By Thia James

Price of discounted bus passes could rise

Oct 21, 2014 | 6:47 AM

Prince Albert city council could approve a $5 increase to what discounted bus pass users pay each month at next week’s meeting.

The discounted passes currently cost $15, and are subsidized by both the City and the ministry of social services. The full rate for an adult pass is $67.50. The province currently subsidizes $25 of every pass sold and the City subsidizes $27.75 of every monthly pass sold. 

With the City facing the possibility of subsidizing the passes at an estimated $102,092.25 in 2015 as the province capped its contribution, administration put forward the proposal. If discounted bus pass users take on $5 more, the City would end up subsidizing the program at an estimated $82,777.50. The ministry of social services had wanted to cap its contribution off at $88,000, but raised it to $97,000 after talking to the City. The estimated 2015 contribution is still below the cap. But the province had also raised its per-pass subsidy by 25 cents.

“In an effort to control the City’s portion of the program, having already acquired approval from the Province, [a]dministration recommends increasing the rider’s portion of the discounted bus pass from $15.00 to $20.00,” department of public works’ Renee Horn wrote in a report to the executive committee. 

The executive committee approved the recommendation from administration to increase the riders’ share of the cost to buy the passes at Monday’s meeting. However, four councillors opposed the recommendation, including Coun. Charlene Miller.

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“I guess I’m a little disappointed in the ministry of social services not picking up the extra $5 that we’re increasing. And we’re not doing it as well,” she said during the meeting.

“In regards to the people who really can’t afford to use the system, I guess they won’t be using it if they can’t afford the extra $5 to get on the bus, which is really sad.”

According to the ministry of social services website, the discounted passes are available to those who receive support from a number of social programs including the Saskatchewan Assistance Program, Transitional Employment Allowance and the Saskatchewan Employment Supplement. The program is also available in Regina, Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, Swift Current and Yorkton.

Coun. Don Cody said the issue is that the people affected don’t have the “wherewithal” to buy the pass – at the full rate — and have to use a subsidized pass.

“They’re not the wealthy of the wealthiest. They’re poorest of the poorest. And as a result of that, I couldn’t care less if they rode on that empty bus 100 times because it’s usually pretty empty,” he said.

He said $20 may not be a lot for himself and other councillors, but it may be a lot for someone who is disabled and needs the service.

Mayor Greg Dionne, on the other hand, supports the increase to the discounted monthly bus pass. He said $20 could allow the pass holder to ride the bus 100 times in a month.

“That’s 20 cents a ride. I don’t understand what the issue is,” he told the executive committee.

After the meeting, he explained that the City is doing its part by not charging the poorest of the poor the “full strain” – or the full rate.

“But I think that $20 for a bus pass that you can ride on 100 times in a month is more than fair,” he said.

One transit user who disagrees with that outlook is Patrick Fairbairn. Earlier this year, Fairbairn circulated a petition gathering signatures of those opposed to the most recent transit fare increase. 

He was at Monday’s executive committee meeting and criticized the majority on council who supported the recommendation to increase the discounted pass rate. He said they’ve forgotten about the real needs of people who depend on the service, such as the disabled, seniors, and people “on a tight budget.”

“I don’t mind the increase,” he said. “But who pays for it? And again, it’s at the bottom of the totem pole.”

He criticized Dionne’s comments during the meeting, and said the mayor is “so far out of touch, he might as well be in a rocket going to the moon, because it’s ridiculous. He’s so far out of touch with the average person that has to survive the way some of these people have to survive.

“I’m a pensioner now, I’m unemployed. I’ve had to really tighten my belt too.”

New year, new opportunities for transit improvements?

In the new year, the City will be addressing some of the other issues riders have raised regarding bus service, according to the mayor. The contract with the bus operator, First Canada ULC, is up next June.

Dionne said the contract will be discussed during the budget process. “We may put it out for tender, we may negotiate with the operator that we have,” he said.

And it could become an opportunity for the City to address some of the riders’ concerns.

He said riders approach him about the condition of the buses. “No shocks on the back. So we’re riding the bus, [and] we’re getting a beating riding in the back of the bus because the shocks haven’t been fixed. So, to me, that’s more important than talking about a nickel or a dime more to get on the bus.”

tjames@panow.com

On Twitter: @thiajames