In Burnaby's Metrotown towers sit some of the best paid executives in the land.
TransLink employees have seen their salaries sky-rocket in the past five years, while transit fares have risen for riders. It's something that has transit users frustrated.
"I mean, we can't just boycott taking transit," says one rider. "We can't afford gas prices as they go up."
What they can do is marvel at how much TransLink executives make. Some employees are making twice as much as they did just six years ago.
Former CEO Pat Jacobsen saw her salary jump by 77 per cent to $361,000 a year. The salary for VP of major construction, Fred Cummings, went up 91 per cent. And Bob Paddon, the VP of public affairs, saw his salary double.
CTV News asked TransLink's Ken Hardie how it can justify this kind of hike when it admits the company is financially strapped.
"Well, part of the reason we're financially strapped is because we've been expanding very quickly," says Hardie.
What Hardie means is that executives are busier than ever, handling bigger and more complex projects than they did five years ago.
Also, some are enjoying bigger salaries because they were promoted.
"I think the public is shocked," says NDP leader Carole James. "They're certainly not seeing raises of 100 per cent of their salary packages."
The NDP says the increases are ludicrous because not only is TransLink short on cash, it recently raised fares for transit riders again.
Since new fares were implemented on January 1st, the cost of a three-zone trip from Surrey to downtown Vancouver costs $10. A monthly pass in Vancouver that works in all transit zones costs $136, whereas a similar pass costs $109 in Toronto or $66.25 in Montreal.
"Certainly doesn't make any sense to me and they have to back and review those increases," says James.
CTV asked TransLink if they would reconsider the salaries.
"Well, it's not on the table but it could be," says Hardie.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's St. John Alexander
