“if that doesn’t come, by february, say by the end of february, we’ll have to look at other ways of dealing with that,” sutcliffe said.
“we’d have to find other solutions and all options are on the table. i’m not saying that any of these are desirable, but we’d have to look at increasing fares, a special transit levy, service reductions, other efficiencies … we’d have to look at all of those things.”
neil saravanamuttoo, director of cityshapes ottawa, is dubious that help will come from parliament hill.
“the mayor seems optimistic that transit funding will be coming in early 2025. i have to admit i’m not quite so optimistic as he is,” saravanamuttoo said.
“the federal government has been crystal, crystal clear that they do not do transit operations. they do transit capital costs, but they see transit operations as the responsibility of the provinces.
“if you think about it, if the feds were to provide operational funding to ottawa, they would have to do the same for every city in the country. i just can’t see that happening. they’re not prepared to set a precedent and open up the floodgates.”
saravanamuttoo also warned of another transit pitfall: oc transpo’s assumption that ridership will continue to increase and its projection of $200 million in fare revenue in 2025.