TTCriders asked all federal MP candidates about their commitments to public transit. Read their responses to our transit policy survey and see where your candidates stand on improving public transit!
What Federal MP Candidates are promising for transit in Beaches—East York
What Federal MP Candidates are promising for transit in Beaches—East York
Investing in transit means good, green Canadian jobs, less congestion in the cities that power our economy, reliable access to jobs and opportunity, and more affordable commutes for everyone. TTCriders circulated a transit policy survey to all MP candidates in Beaches—East York ahead of the 2026 Federal by-election on August 31.
We asked MP candidates:
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Will you commit to maximizing transit investment through the $51-billion Building Communities Strong Fund for the TTC's pressing repair needs, building new LRT and subway lines, and installation of platform edge doors system-wide?
- In 2024, the previous Liberal government announced the Canada Public Transit Fund which provided $30 billion in dedicated funding for transit capital projects over 10 years. Capital projects include much-needed repair work, the modernization of aging buses and trains, and new transit lines. The CPTF was critical in providing the federal funding share for the TTC to purchase new subway cars to replace aging and increasingly unreliable trains on Line 2. The Canada Public Transit Fund was cut by $5 billion in 2026, and the remaining $25 billion was folded into the Building Communities Strong Fund, a larger funding pool for general infrastructure projects like roads and hospitals. At the same time, record-breaking congestion is costing the Toronto area $44.7 billion annually in social and economic costs, highlighting the need for more investment in new transit lines.
- In 2024, the previous Liberal government announced the Canada Public Transit Fund which provided $30 billion in dedicated funding for transit capital projects over 10 years. Capital projects include much-needed repair work, the modernization of aging buses and trains, and new transit lines. The CPTF was critical in providing the federal funding share for the TTC to purchase new subway cars to replace aging and increasingly unreliable trains on Line 2. The Canada Public Transit Fund was cut by $5 billion in 2026, and the remaining $25 billion was folded into the Building Communities Strong Fund, a larger funding pool for general infrastructure projects like roads and hospitals. At the same time, record-breaking congestion is costing the Toronto area $44.7 billion annually in social and economic costs, highlighting the need for more investment in new transit lines.
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Will you commit to doubling dedicated transit funding within the Building Communities Strong Fund?
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Currently, the fund is limited to capital projects, which means that agencies cannot use it to stop service cuts, make fares more affordable or to fund increased transit service, such as added frequency or more routes. Public transit systems continue to struggle financially from pandemic impacts and their reliance on farebox revenue for operating budgets. Ridership in most Canadian communities has not recovered to pre-pandemic levels, yet roads are more congested than ever. But when agencies respond by cutting service, they risk driving away more transit users.
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Currently, the fund is limited to capital projects, which means that agencies cannot use it to stop service cuts, make fares more affordable or to fund increased transit service, such as added frequency or more routes. Public transit systems continue to struggle financially from pandemic impacts and their reliance on farebox revenue for operating budgets. Ridership in most Canadian communities has not recovered to pre-pandemic levels, yet roads are more congested than ever. But when agencies respond by cutting service, they risk driving away more transit users.
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Will you commit to providing ongoing and sustainable transit operations funding to improve service and lower wait times?
- Repairs, new transit vehicles, and new transit lines are just one part of the mobility equation. Without operations funding to keep transit service running on a day-to-day basis, people will not be able to access jobs, education, or other opportunities. Unlike peer transit agencies in the United States and other countries, Canadian transit agencies (like the TTC) receive no recurring funding support from the federal government. Budget constraints potentially mean service cuts and fare hikes at a time when Canadians are most concerned about economic uncertainty and cost of living. Stable, recurring operations funding from the federal government will ensure Torontonians can continue to afford transit and be able to get to school and work on time, while decongesting roads.
Beaches—East York Survey Results
1. Will you commit to maximizing transit investment through the $51-billion Building Communities Strong Fund for the TTC's pressing repair needs, building new LRT and subway lines, and installation of platform edge doors system-wide?
| Tanveer Shahnawaz (Liberal) |
Jim Syrbos (Conservative) |
|
Partially answered in statement below |
No response |
| "This allocation will help to improve transit and make it more accessible through projects like the Toronto Transit Commission’s Easier Access Program, which will upgrade subway stations with elevators, accessible doors, updated signage, and wayfinding."
|
|
| Shannon Devine (NDP) | Bruce Livesey (Green) |
|
Yes |
No response |
| "Toronto’s transit system needs both new investment and reliable funding to keep existing services running. We will reinstate and protect the Canada Public Transit Fund, doubling the original $6-billion, 10-year commitment to $12 billion. This funding will support new transit infrastructure while also helping cities like Toronto cover transit operations and maintenance. That means better service, shorter wait times, more reliable vehicles, and a TTC that people can afford to use." | |
| Cameron Thomas (Canadian Future Party) |
Michel Lachance (PPC) |
|
Yes |
Yes |
| "TTC's $11.9 billion repair backlog and the platform edge door safety gap should be funded before new expansion, with public reporting on how much of the $51 billion actually reaches transit." |
"Transit systems are the backbone of society. Many of us rely on these systems to make a living, go to school, and simply to get around the city. These systems are used constantly day and night and have to be maintained and improved." |
2. Will you commit to doubling dedicated transit funding within the Building Communities Strong Fund?
| Tanveer Shahnawaz (Liberal) |
Jim Syrbos (Conservative) |
|
No response |
No response |
| Shannon Devine (NDP) | Bruce Livesey (Green) |
|
Yes |
No response |
| Cameron Thomas (Canadian Future Party) |
Michel Lachance (PPC) |
|
No |
Yes |
| "Funding should follow costed needs, not a round number. We'd restore a protected, transit-specific stream so transit projects aren't competing against hospitals and housing for the same dollars." |
3. Will you commit to providing ongoing and sustainable transit operations funding to improve service and lower wait times?
| Tanveer Shahnawaz (Liberal) |
Jim Syrbos (Conservative) |
|
No response |
No response |
| Shannon Devine (NDP) | Bruce Livesey (Green) |
|
Yes |
No response |
| "New Democrats believe cities need stable, predictable federal funding to provide reliable and affordable public transit. We will enshrine the Canada Public Transit Fund in legislation to protect it from future cuts and provide cities with the certainty they need to plan. Recurring federal operations funding will help the TTC maintain service, keep fares affordable, reduce wait times, and ensure Torontonians can reliably get to work, school, and other opportunities." | |
| Cameron Thomas (Canadian Future Party) |
Michel Lachance (PPC) |
|
Yes |
Yes |
| "Yes, with conditions. Federal support for transit operations should help keep fares affordable and wait times down, matched by provincial and municipal commitments rather than an open-ended federal liability. Transit riders shouldn't wait for operations funding while capital dollars sit in the BCSF's broader pot. We'd tie any ongoing federal contribution to the same public reporting standard we're demanding for capital funding: clear, costed, and accountable to the people who ride the system." |
"Affordability is key, service improvements are a constant requirement for and undertaking of this magnitude including buses, streetcars, subways and all supporting parts of the system that keep the wheels of transit turning including staffing." |
Response from the Tanveer Shahnawaz Campaign
While we did not receive answers to our three survey questions from Liberal candidate Tanveer Shahnawaz, we received this comment from his campaign:
"TTCRiders,
Thank you very much for sending me your questionnaire, and I apologize that I am unable to provide responses back to you under the deadline provided.
The Liberal government is ambitiously building at scale and at speed, investing over $10 billion in Toronto's new major transit projects. I wanted to provide you with some of the recent announcements that the Liberal Government has made towards public transit in Toronto, and the kind of projects I will continue to champion should I have the good fortune of serving as the next Member of Parliament for Beaches - East York.
As part of a series of announcements with the province of Ontario and the City of Toronto, Prime Minister Carney recently announced $1 billion in federal support to build the Waterfront East Transit line. This project - a three-way partnership with the city and province - will build a 3.8-kilometre light-rail transit line running from Union Station out to the Port Lands and Ookwemin Minising, and will serve more than 150,000 people and create the opportunity to enable 75,000 more housing units along the East Bayfront.
Last Summer, the Liberal Government announced an investment of over $950 million to support the TTC's purchase of new Line 2 subway trains. This project will build 70 six-car train sets in total: 55 trains, jointly funded by the federal, provincial and city governments to replace aging trains on Line 2; and 15 trains for the Yonge North and Scarborough extensions. These new, built in Canada trains will serve riders in our community every day on their way to work, to see loved ones, and get around our great city.
The Federal Liberal Government has consistently been a leader on transit for the City of Toronto. In Budget 2025, the government announced the launch of the Build Communities Strong Fund – a $51 billion Canadian federal program to modernize local infrastructure across the country, including funding for public transit. And, in March of this year, the Government announced an investment of over $183 million to the City of Toronto for the 2025-26 fiscal year through what will be the Community Stream of the Build Communities Strong Fund. This allocation will help to improve transit and make it more accessible through projects like the Toronto Transit Commission’s Easier Access Program, which will upgrade subway stations with elevators, accessible doors, updated signage, and wayfinding.
Since 2015, the federal government has announced more than $30 billion for over 1,400 public transit projects across Canada.
Around Toronto, this includes historic investments like:
- $2.3 billion to build the Scarborough Subway Extension;
- $1.9 billion to build the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension;
- $2.24 billion to build the Yonge North Subway Extension;
- $1.89 billion to build the GO Transit Expansion;
If elected, I will prioritize supporting safe, efficient, and environmentally friendly public transportation projects like these, and will ensure that the voices and priorities of Beaches-East Yorkers are at the decision making table.
Tanveer Shahnawaz"