
A moving election issue: Here's why federal help is needed for better transit options
CBC
This column is an opinion by David Brake, a researcher, journalist and activist who lives in St. John's. For more information about CBC's Opinion section, please see the FAQ.
Voters say the top issue in the federal election is climate change. And here in Newfoundland and Labrador, we struggle to attract and retain younger people, with an uncertain economic climate.
One policy you probably won't hear about from your federal candidate, though, is transit. Newfoundland and Labrador is one of the worst-served provinces for transit, and improvements could make living more affordable for many, improve our health and help us meet our climate targets.
Best of all, greater federal support is already in most of the major parties' manifestos, so candidates (and MPs) should be willing to help move things forward — but only if they hear from voters (and constituents) that it's important to them.
Happy Valley-Goose Bay is trying to develop Labrador's first public transit service, but elsewhere in the province, getting around without a car seems set to get harder.
Metrobus Transit, which serves St John's and parts of the northeast Avalon Peninsula, for example, had plans to improve service before the pandemic but is instead facing cuts, unless city elections on Sept. 28 bring a change of direction.
DRL, which runs the only coast-to-coast transit service in Newfoundland, has lost money on that part of its business for years and threatened to close in June after heavy COVID losses. Its owner, Jason Roberts, says he is still waiting for promised provincial aid.