Vibrant Communities Calgary - VCC -- favors #freepublictransit

@VibrantCalgary

Free Transit Edmonton campaign, launching early 2020.

We’d never be expected to write a firefighter a cheque before they put out a burning building. Why is public transit any different? As organizers for Free Transit Edmonton, we have a vision for a resilient, more connected city. We see free public transit as a way to address inequality, and climate change in a way that benefits all Edmontonians.

https://edmontonjournal.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-make-transit-free-for-the-sake-of-our-climate-and-community? 

No money for transit, but $30 million for oil trolls

After deep budget cuts to health, education and more, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney’s “War Room” has been launched with a budget of $30 million annually, to improve the reputation of Alberta’s oil companies.
The stated aim of the Canadian Energy Centre is to combat anti-oil “narratives” with a “rapid-response” unit, an information unit to “help the province take control of its energy story” and a “data and research unit”

https://pressprogress.ca/kenneys-war-room-spending-about-equal-to-funds-cut-from-calgary-schools/ 

Canmore, Alberta, to charge for downtown parking and apply it to #freepublictransit

"Parking has never been free. It's always been a cost that has been borne by the local taxpayer: the cost of providing that infrastructure and maintaining it," he said. "With paid parking and those paid parking revenues going toward our transit fares, our visitors are helping to pay for those costs, rather than 100 per cent of them coming from local residents."
The money is earmarked for Canmore's local transit service, Roam, which is fare-free.

Borrowman hopes the parking fees might alleviate congestion — which has been an increasing problem in the Bow Valley.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/canmore-parking-1.5388552 

Edmonton, take note, this is doable

Whoa. 😲 Edmonton just turned down #FreeTransit but another sprawling is doing it. https://t.co/8VkSVTHt6n #yegTransit

— Jeff Samsonow (@jeffsamsonow) December 6, 2019

Campus Saint-Jean Council discusses #freepublictransit

Council also voted unanimously to pass the first principles on a policy regarding public transit which talks about how Indigenous and People of Colour are disproportionately targeted for fare-evasion and the idea of fare-free public transport #UASUsc pic.twitter.com/LHIfFMI20i

— Khadra.A (@khadra_ast) December 4, 2019