In recent days, the issue of public transit funding has been the subject of much ink. 

The mayor of Saint-Lazare, Geneviève Lachance, is asking the Quebec government to take into account the concerns of municipalities that could see a significant share of the financial burden for public transit imposed on them.

Here is the full text shared by Mayor Lachance.

The issue of public transit funding is currently at the center of debates, raising significant concerns about the distribution of financial responsibilities. Municipalities are at the heart of this discussion.

The CAQ government is attempting to impose a substantial portion of the financial burden associated with public transit onto the 82 municipalities of the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal (CMM), which are already burdened with considerable expenses.

This situation threatens the sustainability of public transit. In the Vaudreuil-Soulanges region, 11 out of 23 municipalities are part of the CMM.

The government's approach exerts overwhelming pressure on municipalities, particularly the smaller ones, which have limited revenues coming primarily from property taxes. They may potentially face significant increases in 2024, especially concerning their bills from the Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain (ARTM), the Sûreté du Québec, and the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal (CMM). This occurs in a context where the economy is highly volatile and particularly challenging for many.

However, even when forced to be part of these entities, municipalities do not always fully benefit from these services. Many of our municipalities have little or no public transit services on their territory, yet they must still pay a significant portion of the bill.

It's important to note that these expenses are considered incompressible and are not directly under municipal control.

The situation becomes even more alarming when considering the current scenario in which CMM cities are required to cover the deficits of transportation companies, which are an estimated $2.5 billion over the next five years. It's crucial to reevaluate the financial framework for public transit because the current situation seems like we're falling into a never-ending dark hole.

The government's proposals to cover 20% of the residual deficit of transportation companies and municipalities 80% for the 2024-2028 period could lead to significant cost increases for municipalities. In Vaudreuil-Soulanges, some of them are possibly facing increases of up to 150% compared to their 2023 budget. This will force municipalities to make substantial budget cuts, reducing services to citizens or causing a significant increase in property taxes.

It's essential to remember that, with each increase in these expenses, it's ultimately the citizens who will have to pay.

Over the past few months, our region has witnessed frequent bus service cancellations, leaving passengers in need of alternative solutions. This situation has particularly affected our student community. Unfortunately, despite rising costs, services appear to be regressing, contrary to promises of increasing availability.

It's crucial to emphasize the urgency of finding a viable solution promptly. It's also important to acknowledge that the provincial government has significantly more financial resources than municipalities, which rely heavily on property taxes. This raises the issue of a need for major municipal fiscal reform, which the provincial government continues to ignore.

The CAQ government stresses the importance of public transit and reducing the presence of cars on our roads, but it is unwilling to financially commit to these objectives. It's time for the government to recognize that funding these services should be a shared responsibility.

Municipalities are willing to do their part within their financial capacity, but they cannot be the sole bearers of the majority of these costs, especially as their responsibilities continue to grow. A balanced and equitable approach is essential to sustain public transit while protecting the interests of local taxpayers.

The benefits of public transit are undeniable, including reducing traffic congestion, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and promoting more sustainable mobility. However, if municipalities are forced to carry this financial burden alone, these benefits are jeopardized.

As municipalities are currently in the process of preparing their budgets for 2024, we hope that the government will take into account the concerns of municipalities and act accordingly to provide reliable and high-quality public transit access while alleviating the increasing financial burden on municipalities and their citizens.

Geneviève Lachance
Mayor of the City of Saint-Lazare