This measure would apply to Ontario Northlandbut many Northern Ontarians want better services before saving, according to the Sudbury Well-Being Coalition.
According to its president Naomi Grant, the Liberals’ idea is good, but only if there is no lack of services.
” It’s really important that public transit services meet the needs of everyday people. If it doesn’t, we can’t use them. Even if the cost is not high. »
According to the Liberal Party, their promise would lead to a reduction of 400,000 vehicles a day on the roads.
Ms. Grant believes that the public’s habits would change if there were more services or if the existing ones offered more to meet the public’s needs.
However, she explains that a reduction in costs can have a negative impact on services. Potentially, municipalities would have less money to provide.
The Liberal Party hopes to reduce the car fleet by 400,000 vehicles per day with its proposal. (Archives)
Photo: Facebook/Timmins Transit
However, the Liberals are committed to funding local public transit systems so that they do not suffer a loss of revenue.
According to Ms. Grant, the use of public transport will increase when it is easier to leave the car at home and get to public transport
.
She says when developing a new service, think beyond people who don’t have cars to minimize the number of vehicles on the road.
A closed or free market
In reaction to the news, the owner of Kasper Transportation, based in Thunder Bay, Kasper Wabinskithrow that someone has lost their mind
.
According to him, there is cause for concern when a government makes decisions for an industry without consulting or considering the effects they might have
.
He adds that with the Conservatives in power, the Ontario government has made mistakes when it comes to intercity transportation. I believe they really hurt the industry
he laments.
Fearing that private carriers will be forgotten, Mr. Wabinsky calls for more details on the funding that the Liberals intend to provide to local services.
” There are subsidized government agencies that lose money in a free market. You can’t win both ways. It is either a closed market or a free market. What is the purpose of regulating the industry if all that is funded is Ontario Northland and GO buses? »
Interested municipalities
If the private sector is concerned, municipalities with public transit services are interested in what the Liberals are proposing.
The city councilor of North Bay and chairman of the local infrastructure and operations committee, Chris Maynepoints out that funding for local networks could encourage the public to change their means of transport.
” We have been doing everything in our power to encourage use for many years. It’s simply more environmentally friendly than using vehicles. »
He indicated that to reduce fares to one dollar without affecting municipal service revenues, it would be necessary to $1-2 million
in grants.
Mayne adds that this money would allow the municipality to reinvest elsewhere to help other programs, such as long-term care centers and homeless shelters.
However, he wonders if such a measure will be possible and hopes that the province will find the money necessary to finance such an initiative without raising taxes.
In an email sent to Radio-Canada, the Liberal Party of Ontario indicates that the plan specifically includes Ontario Northland
. The party estimates that the measure will cost $710 million in 2022-2023 and $1.1 billion the following year.
With information from Bienvenu Senga
Reference-ici.radio-canada.ca