Staff Report #6
October 30, 2024
To All Commissioners
Re: Advocacy Update
Recommendation
The report be NOTED and FILED.
Background
The public transit sector is represented federally by the Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) and provincially in Ontario by the Ontario Public Transit Association (OPTA). London Transit administration are active participants in both associations, noting the General Manager is currently the Chair of CUTA and an executive member of the board of OPTA. The following report provides a summary overview of the current advocacy efforts ongoing by both associations.
Federal Advocacy
Budget 2025
The federal government is currently receiving submissions for the pre-budget consultation in advance of Budget 2025. A summary of CUTA’s submission is set out below, noting the full submission is attached in Enclosure I dated October 30, 2024.
Recommendation 1: Accelerate the rollout for the Canadian Public Transit Fund’s baseline stream from April 2026 to Budget 2025 to ensure public transit systems have equitable and rapid access to capital funding in order to meet the present and future needs of Canadian commuters.
Recommendation 2: Protect the Canada Public Transit fund by enshrining it in legislation and including an annual funding escalator tied to the cost of construction to ensure the fund maintains its value over time.
Recommendation 3: Streamline the application process and remove barriers to the Canada Public Transit Fund to maximize participation.
Recommendation 4: The Government of Canada is encouraged to take a leadership role in establishing a national taskforce with provincial, local governments and transit agencies, to develop a national public transit strategy with a new funding model for Canada’s public transit agencies.
In addition to filing a written submission, CUTA’s Chair presented the recommendations to Finance Committee on October 8, 2024 where additional information was requested with respect to the total infrastructure deficit for Canadian transit agencies. CUTA is in the process of gathering this information and will share it once available.
Finally, the recommendations set out in the CUTA budget submission were also shared during CUTA’s advocacy day in Ottawa on September 26 as delegates from across the country participated in 28 meetings with government officials and parliamentarians. The documents shared at the annual advocacy day are set out in Enclosure II dated October 30, 2024.
Bill C-395
During the advocacy day meetings, CUTA also tabled recommendations with respect to amending section 269.01 of the Criminal Code to strengthen penalties for assaults on transit workers and expand the current definition to include all transit workers (currently transit operators).
Provincial Advocacy
OPTA is planning for a transit advocacy day at Queens Park in early December. This day typically includes a hosted breakfast open to MPPs and staff followed by individual meetings with Ministers and Ministerial staff with direct connections to public transit.
Messaging is still be finalized however it is anticipated to focus on the following:
- The need for increased Provincial funding support for public transit services noting many transit systems are in the position of having to reduce services/raise fares in order to balance budgets;
- The need for a mechanism for Provincial funding to be tied to major infrastructure projects noting in many cases, large scale transit projects are funded for capital only, leaving the municipality to fund the required incremental operating costs; and
- The need for the Province to provide matching funds to the programs funded under the Federal Canadian Public Transit Fund which would cover infrastructure projects
London Transit administration will participate in this event and will be scheduled to attend any meetings with local MPP’s.
Enclosures
I – CUTA Budget 2025 Submission – Strengthening the Canada Public Transit Fund
II – CUTA Advocacy Day Documents
Recommended by:
Kelly S. Paleczny, General Manager