The Capital Regional District agreed Wednesday to press the federal and provincial government for increased investment in public transit as a way to promote economic recovery during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Saanich Coun. Ned Taylor said the region鈥檚 transit system was in need of improvements even before the pandemic hit.
鈥淭here are many areas of our region that are actually not even serviced at all by our bus system,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here are areas of our region that are serviced, but that do not have, from my perspective, frequent-enough service in order to support our residents.鈥�
But he said it鈥檚 even more important to fix the system now in light of the pandemic and its effect on people鈥檚 ability to make a living.
鈥淚 think the economic impacts that we are facing because of COVID-19 will mean that there may be many more people who will not be able to afford to own their own vehicle and may have to rely more on public transportation,鈥� he said.
鈥淎lso, it鈥檚 notable that with social-distancing requirements, our bus system will have less capacity for people on the bus. So I think that COVID actually presents even more rationale and even more urgency for increased public-transportation service in our region.鈥�
Metchosin Mayor John Ranns opposed the motion as 鈥渢oo restrictive鈥� given other pressures facing the region.
鈥淚t is focusing where the stimulus money will be spent,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 see this as an ideological initiative and I don鈥檛 think this is the time for that. I can鈥檛 help but think that there鈥檚 a number of members here that don鈥檛 really see the new world that we鈥檙e entering.鈥�
Ranns said the country has yet to experience the full impact of the pandemic, because many people are still being supported by federal government programs.
鈥淲hen that ends, when the jobs end, when everything else ends, we are going to be in severe economic trouble,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檝e been there. I know what it鈥檚 like, where you鈥檙e going to be fighting to try and just find money for essential things.鈥�
Ranns said it鈥檚 unclear what will happen to transportation as people lose their jobs, while others continue to work from home. 鈥淚s there even going to be a need for that much transportation? We don鈥檛 know that.鈥�
Saanich Coun. Rebecca Mersereau acknowledged Ranns鈥� concerns, but argued that reliable public transportation will continue to be important 鈥渨hen we emerge on the other side of this.鈥�
Saanich Coun. Susan Brice, who chairs the Victoria Regional Transit Commission, backed the motion as well. She said the commission has already advocated for increased investments and reliable annual funding. 鈥淪o therefore, if another voice with the same message will help, I聽certainly intend to support it,鈥� she said.
