FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 1st, 2020
TORONTO - The federal government gave its Fall Economic Update on Monday, which among other things reiterated its commitment to providing permanent public transit funding, in partnership with the provinces and territories. Though this is a welcome and promising commitment, says the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), there is no concrete indication that the government will continue to provide ongoing operational funding for years to come.
“The public transit industry has been one of the hardest hit out of any industry.” said John Di Nino, President of ATU Canada. “Though we are pleased to see another nod to permanent transit funding, more concrete steps are needed so that our workers can have a stable work environment and transit riders can continue to have the safe, affordable and reliable transit that they need.”
Earlier this year, the federal government, in partnership with the provinces and municipalities committed to funding the Safe Restart Agreement after mass mobilization by the working class and unions like the ATU. The Agreement saw a multi-billion dollar package that gave provinces and municipalities the emergency funds they needed to cover their operating costs for public transit. The deal was welcomed, but more concrete steps towards a lasting permanent funding model for public transit are needed.
We need to keep building a mass movement of transit workers, passengers and commuters capable of pressuring the government to quickly release a long term financial plan to fund public transit operations and keep transit public.”
“With plunging ridership and a massive dip in revenue from fares, it has become clear that we cannot simply continue to rely on the farebox alone.” said Di Nino. “If we want to continue to see the survival of a transit system that works for everyone we need to keep building a mass movement of transit workers, passengers and commuters to pressure the government to quickly release a long term financial plan to fund public transit operations and keep transit public.”
The Amalgamated Transit Union is made up of 34,000 transit professionals in nine Canadian provinces. They represent vehicle operators, maintenance staff, paratransit operations, clerical staff, dispatchers, administrative professionals and workers in the over-the-road motor coach industry. The union was founded in 1892 and represents workers in Canada’s urban, suburban and rural communities.
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