Public transit is the backbone of our cities. It gets Canadians where they live, work, and play, efficiently, affordably, and sustainably. Whether you’re commuting to the office, heading to class, or meeting up with friends, transit connects people to the places that matter. 

But right now, the system that keeps our communities moving is under immense strain. 

Transit makes our neighbourhoods more walkable and livable. It’s a powerful tool to reduce congestion, cut emissions, and build more inclusive cities. Yet across Canada, transit systems are struggling to keep up with rising demand. Buses are bypassing passengers at the curb. New lines are planned, but without the funding to operate them. 

The message is clear: transit needs help, and it needs it now. 

 

A Broken Funding Model 

For too long, we’ve leaned heavily on fares to fund public transit. Riders have borne the brunt of rising costs while agencies try to keep fares affordable in the face of inflation. At the same time, operating costs have soared, and traditional funding sources have become unreliable and insufficient. 

The result? A system teetering on the edge of a fiscal cliff. 

Without stable, long-term investment, it’s not just expansion projects that are at risk, it’s the maintenance of the systems we already have. Across the country, essential repairs to tunnels, stations, tracks, and vehicles are being delayed. But delaying maintenance doesn’t save money, it makes the problems worse. What starts as a minor issue can quickly become a service disruption, or worse, a safety risk. 

It’s like ignoring a leak in your roof. Waiting too long doesn’t make it go away, it just makes the eventual fix more expensive. 

 

Transit Is Essential—Let’s Treat It That Way 

High-quality transit isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. It drives economic growth, supports climate action, and improves quality of life. Our cities are growing, and people want to take transit. But we can’t expect transit systems to deliver reliable, frequent, and safe service without the funding to support it. 

It’s time for all levels of government to come together. 

That’s why CUTA is calling on the federal government to take a leadership role by convening a national transit task force. Working with provincial and municipal partners, this task force would chart a path toward a funding model that works, for agencies, for communities, and for riders. 

We need a national strategy to build, operate, and maintain the public transit systems Canadians deserve. 

 

The Time to Act Is Now 

Transit agencies know what needs to be done. Riders know what kind of service they need. And cities know the importance of a healthy, modern transit system. 

What we need is the leadership to make it happen. 

 

Want to learn more? Join the call for bold, national leadership. 

Watch our latest video on what’s at stake, and how we can fix Canada’s broken transit funding model. Special thanks to David Cooper and the team at Leading Mobility, and to the many transit leaders across Canada who helped bring this message to life.