MPP Harden calls for restoration of 50/50 transit operations cost sharing

QUEENS PARK — MPP Joel Harden, Ontario NDP Critic for Active Transportation and Public Transit, tabled a motion that would restore the 50/50 transit operations cost sharing system between the province and municipalities, and give public transit systems the funding they need to thrive.

“I introduced a motion to call on Queen’s Park to match municipal funding for operational transit in Ontario. This was former Conservative Premier Bill Davis’ plan, and it simply makes sense,” said Harden. “This would stop the transit death spiral of reduced service and higher fares seen by transit systems across our province.”

Background:

• Municipal transit agencies are still struggling from financial challenges in the aftermath of Bill 23 and the COVID 19 pandemic, and are in desperate need of funding and support.
• This motion would help to address the $750 million transit operations shortfall identified by the Ontario Public Transit Association, and get commuters out of gridlock and into affordable and reliable transit.
• Text of the motion: That, in the opinion of this House, the Provincial Government should match municipalities' funding contribution to operating and maintaining municipal transit systems across Ontario and funding should not be used to replace or reduce municipal contributions to transit.