Locations with #freepublictransit due to Corona Virus in Canada

Cities that have rear door loading for buses during COVID19:
Vancouver
Calgary
Montreal
Toronto
Regina
Ottawa
Brandon
Victoria
Saskatoon
Edmonton
Kingston
Peterborough
St. John’s
Halifax
Hamilton
Mississauga
Guelph
ALL of BC Transit

Cities that have refused to do it:

Winnipeg

— ATU Local 1505 (@ATU1505) March 24, 2020

Billions of taxpayer dollars to be handed over to for-profit oil and gas companies

The federal government is preparing a multibillion-dollar bailout package for Canada’s oil and gas sector that is expected to be unveiled early next week, sources say.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-ottawa-prepares-multibillion-dollar-bailout-of-oil-and-gas-sector/? 

People protest Winnipeg public transit cuts

winnipegsun.com

“We’ve seen it in other cities in the United States where you have a small cut that leads to a decline in ridership which leads to another cut which leads to a further decline in ridership,” said Derek Koop, President of FTW, a local non-profit advocacy group. “You see it year after year until it becomes a service that no one wants to use.”

Manitoba doubling down on subsidized car-culture

If #Winnipeg wants #modeshift, this budget doesn't cut it.

🚗 A $130m road repair budget and growing
🚗 A $0 increase in parking fees
🚌 Cutting 14 bus routes
🚌 Cutting the U-Pass program
🚲 Only $23m in AT infrastructure investment over the next 6 years#wpgpoli #wpgbudget pic.twitter.com/Ozd3WBHqjA

— nicole roach (@roachwithme) March 7, 2020

Green Party of Canada supports #freepublictransit

Free public transit reduces carbon emissions, connects neighbourhoods and makes cities more liveable. Win-win! pic.twitter.com/5nmi2xpKY6

— Green Party Canada (@CanadianGreens) March 3, 2020

Bus drivers forced to be fare police in Winnipeg

Spoke to a busdriver this morning who had to warn me that if a transit supervisor came on board he would have to tell them that I hadn’t paid my fare (my Peggo pass expires 03/02/2020 today’s date but apparently that is at like 4 am on the date? Not until end of day?)

— Joni Sawatzky (@joni_sawa) March 2, 2020

Winnipeg - People fight public transit cuts.

Tomorrow! Join us at City Hall at noon to rally for frequent, affordable and accessible #publictransit in #Winnipeg! @budgetforallwpg @ATU1505 #wpgpoli pic.twitter.com/MflecR8taN

— FunctionalTransitWPG (@FTWinnipeg) March 1, 2020

Regina, SK, people gather to discuss #climate - end up rating #freepublictransit as best idea

@FreePublicTrans it was the top rated suggestion in the crowd at the end of the afternoon.#ClimateActionInCathedral pic.twitter.com/SWFLHIvPIs

— John Klein (@JohnKleinRegina) February 29, 2020

#Freepublictransit in Canada - "movement is gathering momentum"

Cities across Canada are now petitioning for free public transit, and the movement is gathering momentum.
Free public transit — funded through taxation by the local or national government — does exist. Luxembourg is the first country in the world to make public transit free, and several European cities have similar systems in place.
Now, Canadian cities are moving to do the same.

https://www.freshdaily.ca/news/2020/02/free-public-transit-canada/ 

Coming to Canada, free public transit

The idea of hopping on the subway without paying a single nickel might seem surreal for most Canadians, but free public transit may soon be a reality.
Canadian cities are already calling for public transit to be free, and there's good reason for it; funding transit through taxation would make it more accessible for low-income groups, shaping a world where everyone has equal access to jobs and services.

https://www.freshdaily.ca/news/2020/02/free-public-transit-canada-common-sense-free-healthcare/ 

Demand for energy leads to physical and verbal abuse of First Nations people

“If First Nations people are so privileged, we wouldn’t have a massive housing crisis, boil water advisories and a lack of infrastructure. We welcome them to come into our communities and check out firsthand what our ‘privilege’ truly looks like.”

https://saskatoon.ctvnews.ca/mobile/scheer-s-check-their-privilege-comment-on-protesters-disturbing-fsin-1.4819031

Free buses rescue auto system during snowstorm

On January 24, 2020, the City of St. John’s announced a free ride period for Metrobus and GoBus following the State of Emergency. During the free ride period, which concluded on February 7, ridership for Metrobus was up 38%* over average ridership during the same period in 2019. 

“We are pleased to see that individuals took advantage of the free ride period and used public transit following the State of Emergency, which we hope also reflects a reduction of vehicles and pedestrians on our roads as the clean-up continued,” explained Councillor Ian Froude, Council lead for Public Works and Chair of the St. John’s Transportation Commission.

http://stjohns.ca/media-release/metrobus-ridership-during-free-ride-period 

Canada - poor people stranded by car culture

As it stands, there are two commuting classes in Canada: drivers and everyone else. And throughout much of the country, the needs of drivers are prioritized. That not only harms our environment, but it also holds back the most marginalized citizens, who often can’t afford cars, from fully participating in our economy, politics and culture.

https://broadview.org/free-public-transit/ 

Want to tackle the climate crisis? Free public transit is a good start

Only a third of Canadians use sustainable transportation such as buses to commute to work. Fare-free transportation systems could increase the number of riders and help confront the climate crisis. An interview with John Di Nino, the president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Canada.

https://rabble.ca/podcasts/shows/radiolabour/2020/01/want-tackle-climate-crisis-free-transportation#disqus_thread

Active Winnipeg transit users coalition calls for #freepublictransit

@TuscWinnipeg