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VANCOUVER About 74 per cent of taxpayers who held an opinion support Translink looking for a less costly alternative to the RAV project that would still provide rapid transit between downtown Vancouver and the airport, according to a poll released today.

This new poll clearly shows that we have been misled by the poll done two weeks ago by the business coalition pressuring the Translink board to undo its two early votes against the RAV, CUPE BC president Barry ONeill said.

We need to consider all the facts before we make this giant leap into an unknown financial commitment with a private company steering the way, he added.

About 63 per cent also say they oppose or strongly oppose the provincial governments refusal to fund the RAV rapid transit line unless it is privately operated. About 70 per cent want the RAV to be run publicly. They reject the proposal that a private company would run it for 35 years.

What is the rush? ONeill asked. We were told it isnt about the 2010 Olympics. If not, why are we throwing democracy out the window to push through this bad business deal?

Viewpoints Market Research conducted the poll on June 25, 2004, surveying 406 people in Richmond, Vancouver, the North Shore, Northeast and other part of the Greater Vancouver Regional District.

The poll, commissioned by the Canadian Union of Public Employees, is accurate within five percentage points 19 times out of 20.

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Contact:
Barry ONeill, CUPE BC President, 604-916-8444;
Ron Verzuh, CUPE Communications, 604-828-7668.