Ottawa is grappling with backlash from the community over proposed transit fare hikes for seniors, raising eyebrows particularly after revelations surrounding the impending budget for 2025. The proposal suggests more than doubling the monthly transit pass price for senior citizens from $49 to $108, marking a staggering increase of over 120%. This drastic measure was part of the city’s draft budget, aimed at plugging what officials describe as a $120-million funding deficit without crippling services or raising taxes excessively.
Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, overseeing this financial balancing act, has stressed the necessity of fare increases and explained it as part of a "balanced approach". He pointed to long-standing funding issues from higher levels of government as the main culprit driving the city's reliance on fare increases. According to Sutcliffe, the adjustments for senior and student passes were long overdue and needed to align fares more closely with other cities across Canada.
Yet, worries mount among community advocates, who argue this hike appears to throw seniors under the bus. Raynald Marchand, the transportation committee chair for the Council on Aging of Ottawa, voiced his concerns, stating, "I think the seniors are going to feel — certainly, I do — targeted disproportionately compared to the rest of the fare increases." This sentiment has found agreement with other advocates, including Sarah Bercier, executive director of the Council. Bercier emphasized the difficulties this exorbitant fare increase would impose on seniors, many of whom live on fixed incomes.
"They need to be engaged in the community, they need to be... physically active, they need to get to their appointments," Bercier highlighted, pointing out the dire health consequences of disconnecting seniors from accessible transport.
With the increasing uproar, Mayor Sutcliffe has sped up conversations around potentially modifying this hefty fare hike. An email circulated among councillors indicated Sutcliffe's awareness of growing public discontent. "Over the past few days, we've all heard from Ottawa residents about the proposed increases… Based on your feedback, I’ve spoken with the other members of the working group on the long-range financial plan for transit… and we all agree this is something we need to address," Sutcliffe told fellow councillors.
The working group is currently exploring alternative funding options and aims to present modifications to the transit fare structure soon, with expectations set for this to be addressed during the upcoming transit commission meeting. Sutcliffe has expressed hope for the implementation of solutions without denying necessary funding to maintain service levels.
Councillor Glen Gower indicated on Wednesday how discussions are likely to focus on finding middle ground. He commented, "It’s likely to land somewhere between the current discount of roughly 60% for seniors and the proposed increase, which I don’t think anyone is championing as good policy." Gower also noted the likely reinstatement of at least one free transit day for seniors, demonstrating responsiveness to constituents' feedback.
This situation isn’t isolated to Ottawa; other cities are facing similar challenges around transit funding and affordability across Canada. For example, Calgary Transit is currently seeking additional financial support to assist low-income users, underlining the nationwide struggle to balance effective public transport with reasonable fare structures.
Ottawa's draft budget, now subject to several weeks of public discussion and debate, is expected to be brought back to council on December 11 for final approval. This timeline indicates the urgency of crafting solutions to current concerns about senior fares, providing some semblance of hope for advocacy groups calling for more reasonable price adjustments.
While Mayor Sutcliffe, Transit Commission, and various councillors continue to navigate the challenging financial waterways of public transportation funding, the fate of Ottawa’s senior transit pass pricing hangs delicately, reflecting the complexity of serving various constituents' needs against financial constraints.
