Province pulls funding for low-income transit passes in Calgary, Edmonton
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A program providing low-income Calgarians and Edmontonians a financial break on their monthly transit passes is losing millions of dollars in annual support from the provincial government, city councillors confirmed Tuesday.
A program providing low-income Calgarians and Edmontonians a financial break on their monthly transit passes is losing millions of dollars in annual support from the provincial government, city councillors confirmed Tuesday.
The provincial contribution included $4.5 million annually for the program in Calgary.
An additional $1.7-million boost to support a yearly pass for low-income seniors was announced in 2023.
The province is pulling the entire $6.2-million pot from Calgary.
Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek issued a statement on Tuesday afternoon, saying she is "appalled" the province would choose to slash funding for the pass "in the midst of an affordability crisis."
"Calgary's Low-Income Transit Pass enables Calgarians to travel around the city to attend medical appointments, work and school. At more than 119,000 passes issued through March of this year, this is a much-needed and well-used program that provides transit access to Calgarians living below the poverty line," Gondek said.
"The need for this program is growing, with the number of passes sold increasing by 35 per cent over last year.
