide no benefit to us as a population.
I agree there is some poor money management in the public sector, however some asshole translink board making an extra 100k, is far less offensive to me than an oil company board making 10s of millions a year while turning hundreds of million in profits?
How about banks charging you money to hold your money while charging someone else to loan your money to them, then paying you back a small portion of that profit?
So many people don't bother to see the big enemy here.

yray · 07-02-2018, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by westopher

I find it odd that so many people have issues with the taxes we pay on gas, where the money goes to pay for amenities and infrastructure we can use, as opposed to taking issue with the profits that massive oil companies pull in, which provide no benefit to us as a population.
I agree there is some poor money management in the public sector, however some asshole translink board making an extra 100k, is far less offensive to me than an oil company board making 10s of millions a year while turning hundreds of million in profits?
How about banks charging you money to hold your money while charging someone else to loan your money to them, then paying you back a small portion of that profit?
So many people don't bother to see the big enemy here.

I don't think people have problems with more tax but why target only drivers when benefits do not necessarily go back to roads. Tax should be levied on the mass pop. using ways like bc hydro accounts as anyone that uses electricity will pay for the region accordingly. I know the principle is that higher tax would force people off the roads but if there's no transit to port kells, tibury or annacis is that tax even valid.

twitchyzero · 07-02-2018, 02:24 PM

you can get free banking though some other poor sap will be offsetting it
mortage is part of life because most don't have a mill sitting there looking pretty
there are no EVs built for enthusiast under 6-figs

i'd like to boycott the corporations bank rolling terrorist cells but it ain't realistic yet

again, i'm not gonna lose sleep over an extra $30 per year...it has nothing to do with getting 'bent over'

whitev70r · 07-02-2018, 06:53 PM

This is the big picture ... (and that price listed under BC is either not recent or gas outside Metro brought the avg price down). After paying the oil companies their millions of profits, which people from BC to PEI has to do, this is the difference.

I'm fine with paying say $1.35 and I get that some has to go to repair roads, infrastructure etc. BUT every other major city has roads, transit, infrastructure, and 'amenities'. If Ontario can do it for $1.310 what factor makes gas in BC $1.458? Why is it so much more than the average big Canadian city?

If 1.5 cents translates to $50/yr extra per car ... 15 cent difference (from BC to Ont) translates to $500/yr extra per car or $1000/yr if you have 2 cars ... feel like you're bending over yet?

https://www.gasbuddy.com/CAN

westopher · 07-02-2018, 07:20 PM

Have you driven on a road in Edmonton? Taken a bus? Both are a fucking catastrophe. Toronto is as high as we are. Spend some time in some of Canada's "big cities" in each province and I bet you will see a correlation between these taxes and quality of transportation via public, or personal use.

whitev70r · 07-02-2018, 07:27 PM

^ you work for Translink?

Here are gas prices in Toronto in the last 24 hrs, fyi - https://www.gasbuddy.com/GasPrices/Ontario/Toronto

$124.9 to $129.9 ... not quite as high a we are, you agree?

westopher · 07-02-2018, 08:02 PM

They were up around 1.51 a few weeks ago. I don't follow my savings of $15 a month if I lived 4000KMs away that closely to know the real time data. It was $1.35 in Edmonton last week, however, and its built on an ocean of gasoline.

twitchyzero · 07-02-2018, 08:05 PM

I don't agree with significant taxation on essential consumables either, it's why I give business to the Americans instead

complaining about an extra 1.5c/L though? Vancouverites gonna Vancouverite

Quote:

Originally Posted by westopher

It was $1.35 in Edmonton last week, however, and its built on an ocean of gasoline.

you mean like how Made-in-China iPhones are more expensive in China?

nsx042003 · 07-02-2018, 08:26 PM

I don't have a problem with increases, as long as it's appropriate. Taxing people who don't use transit FOR transit spending is...well...fucked up if you ask me.

westopher · 07-02-2018, 08:33 PM

Why do I pay for taxes for schools when I have no children? Why do I pay for subsidized housing when I can afford my mortgage?
Now thats fucked up logic.

nsx042003 · 07-03-2018, 08:37 AM

no i get what you are saying westopher, but do you see new tax being introduced every year or so for school? or subsidized housing?

it's reached a point where they keep sliding it in without betting an eye, that's the issue, not the increases

minoru_tanaka · 07-03-2018, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nsx042003

I don't have a problem with increases, as long as it's appropriate. Taxing people who don't use transit FOR transit spending is...well...fucked up if you ask me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nsx042003

no i get what you are saying westopher, but do you see new tax being introduced every year or so for school? or subsidized housing?

it's reached a point where they keep sliding it in without betting an eye, that's the issue, not the increases

You think you can just slide into different argument and no one will notice?

Traum · 07-03-2018, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nsx042003

no i get what you are saying westopher, but do you see new tax being introduced every year or so for school? or subsidized housing?

it's reached a point where they keep sliding it in without betting an eye, that's the issue, not the increases

What? We haven't reached this point yet? With hikes to fees and taxes and such, I thought we have long past that point years and years ago.

teggy604 · 07-03-2018, 01:49 PM

Didn't TransLink gave themselves bonus for doing a great job few yrs ago? Who approves these bonuses because it is certainly not the tax payers.

nsx042003 · 07-03-2018, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by minoru_tanaka

You think you can just slide into different argument and no one will notice?

I have no idea what you are getting at? I'm saying 2 different things?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Traum

What? We haven't reached this point yet? With hikes to fees and taxes and such, I thought we have long past that point years and years ago.

Either way, my point is they have got to stop, but unfortunately there's nothing to be done

Manic! · 07-03-2018, 03:14 PM

The problem is not the 1.5 cents its that its a tax on something that's already heavily taxed. It's like the straw that broke the camels back.

meme405 · 07-03-2018, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teggy604

Who approves these bonuses because it is certainly not the tax payers.

The board approves it's own salaries, and bonuses. I'm not kidding...

It's like that for many public chair people. Notably:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/briti...onus-1.4598747

Really I feel like these people should be tipped like strippers and whores. I'd be the first person in line to throw loonies as hard as I can at some of these politicians.

underscore · 07-07-2018, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by westopher

I find it odd that so many people have issues with the taxes we pay on gas, where the money goes to pay for amenities and infrastructure we can use, as opposed to taking issue with the profits that massive oil companies pull in, which provide no benefit to us as a population.
I agree there is some poor money management in the public sector, however some asshole translink board making an extra 100k, is far less offensive to me than an oil company board making 10s of millions a year while turning hundreds of million in profits?
How about banks charging you money to hold your money while charging someone else to loan your money to them, then paying you back a small portion of that profit?
So many people don't bother to see the big enemy here.

How exactly are those related? An oil company is just a company, last time I checked the only way any of those stay open is by making a profit.

whitev70r · 07-07-2018, 03:19 PM

^ really good point!

westopher · 07-07-2018, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by underscore

How exactly are those related? An oil company is just a company, last time I checked the only way any of those stay open is by making a profit.

I'm making a point that people have an issue paying taxes on a product, when they should be mad about getting gouged on a product, from a group of companies known for price fixing, destroying the environment, manipulating government, etc.
Its an observation that people should be mad at something different. Theres a reason gas is expensive, and the main reason isn't the taxes.

underscore · 07-08-2018, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by westopher

I'm making a point that people have an issue paying taxes on a product, when they should be mad about getting gouged on a product, from a group of companies known for price fixing, destroying the environment, manipulating government, etc.
Its an observation that people should be mad at something different. Theres a reason gas is expensive, and the main reason isn't the taxes.

In the GVRD you guys are paying $0.3328/L in taxes, so the fuel is about $1.25/L. That has to cover the dragging it out of the ground, transporting it, refining it, and transporting it again. Not to mention the costs of building and operating the extraction, refining and sales facilities, and it still manages to be the cheapest liquid sold at a gas station.

As far as things we get gouged on that we should be mad about instead, I'd offer up the taxes on used vehicle purchases as a prime target. Everyone panics about a 1.5% tax increase expected to cost them $22/yr, but nobody seems to care about paying thousands extra on a used vehicle that has already had taxes paid on in multiple times.