Affordability

Will candidates commit to making life affordable for transit riders?

Torontonians are experiencing an affordability crisis due to international situations out of their control, and the City must do everything it can to make life more affordable. Riders tell us again and again that the costs of taking transit pile up, leaving them with expensive decisions on whether taking transit is financially sustainable.

For some, budgeting for transit can mean being late on rent, missing class, burning out on extra shifts, purchasing less food, or avoiding transit altogether to save on costs. For 30 years, fare increases has been vastly higher than the rate of inflation. On top of that, Torontonians cannot afford any increase in fares. In fact, the TTC's own report says that even a $0.10 fare increase would result in ~500,000 fewer rides being taken. A $1.10 fare increase would result in ~31 million fewer rides every year.

If we want people to keep using the TTC, riders need to see it as the most cost-effective way to get around Toronto. That's why maintaining a fare freeze and lowering the fare cap for all, and deepening affordability for lower-income riders is crucial over the next four years as we face more and more economic uncertainty. Here's what we asked candidates:

4. Will you commit to lowering the monthly fare cap to 40 rides or less, or to implementing weekly fare capping at 10 rides/week or less?

Chris Moise (Incumbent)	Yes
Joe Cadeau	No
Tom Cai	Yes
Victoria Davis	Yes
Walied Khogali Ali	Yes
Norman MacLeod	No Response
Curran Stikuts	Yes
Daniel Tate	No Response
Nicki Ward	Yes

5. Will you commit to work with colleges and universities to make transit more affordable to post-secondary students?

Chris Moise (Incumbent)	Yes
Joe Cadeau	Yes
Tom Cai	Yes
Victoria Davis	Yes
Walied Khogali Ali	Yes
Norman MacLeod	No Response
Curran Stikuts	Yes
Daniel Tate	No Response
Nicki Ward	Yes

6. Will you maintain a fare freeze to keep transit affordable?

Chris Moise (Incumbent)	Yes
Joe Cadeau	Yes
Tom Cai	Yes
Victoria Davis	Yes
Walied Khogali Ali	Yes
Norman MacLeod	No Response
Curran Stikuts	Yes
Daniel Tate	No Response
Nicki Ward	Yes

7. Will you commit to establishing a plan to implement phase 3 of the Fair Pass program to provide deeply affordable fares for more low-income riders?

Chris Moise (Incumbent)	Yes
Joe Cadeau	Yes
Tom Cai	No
Victoria Davis	Yes
Walied Khogali Ali	Yes
Norman MacLeod	No Response
Curran Stikuts	Yes
Daniel Tate	No Response
Nicki Ward	Yes

Some candidates offered extra comments about their position on TTC affordability:

Joe Cadeau

I am committed to making using the TTC a more affordable, accessible and consistent mode of transportation for Torontonians - I do not believe that the fare cap accomplishes that for everyone. I would like to see free transit for students, higher funding infusions from the Province, and more accountability from the TTC itself relating to safety, reliability and enforcement.

Tom Cai

"I am currently attempting to implement a plan that involves distance-based fares with 50 cent minimums capped at $3.30, and it is a significant campaign promise that may or may not conflict with Phase 3 of the Fair Pass Program, so I am unfortunately unable to give a definitive answer."

Victoria Davis

"A $425 ticket or criminal charge is an outrageous consequence for not paying the TTC fare. This disproportionately affects low-income people and youth who cannot afford or access legal representation."

Curran Stikuts

"The TTC drives economic growth. Making it affordable and accessible is essential to the wellbeing of our city."

Nicki Ward

"Transit is essential civic infrastructure, not a revenue tool to balance structural municipal deficits. Fares cannot serve as the shock absorber for City Hall's financial mismanagement. A fare freeze and lower weekly or monthly caps are critical stopgaps against an acute cost of living squeeze. Full rollout of Fair Pass Phase 3 and fair post-secondary fare integration are baseline measures to ensure public transit remains a viable utility rather than a regressive tax on low-income residents and working families."