Fredericton mayor part of growing call for provincial funding for transit costs
CBC
As the City of Fredericton considers significant improvements to its public transit system in the near future, the mayor is looking at the next provincial government as an important partner in funding those upgrades.
Long relegated as the sole responsibility of New Brunswick's municipalities, Kate Rogers said it's time for the province to help cities fund public transit if it's really serious about addressing climate change and the rising cost of living.
"There's an affordability crisis that we're seeing across the nation and New Brunswickers are feeling it.
"And we know that when people look at their own personal budgets, housing is a significant expenditure, as is transportation. And delivering a robust transit system ... is to me, a very effective way to help with affordability," she said.
A 2017 report, by the province's Economic and Social Inclusion Corporation, cited a need for the provincial government to step up and help fund public transit in order to improve workforce participation and reduce New Brunswickers' costly dependance on automobiles.
But seven years later, there's been little mention of public transit so far among leaders of New Brunswick's three main political parties, who are now in the second full week of a provincial election campaign.
The rising cost of living, health care and the housing shortage are issues that have taken centre stage ahead of the election, scheduled for Oct. 21.
CBC News asked the three party leaders about their stance on providing funding to municipalities to help with transit costs.
Green Party Leader David Coon said a government under his leadership would help fund a portion of every municipal transit agency's annual operating budget.
"[Transit] is a public service. People need it to get to work, to get to school, to visit family, and so it's appropriate for both levels of government to be sharing in its support," Coon said, in an interview.
In a follow-up email, campaign spokesperson Jill Mersereau said the Green Party's platform will pledge to cover 15 per cent of the transit operating budget.
Liberal Leader Susan Holt was unavailable for an interview. In an email statement, she said her party's pledge for fiscal reform would help municipalities better deliver services and that under her leadership, the province would take advantage of federal funding for transit improvements.
Progressive Conservative Leader Blaine Higgs was unavailable for an interview, said campaign manager Bob Fowlie, in an email.
During his time as premier, Higgs garnered criticism in 2020 for not taking advantage of a federal program aimed at injecting millions of dollars into municipal transit agencies struggling to cover costs as COVID-19 measures sent ridership numbers plummeting.
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