Calgary and Edmonton Mayors Allege Funding Cuts for Low-Income Transit Passes

Mayors of Calgary and Edmonton says the Alberta government is cutting funding for low-income transit passes in both cities, putting the program in peril.

The provincial contribution included $4.5 million annually for the program in Calgary, and an additional $1.7 million boost to support a yearly pass for low-income seniors which was announced in 2023.

Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek issued a statement on Tuesday afternoon, saying “I have been informed the Government of Alberta is slashing funding for the low-income transit pass in the midst of an affordability crisis, and I am appalled.”

“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.”

“It is an insult to the lowest income Calgarians who are already struggling to get by. This provincial government continues to burden big cities by walking away from their commitments.”

Gondek added, “Rather than spend $6.2 million to help low-income Calgarians and seniors get around now, this provincial government would rather spend more time dreaming about private-public partnerships for trains decades from now.”

Meanwhile, Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi said “At a time when Edmontonians are struggling to afford their basic needs and demands for this program has increased 150 per cent since 2016, the decision to defund the program in Edmonton and Calgary shows that the province’s priorities are in the wrong place.”

“The City of Edmonton is already facing financial pressures due to provincial downloading, and this additional reduction in funding is unfortunate.”

The Low-Income Transit Pass (LITP) is a program that was launched in Calgary in 2005 and has been partly funded by the government of Alberta since 2017. The program allows people to receive discounted monthly transit passes based on their income.

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