A Metro Vancouver coalition calling itself "Drive Out the Tax" is seething over the tripling of a parking stall tax that came into effect Jan. 1.
The coalition of business leaders and lot owners spent Thursday handing out pamphlets critical of the levy, which jumped from seven per cent to 21 per cent, and applies to all off-street parking stalls.
Charles Gauthier, executive director of the Downtown Business Improvement Zone, says the hike will scare people away from downtown and result in a 20 per cent reduction in parking revenue.
"It's unfair. It's unreasonable. What we want TransLink to do is get a better handle on their costs," he said Thursday.
TransLink spokesman Ken Hardie says the tax increase amounts to $1.40 on a $10 parking tab.
Hardie said the tax goes toward projects such as the Canada Line, a new SeaBus, SkyTrain cars and upgrades to major roads.
He said he wonders if some lot owners are padding the increase.
Indeed, CTV News visited one parking lot Thursday that had been charging $8.50 to park all day. The price went up to $10.
With the new levy, the price should've been closer to $9.70.
None of the parking operators contacted by CTV News on Thursday were willing to go on camera.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Leah Hendry
