Public transit for $1: reactions are mixed in Ottawa and Eastern Ontario

Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca plans to deliver on that promise within the first 100 days of his term, if his party is elected. This measure will help municipalities relaunch their public transit service, which has been damaged by the pandemic, and fight climate change.

Mr. Del Duca estimates that users will save $40 on their monthly bus pass, and public transit will be completely free for veterans.

” With our plan, people will get immediate relief for their commute and in their wallet. »

In Ottawa, since the fare increase that took effect on Sunday, the price for an OC Transpo bus or train ride is $3.75, and for a monthly pass, $125.50.

This rate increase was the subject of several debates at the municipal council table. With a service already in sawtooth, some elected officials are afraid that it will further discourage users from using public transport.

This Liberal promise is just what is needed to end the rise annual of fares for OC Transpo services, estimates Laura Shantzmember of the Ottawa Transit Users Group.

Every time the fare increases, we see that people — especially at this time of year when the weather is nice — prefer to use another means of transportshe remarks. Public transport for them is not a logical choice, because it is [devenu] very, very expensive.

” To encourage people to see that public transit is the best choice, we need a fare that is more affordable for everyone. »

Let’s hope that, if the Liberal Party is elected to power, it works, and that it lasts more than a year and a half, because in order to have public transit that is inviting for everyone, we have to address the problems of fares on the long termshe argues.

Mrs Shantz believes stable provincial funding would also be a big boost to Ottawa’s public carrier, which relies heavily on municipal taxes and ticket revenue.

Just a slogan, claim it NDPNew Democratic Party

To be honest with you, this promise reminds me of Doug Fordreacted the NDP MP for Ottawa-Centre, Joel Hardenunimpressed by this trick only intended, according to him, to win votes.

” It’s a slogan more than anything else. »

I salute the efforts made [par le PLOParti libéral de l’Ontario] to make sure people use public transport more, but first and foremost we need to make sure that public transport is built and funded properlycontinues the chosen one.

A New Democrat government will come up with a much more reasonable solution for taxpayers, he says, by cost-sharing public transit services 50-50 with municipalities.

Unrealistic promise, says the Conservative Party

The Progressive Conservative candidate from Glengarry-Prescott-Russell (GPR) did not miss the opportunity to recall that the Liberal leader had already been Minister of Transport and that under his leadership, little was achieved in his riding.

When I think of the Liberal government that was in power for 15 years: why didn’t they do these things before?he asks himself. Mr. Del Duca was Minister of Transport and all of a sudden, to get votes, we are offering that!

” In my opinion, this is not very realistic, especially for rural regions, like us. »

There are some things that don’t add up in that shot. […] You have to understand that it’s the people who will pay for this with their taxesrecalls the Conservative candidate, referring to the high costs of the Liberal promise estimated at 710 million dollars in 2022-2023 and 1.1 billion the following year.

The party of Doug Ford already has a much more realistic transportation plan in place that allowed for the implementation of the PR Transpo system, he points out. The pilot project runs until 2025 and provides ride-on-demand service across the county.

With information from Rémi Authier