THE Surrey Board of Trade wants the Transit Referendum question now.

“I’ve called the Ministry of Transportation today and they indicated that there was no timeline on when the transit referendum question will be ready. I’ve written a letter asking for the question to be ready now,” said Anita Huberman, CEO, Surrey Board of Trade, on Tuesday.

“Transportation is a very complex subject especially in Metro Vancouver. Even though the vote is not taking place until November 2014, time is needed to educate the public, and in our case, the business community of Surrey. Other referendum campaigns have had multi-year campaigns because transportation and transit systems are a complex subject to educate the populous.

“We need the question now – and we need, finally, a solution that will benefit all of Metro Vancouver – and not compromise growing cities like Surrey. Surrey will be the largest city in BC, and yet our transit and transportation systems simply do not meet current and future economic demand. This puts our economic future at risk. This referendum will have far-reaching and even unforeseen impacts. This is an issue that can’t be politicized. Businesses – in terms of the efficient movement of goods and people – are at risk.”