Ever wonder why public transit in Canada isn’t more reliable, modern, and fast? The fact is that Canada is the only G8 country without a federal commitment to provide long-term, stable funding for public transit.
Better public transit can help Canada address global warming, protect human health, and improve our quality of life by reducing traffic congestion. Road transportation alone accounts for nearly 20 per cent of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions – much of it from burning gasoline and diesel in personal cars, trucks, and SUVs. In addition, automobiles are a major source of air pollutants that clog local air sheds and form smog. The Canadian Medical Association estimates that air pollution claims the lives of 21,000 Canadians each year and costs the medical system $8 billion annually.
Considering that one city bus can remove up to 50 cars from the road and that it creates 18 times less pollution, and that a light-rail transit system can have the people-carrying capacity of a 20-lane freeway, investing in public transit is an essential step in building a sustainable transportation system.
Today, Canada’s transit services are facing severe challenges. Transit ridership and demand are growing rapidly while much of the existing infrastructure is aging and in need of upgrading or replacement. Canada’s mayors report that the long-term federal investment required to maintain existing transit infrastructure and expand transit service to meet new ridership demand is $2 billion a year (with additional funds coming from municipal and provincial governments). However, this year the federal government made a one-time transit investment of $500 million, only a quarter of the funding required with no commitment to future funding.
Questions to ask your candidate: 1. Will you support Canada’s mayors by dedicating $2 billion of federal funding each year to maintain, renew, and expand transit service across Canada?
2. If so, how do you plan to ensure that this transit funding will be a stable, long-term commitment by the federal government and will increase with demand?