Mayors say province cutting funding from low-income transit passes in Calgary and Edmonton

Mayors of Alberta's two largest cities say the Alberta government is cutting funding for low-income transit passes in Calgary and Edmonton, putting the program in jeopardy in both cities.

Calgary received $6.2 million from the province last year for the program, which allows low-income Calgarians to buy monthly transit passes at a reduced rate, on a sliding scale based on household income.

In the first three months of this year, 119,000 people qualified for the program. That's up 35 per cent from the same period last year.

The provincial government has not confirmed that it is withdrawing funding. It has supported the program since 2017.

CBC News has reached out to the Ministry of Seniors, Community and Social Services but has not yet received a response.

The item was added to the Calgary city council's closed agenda on Tuesday morning, and discussions are ongoing.

"I have been informed the Government of Alberta is slashing funding for the low-income transit pass in the midst of an affordability crisis, and I am appalled," read a statement from Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek issued Tuesday afternoon.

"It is an insult to the lowest income Calgarians who are already struggling to get by. This provincial government continues to burden big cities by walking away from their commitments."

If the program is cut, it could dramatically increase the amount low-income Calgarians pay for transit fares.

Currently, the three monthly transit pass categories that low-income Calgarians can apply for:

• Band A — $5.80 per month.

• Band B —  $40.25 per month.

• Band C —  $57.50 per month.

A regular adult monthly transit pass in Calgary costs $115.

The City of Calgary has annually received provincial grants of $4.5 million to support the program. In 2023, it received an additional $1.7 million to extend the seniors low-income monthly pass rate to include those seniors living in multigenerational households, at the province's request.

Meaghon Reid, executive director of Vibrant Communities Calgary, the organization that stewards Calgary's poverty reduction strategy, issued a statement Tuesday on X.

"Last year, tens of thousands of Calgarians signed up for the low-income transit pass amid the affordability crisis we are all experiencing."

"Access to transportation is essential for maintaining employment and connections in the community. The low-income transit pass can be a lifeline for services like health care and the food bank. We're extremely disappointed that the Government of Alberta is cancelling funding for this essential program."

A statement issued by Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi on X expressed similar concerns.

"Each month, this program is accessed by over 25,000 low-income Edmontonians, students and seniors who require public transit access to get to work, school, medical appointments and other services."

Sohi added that in Edmonton, demand for the program has increased 150 per cent since 2016.

"The decision to defund this program in Edmonton and Calgary shows that the province's priorities are in the wrong place."