KEEP TRANSIT MOVING COALITION OUTLINES KEY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BUDGET 2024
Important asks for the 2024 federal budget include increased and permanent funding for transit operations that is urgently needed, the reallocation of funds from highway expansion to transit and active transportation, and the creation of a Pan-Canadian inter-community bus system.
A broad coalition of unions, environmental organizations, and rider advocates released its annual pre-budget submission with three recommendations for the 2024 federal budget. Over 95 organizations representing diverse interests from communities coast to coast signed on. The full submission can be read here.
The Keep Transit Moving Coalition published three central recommendations that would improve public transit for all Canadians:
Increase permanent funding for transit operations needed immediately for day-to-day operations such as hiring driver, maintaining vehicles, and disinfecting stations.
Reallocate funds from highway expansion to transit and active transportation. Shift funds to affordable, safe, and convenient car alternatives.
Create a Pan-Canadian Inter-Community Bus System as rural communities have been chronically underserved by public transit and are unable to travel safely to work, medical appointments or for leisure.
“Transit Operations have been long overlooked - and this federal budget should deliver funding that is needed immediately to sustain and help bail out Municipalities' transit budgetary deficits, restore previous service levels, reduce cancellations, address accessibility issues, driver recruitment and retention.“ - ATU Canada President John Di Nino
“Instead of wasting billions of dollars on new highways that destroy green spaces and deepen the climate crisis, let’s invest in public transit. Operations funding for electric buses, in particular, checks so many boxes. It slashes carbon emissions, reduces traffic congestion and generates tonnes of good jobs for Canadian workers.” - Gideon Forman, Climate Change and Transportation Policy Analyst, The David Suzuki Foundation
"It's time for the federal government to support municipalities to deliver more affordable and frequent public transit. Investing in public transit operations is a win-win for affordability and the climate because it will make public transit a viable choice for more people, and reduce both household costs and greenhouse gas emissions." - Shelagh Pizey-Allen, Executive Director, TTCriders (a membership-based transit advocacy organization in Toronto)
The Keep Transit Moving Coalition was founded in the spring of 2020, when dozens of organizations from across the country came together at the start of the COVID pandemic to protect Canada’s public transit systems from the death spiral of service cuts, defunding, and eventual privatisation. As the pandemic has ebbed and ridership increased, the Coalition has continued to fight for affordable, efficient, and excellent public transit for all, and sought to position public transit as a key pillar in Canada’s climate strategy.