Mayors and transit board chairs from seven of Canada’s largest cities gathered in Ottawa Monday to call on the federal government to address what they call a “funding crisis” at facing the nation’s largest transit agencies.

At the “Tomorrow Transit Summit” in the capital, the group signed a joint statement titled “A new solution is needed to maintain essential transit services.”

“Public transport is the most effective method of combating traffic congestion. It is the lifeblood of economic growth in our largest cities. It is a solution to the rising cost of living. It helps us reduce carbon emissions,” reads the joint statement.

“But transit systems across the country are facing a financial crisis. If this historic challenge is not overcome, we risk a future that is more expensive, more polluting, and where traffic congestion prevents people and businesses from achieving their full potential.”

Representatives from Ottawa, Toronto, Brampton, Calgary, Edmonton and Metro Vancouver signed the joint statement.

The group calls on the federal government to:

• Accelerate the Canada Public Transit Fund (CCTF) program as a first step toward a sustainable and predictable funding stream for public transit systems.
• Commit to organizing a forum with municipal and provincial counterparts to develop a new public transit funding model that grows with the economy, population and ridership, and that is sustainable, predictable and sufficient to meet needs in capital and operation.
• Support long-term transportation planning that aligns and meets the economic, social and environmental objectives of all levels of government by enshrining the Canada Public Transit Fund in legislation, similar to the Canadian Community Futures Fund, to ensure its long-term predictability. .

“Public transportation systems across the country are in financial crisis. If this historic challenge is not overcome, we risk a more costly, more polluting future in which traffic congestion prevents people and businesses from realizing their full potential. Canada’s cities are growing rapidly and they need public transit to grow with them,” read part of the joint statement.

“To address the housing crisis, Canada needs a greater supply of housing, especially near convenient and frequent public transportation. But it doesn’t make sense to force transit systems to cut service while trying to encourage transit-oriented development.

Transit funding has been a hot topic in Ottawa this year, as the city faces a $25.6 million transit deficit for 2024 and a $120 million funding gap in 2025.

Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe warned increase in public transit fares and property taxes are on the table to fill funding gaps, but he also wants to see higher levels of government step up their financial assistance.

What to remember from Monday’s summit: Ottawa is not alone in the face of public transit challenges.

“I think a lot of people have heard Mayor Sutcliffe talk about Ottawa’s fight for transit equity from other levels of government. Well, every other city in Canada is facing the same struggle,” said Glen Gower, Ottawa city councilor and chair of the transit commission.

“So it’s time to come together, discuss solutions and make a collective effort to make sure we can get funding from other levels of government.”

Gower added that Sutcliffe continues to have conversations with his federal and provincial counterparts, but there are no concrete plans in place to address the monetary constraints.

“Our draft budget will be released on November 18, so we will have some details there, but we have made good progress in terms of solutions to the challenges we will face next year,” he said. said.

“I think it’s always important to have a collective voice and we’re really trying to highlight the impact that transit can have on housing, affordability, climate change and the economy. There are so many benefits to public transportation that we are making sure that message is loud and clear to our federal counterparts. »

Meetings for the 2025 draft budget are expected to take place from November 4 to December 5, with final approval expected by mid-December.