Opposition MPPs weigh in on Ottawa transit funding

Very little money has flowed from the provincial or federal governments to support Ottawa’s operating costs, including transit. That is part of the reason why LRT service is being reduced. Mayor Mark Sutcliffe has practically been on his knees begging for financial support anywhere he can find. 

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has made it clear he’s not interested in paying up until Ottawa builds a system that works. Councillors state that’s impossible without money. 

When Ford was in Ottawa this March to announce a “New Deal for Ottawa”, he was asked why transit funding was not part of the plan. 

“Talking about the federal government, we need the ridership to go up and keep the economy going downtown to be able to pay for the LRT and all that,” said Ford. “But they have to get people back to work. Three days… anything. It sounds crazy to be begging people to go to work for three days. But it really affects the downtown. We need them to go back to work. To go into the restaurants, to go into the shops downtown, to get on transit. That’s what we need.”

In the past, Ford also said LRT Stage 3 funding was out if the question until issues with Phases 1 and 2 were sorted (but more on that later). 

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