“Every day, more than 2 million Canadians rely on public transit. They’re going to work or school. They’re helping our economy reopen – going shopping or attending a sporting or entertainment event. They’re seniors and people with disabilities who depend on public transit for daily necessities.” Keep Transit Running
The raising of transit fares is a red flag for all public transportation systems across Canada. 80% of Canadians live in urban areas. Having a transit system that is affordable, accessible, connected, and convenient are tried and true ways to ensure that public transit remains a viable option for Canadians. It is also a major factor in addressing climate change.
Fair Calgary Community Voices (FCCV) strongly recommends that the operational costs of transit systems across Canada be a shared responsibility between municipal, provincial, and federal governments in order to help Canadians thrive and protect our environment. In that spirit, we encourage the Alberta government to communicate its intention to make a long-term funding commitment, past March 2023, to the Low-Income Transit Pass.
Other than increasing fares, transit operators have very few tools at their disposal to cover the operating costs of transit systems. Raising fares is counterintuitive to attracting ridership, especially during a pandemic, and can result in reduced ridership which in turn contributes to the climate emergency. Our hope is Calgarians and all Canadians will encourage provincial, federal, and municipal governments to work together to ensure affordable, accessible, connected, and convenient transit. This will make transit an attractive option for Canadians, allowing them to secure employment, reduce their isolation and contribute to society. Increasing fares is not a sustainable practice to address the increasing operating costs of transit systems across Canada. We need a coordinated, robust, intergovernmental response to ensure that the operating costs of transit are not the total responsibility of municipalities.
FCCV looks forward to being part of the City of Calgary’s engagement strategy in 2022 and is committed to being part of the solution. We hope Calgarians and citizens across Canada will share this message with all levels of government.