The Alberta government is reversing its plan to axe a subsidy program that helps low-income people pay for transit passes.It comes after a day of backlash from the mayors of Edmonton and Calgary.
The province’s two largest cities were set to lose $12 million in funding from the province.
Social Services Minister Jason Nixon says it’s now clear the cities aren’t able to pay for the full program and provincial money will continue to flow.
“It is clear that the cities are not able to pay for their full programs at this time,” Nixon said. “As a result, Alberta’s government will continue to extend this funding to the cities and work with them to ensure their low-income transit program continues to be funded in the future.
Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek had called the proposed cut an insult to Calgarians already struggling to get by. Meanwhile, Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi said 25,000 local residents rely on the program to access transit and demand is growing.
According to the City, Calgary’s low-income transit pass program was used nearly 119,000 times from January to March this year.
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