We’ve now gone through early stages of a budget, the majority of a council campaign, and a debate. Yet the question still remains: Where’s the bus?
Reading my counterparts’ work and watching portions of the debate, I noticed something. Many of the topics the prospective councillors want to address are not even something a municipality is responsible for.
The men’s shelter is provincially funded, and healthcare is another provincial issue. Candidates hardly touched on multiple municipal issues, including the need for a transit system, with moderators asking only a yes or no question that drew more laughs than answers.
I’ve heard excuses from all levels of government. The potential 1.5 percent increase in property taxes is the biggest one.
But suppose we can spend over $40 million on wages and plan for a $7.3 million shortage in Cenovus Energy Hub funding. Why is $1-3 million for a transit system the project everyone wants to ignore?
I get that buses don’t use the same amount of oil-based products as a two-car family, but seriously, that can’t be the reason. Not when over 70 per cent of citizens want a system of some sort.
Unfortunately, with the proposed 2026 municipal property tax hike of over 9 per cent next year, this elephant appears to be caged for the foreseeable future.
Read more: Opinion: Pte. Stephenson remembered
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