Budget “consultations” are ongoing in Ottawa.
I use quotations because none of this is meaningful collaboration with residents or voters or people affected by the decisions at City Hall.
Most decisions are made in backrooms before they are presented to the public. Then the city holds performative exercises.
Four members of the Ottawa Transit Riders spoke at yesterday’s Transit Commission meeting among the 38 people who signed up to speak. Some other speakers were well-known – Alex Cullen, a former city councillor and member of the Council on Aging; Nick Grover from Free Transit Ottawa; and Sam Hersh from Horizon Ottawa for example.
Many seniors explained why raising fares hurt them. Many students spoke about the harm of raising fares. Delphine Robitaille, Students’ Union President at University of Ottawa noted that she was not informed in advance of the proposal to raise U-Pass fares by more than 5% which is a direct violation of the agreement with OC Transpo and the city to limit fare increases.
In the end, the Commission voted on one amendment – to raise senior fares by “only” 60% rather than the original proposed hike of 120%. The Transit Commission is not allowed to propose tax increases (as an alternative to fare increases).
City councillors will vote on the whole budget on December 11th.
Many items in the proposed budget rely on things that are unlikely to happen – other levels of government offering the city new funds, students agreeing to drastic fare increases (a referendum is necessary for it to pass), and fare enforcement bringing in a windfall. It is not clear what the city will do when these things do not happen.
You can participate in a survey on whether raising senior fares is fair here:
Survey Proposed increase in seniors transit fares - Is it fair?
You can also sign a petition from Horizon Ottawa here: PETITION: No Cuts to Public Transit - Horizon Ottawa
Here are some articles about the Transit Commission
Plan to cut seniors' pass fare hike in half passes at Transit Commission | CTV News
Seniors give transit commission earful about fare increases | Ottawa Citizen
CBC Ottawa News - November 25, 2024 | CBC.ca
Councillors move to pare back fare increase for seniors, but other changes on hold | CBC News
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