The Livable Blog

Many of us in Vancouver have been recieving requests from Translink to complete their surveys over the past couple of years. Some like myself, just ignore them because of the obvious bias in how these surveys are formulated to manufacture support for whatever Translink is tasked to accomplish by their bosses, Gordon Campbell and Kevin Falcon. These shameless attempts to manipulate their own survey/polls is the same arrogance and neglect we have been subjected to for the past 8 years with these Liberals.

Translink's pitch:

Dear On-line Advisor:

We’ve got a few quick questions about Canada’s Pacific Gateway, which shouldn’t take more than 6-7 minutes for you to answer.

Please complete the survey by Friday, February 27th to have your name entered into three prizes draws for $100 each.

If you complete both this study and Saving Time and Money on Your Local Transportation, your name will be entered into an additional prize draw for 2 prizes of $100.

Please click on the link to proceed to the study. https://join.translinklistens.bc.ca/R.aspx?r=7ez6PhP0GEyOYMfJNPPGaw&m=600000147

Thanks again for your valuable input.

Yours sincerely,

TransLink Listens

Below are some of the responses people have had on the blogs to this unethical behavior that could only come from an immoral government.

Dear Mr. Prendergast and Mr. Hardie –

I write to inform you that your poll about Gateway is one of the most offensive documents I have ever seen. Only people who are well aware that the majority of citizens appose its plans would construct a poll like this that FORCES people to register support for the Gateway Program.

I represent the Gateway 40 Citizens Network, a network of 47 enviornmental, planning, agricultural, academic, faith and commmaunity groups who’s concerns over this project have been soundly ignored by Translink and the Campbell government.

If you aren’t interested in conducting a survey in which people can express how they real feel – if you are so afraid of being exposed to real public opinion, you would be better off doing nothing.. Your survey is patently dishonest – offensively so.

Translink remains one of the most poorly managed and anti-environmental transit organizations in North America and your sleazy, manipulative tactics only underscore that point.

Donna Passmore
Gateway 40 Citizens Network
Farmland Defence League of BC
& Fraser Valley Conservation Coalition

-----?

I don’t think that the options for the three words that describe Gateway make sense. There are no options that express reservations about Gateway. Only options that boost Gateway are listed. This is a managed question that makes a mockery of the idea that Translink listens.

Doug McFee

I usually get all the surveys too, but not this one. They may be cherry picking respondents to bias the results even further -- manufacturing assent.

Rick.

On February 23, 2009 2:24:38 PM PST (CA), Carmen M. wrote:
That is outrageous. Who can we send an email to objecting to the heavy and obvious bias?

CM.

I did the survey and then clicked on the top right HELP button to complain
as follows.
"Why are some of the questions not at all what people would select, yet they are FORCED to answer in the AFFIRMATIVE, otherwise, they cannot complete the survey? Is that a survey, or Translink's indoctrination of well-meaning people who have been co-operating with you and now feel betrayed. Your comments please."

AH.