Mayors say province cutting funding from low-income transit passes in Calgary and Edmonton

Mayors of Alberta's two largest cities say the Alberta government is cutting funding for low-income transit passes in Calgary and Edmonton, putting the program in jeopardy in both cities.

Calgary received $6.2 million from the province last year for the program, which allows low-income Calgarians to buy monthly transit passes at a reduced rate, on a sliding scale based on household income.

In the first three months of this year, 119,000 people qualified for the program. That's up 35 per cent from the same period last year.

The item was added to the Calgary city council's closed agenda on Tuesday morning, and discussions are ongoing.

"I have been informed the Government of Alberta is slashing funding for the low-income transit pass in the midst of an affordability crisis, and I am appalled," read a statement from Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek issued Tuesday afternoon.

"It is an insult to the lowest income Calgarians who are already struggling to get by. This provincial government continues to burden big cities by walking away from their commitments."

In a later interview with CBC, Gondek said the city doesn't plan to end the program immediately, but that it will need to make up the shortfall somehow. 

If the program is cut, it could dramatically increase the amount low-income Calgarians pay for transit fares.

In an e-mailed statement, Alexandru Cioban, a spokesperson for the minister of seniors, community and social services, did not directly address the mayors' concerns.

Instead, he pointed to other transit investments the province is making.

"Alberta's government is investing $5 million to support transportation programs for low-income Albertans in rural communities where transportation options are limited," he said.

"Alberta's government also provides over $3.5 million to low-income Albertans on social benefits to support them getting transportation across the province, including in Edmonton and Calgary."

He added: "As transit is a municipal responsibility in the two big cities, we are investing more in core services delivered by the province like homelessness and housing."

Currently, the three monthly transit pass categories that low-income Calgarians can apply for: