If you are an MP Candidate, please fill out the survey by clicking this link.
Investing in transit means good, green Canadian jobs and less congestion. TTCriders is circulating this survey to all MP candidates in Toronto ahead of the April 28, 2025 Federal Election.
Responses to this 4-question survey will be shared on www.ttcriders.ca after April 18, and summaries may be shared in print to the public in your riding.
Survey deadline: Friday, April 18, 2025.
1. Will you protect funding for new Line 2 subway trains by keeping the Canada Public Transit Fund?
Transit agencies and rider organizations across Canada welcomed the $30 billion Canada Public Transit Fund, which will support good Canadian jobs over a 10-year period. The fund was announced in July 2024 and is set to begin in 2026. Functional transit systems are integral to a strong Canadian economy and tackling congestion. Transit gets people to work and makes life more affordable. Additionally, building new subway trains in Canada will create more jobs and build a stronger economy. In November 2024, federal funding was committed to new subway trains for Line 2 through the Canada Public Transit Fund.
2. Will you make the Canada Public Transit Fund flexible, so that communities of all sizes have the freedom to use it for their most urgent needs?
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.
3. Will you expand the Canada Public Transit Fund?
Every dollar spent on transit creates good green jobs in Canada and reduces the cost of living. According to modelling conducted by Dunsky Energy + Climate Advisors for Environmental Defence and Équiterre, Canada can double public transit ridership by 2035 and reduce carbon pollution by 65 million tonnes by expanding the Canada Public Transit Fund by approximately $3 billion per year with cost share requirements for provinces and municipalities.
4. Will you relieve congestion and reduce pollution by investing in transit and active transportation and shifting funding away from urban highway expansion?
Expanding highways in urban areas increases car use and often makes congestion worse. Shifting funds from urban highway expansion to affordable, safe and convenient public transit and active transportation is a cost-effective way to relieve congestion and reduce carbon pollution. Shifting funds away from counterproductive urban highway expansion can also provide funds for maintenance and safety enhancements on existing roadways (fix-it-first).
If you are an MP Candidate, please fill out the survey by clicking this link.