Winnipeg, MB – Public transit is once again being neglected by the provincial government in Manitoba. There is no mention of transit in yesterday’s budget and funding for municipalities has been reduced.
Despite a massive public outcry over the provincial funding freeze last fall, the Government of Manitoba has continued to neglect a key mode of transportation.
“Failing to invest in public transit shows a lack of leadership,” says Functional Transit chair, Joseph Kornelsen. “Public transit is an efficient way to move Manitobans around their cities. Better bus service can make our province cleaner, greener and more affordable.”
While the Government of Manitoba chooses to ignore public transit, other Provinces are making historical investments. Last year, the Province of Alberta announced $1.5 billion in capital funding for just one light rail corridor in Calgary. In B.C., $1.179 billion in funding was announced for transit infrastructure.
Investing in public transit saves Manitobans money and is good for the environment. In a budget that introduces a carbon tax, the province should be making investments in alternative forms of mobility for Manitobans. Transit benefits city-dwelling Manitobans in the following ways:
- Moves more people with less infrastructure. One bus carries as many seated people as 25 private vehicles.
- Moves more people with a smaller carbon footprint than private vehicles.
- Reduces isolation for individuals and families that do not have access to or are unable to use a private automobile
- Connects individuals and families to workplaces, schools, grocery stores, recreational activities and other destinations
This budget neglects public transit and leaves riders worse off in municipalities across the province.
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