Referendum questions simplified:

I’m going to try to make this referendum as simple as possible.

In a lot of the conversations I’m having around Maple Ridge, the feedback is the same: the City is asking taxpayers to make some very significant decisions about Recreation Ready, but people still have a lot of unanswered questions.

And when I mention that there are actually eight different possible voting scenarios depending on how you answer the three questions, a lot of people are surprised. Many simply hadn’t thought about how one YES or NO can affect what happens with another project.

Once you break it all down, it becomes a lot more complex than it first appears.

You shouldn’t have to stand at a ballot doing mental math: If I vote YES to this, then that means this happens… but what if I vote NO to that one? And if I vote YES to the other one, where does that leave everything else?

So for anyone who already knows exactly how they’re voting, great.

For everybody else, this is for you.

I’ve broken down all eight scenarios as simply as I can, including how the Hammond Aquatics and Recreation Centre, Hammond Multi-Use Community Park, Albion Twin-Rink Arena Expansion, Larry Walker Field/Hammond Stadium and Maple Ridge Golf Course are connected, what borrowing would be approved under each combination, and where questions still remain.

I’m a big believer in transparency. When decisions involve hundreds of millions of dollars and could shape Maple Ridge for decades, the information should be easy to understand.

This isn’t me telling you how to vote. It’s me trying to make sure you know what your vote means.

Find the scenario that matches how you’re thinking of voting, screenshot it, and keep it handy for October 17. These are sample ballots, so the official ballot may not appear in this exact order. Read each question carefully before checking YES or NO.

If you feel inclined, share what you’re thinking in the comments, and please feel free to share this post to your page or community groups too.

Whatever Maple Ridge decides, I want it to be an informed decision.