There’s no such thing as a free (bus)

Transit comes with cost tradeoffs, says candidate Christine McAllister.

The City of Ottawa has a budget of over $3 billion. That’s our money, and it should be carefully managed to best benefit the residents of our city. Meanwhile, the provincial government’s actions on its budget demonstrate that the financial decisions of our new council will come under even more pressure. It is your vote that will select the councillors who oversee how this multi-billion-dollar corporation is run.

A good example is a recent proposal for fare-free transit.

Public transit should be accessible and convenient for people of all ages and incomes. It gets cars off the road and benefits our environment.

At first glance, free transit seems like a great idea. Who doesn’t like free? But investing significantly in one proposal may mean holding off on other priorities such as affordable housing, better city services, or fighting climate change. Free also means charging a student or senior the same as someone who can easily afford transit fares. Funding this nearly $200-million hole in the city’s budget through property taxes would require a further tax increase of $500 for each Ottawa household, or major service reductions in other areas.

Informed decisions are better decisions and the financial aspects of policy options are fundamental. Major initiatives need a financial plan that includes operating dollars to keep things working after the ribbon gets cut. The budget is therefore the most important way for the decisions made by city council to be turned into concrete results for residents.

It is my belief that the city’s budget process should clearly demonstrate the trade-offs required in making investment decisions, as well as provide tangible plans to get things done. Because, at the end of the day unfunded priorities are not priorities at all. Christine McAllister is an executive in the financial sector and a candidate for city council for Capital Ward. Past president of the Glebe Community Association, she has extensive experience in commercial and personal finance. Reach her at Twitter. com/CMcAllister_CM.