Quebec offers to cover 70% of public transit deficits

Quebec Transport Minister Geneviève Guilbault announced Friday that the government is ready to absorb 70 per cent of this year's projected deficits of public transit agencies across the province.

The government is now offering $265 million to cities and public transit agencies, she said at a news conference. About $238 million will be going to cities in the greater Montreal area.

She said the numbers were reached after extensive consultations with transit agencies and municipalities over the summer.

Municipalities had previously asked for $300 million, saying the money was needed to avoid a reduction in services on bus and Metro lines.

Quebec's initial offer was to cover 20 per cent. 

The government is also ordering all 10 regional transit agencies and the Réseau de transport métropolitain to undergo audits to find "long-term structural solutions" to their funding issues. She said the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) government has invested more in public transit than ever before. 

Guilbault said public transit agencies need to do some soul-searching and think of ways to optimize spending, citing the salary increase for executives during the pandemic and free rides for seniors as examples. She said transit agencies are projecting a $2.5-billion deficit in the next five years, which the government cannot afford to cover.

WATCH | Montreal is behind when it comes to paying with your phone for public transit:

Why can't you tap to pay on Montreal public transit? Because bureaucracy.

1 year ago

Duration 2:54

Montreal is behind most major cities when it comes to paying for public transit. For years, the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) has looked into implementing easier payment options, but a series of bureaucratic setbacks has halted the process. The latest development is that you can now reload your Opus card with your phone with the Chrono app.

The government is "sensitive to cities' realities" this year, and public transit is worth investing in, but it can't dish out millions every year, said Guilbault.

"We can't just keep throwing money at this infinitely," she said. "It's a bottomless hole." 

On Tuesday, several mayors, including Plante and Laval's Stéphane Boyer, called out the province over what they described as "radio silence" at the negotiation table. They said the lack of dialogue was unacceptable considering cities have to finalize their budgets in the coming days.

According to Radio-Canada, the mayors are expected to meet today to discuss Quebec's latest offer.