Public engagement on permanent public transit funding in Canada

On July 25, 2023, the Government of Canada released the response to feedback received through national public engagement sessions on Canada's first permanent public transit fund of $3 billion annually starting in 2026-27, titled Permanent, Integrated, and Locally Responsive: New Foundations for Public Transit Funding in Canada.

Permanent Public Transit Funding Engagement

From July 29 to October 14, 2022, the Government of Canada set out to gather ideas, feedback, and solutions from a broad spectrum of Canadians on how we can work together to make the most of the creation of the first national permanent public transit fund of $3 billion per year, beginning in 2026-27.

Through our engagement paper and attached questionnaire we set out the Government of Canada’s long-term vision for public transit and active transportation and requested feedback from provinces, territories, municipalities, Indigenous peoples, transit agencies, policy experts, stakeholders, and the public.

We received 71 written submissions and 391 questionnaire responses, and we also heard directly from our partners/stakeholders through multi-stakeholder national and regional roundtables and bi-lateral meetings.

Public engagement is now closed. Thank you to everyone who provided input.

Engagement Paper: Permanent Public Transit Funding in Canada

Engagement Paper: Permanent Public Transit Funding in Canada (PDF Version)

Engagement Paper: Permanent Public Transit Funding in Canada (HTML Version)

What We Heard Report - Permanent, Integrated, and Locally Responsive: New Foundations for Public Transit Funding in Canada

Following national public engagement on Canada's first permanent public transit fund of $3 billion annually starting in 2026-27, on July 25, 2023, the Government of Canada released the What We Heard Report titled Permanent, Integrated, and Locally Responsive: New Foundations for Public Transit Funding in Canada.

The Report highlights key stakeholder/partner messages and foundational principles that will guide the design and implementation of permanent public transit funding in Canada, and underpin our goal to support safe, modern, and efficient public transit systems, build complete and inclusive communities, and improve tangible outcomes for Canadians.

Permanent, Integrated, and Locally Responsive: New Foundations for Public Transit Funding in Canada

New Permanent, Integrated, and Locally Responsive: New Foundations for Public Transit Funding in Canada (PDF Version)

HTML version will be available shortly.

What's Next

Permanent public transit funding offers an opportunity for all orders of government and transit partners to work better together to enhance integrated planning and evidence-based decision-making and catalyze long-term investments in public transit that are responsive to local and regional needs.

The ideas, solutions and principles outlined in the What We Heard Report cannot be realized by the federal government alone – they require a new way of working together. Over the next months, the Government will work closely with our transit partners to refine program design and strengthen our collective ability to deliver high-quality and accessible public transit and active transportation for Canadians.

Once in place, permanent public transit funding will help improve access to public transit and active transportation and support the development of more affordable, sustainable, and inclusive communities by expanding access to employment opportunities and affordable housing across the spectrum, mitigating climate change, and improving equity and inclusion.