User Fees

It's not news that the Campbell government is in favour of user fees as evidenced by the user fees that have either been introduced, raised or are set to be introduced since 2001. These include a sizeable increase in the MSP premium, parking fees at BC parks, huge increases in tuition costs, proposed road tolls on the Golden Ears and Port Mann bridge, and many more.

These shifts have been explained that those who do not benefit from the said services should not have to pay for them.

Well, reading about the $100 million cost overrun so far going towards the 2010 games, it seems far more appropriate that this cost, rather than being taken out of the taxpayer base, should be raised by a user-fee paid by those that think this is a worthwhile expense.

To motivate people to pay, they could take a page out of the BC Parks example that tells people that their money will go directly into maintaining the park. People could be told that their contribution will go directly to their favourite contractor or advertising firm and will not be put into general government revenue. I'm sure this would be wonderful motivation for let's say, half the population of Greater Vancouver to come up with the $100 each to cover the cost overrun for such a great cause.