Drivers in Gatineau, Que., are learning how far they’ll have to dig into their pockets when they renew their licence plates next year, as the city considers a new fee to make up for transit revenue losses.
The board of directors for the Société de transport de l’Outaouais (STO) is recommending the City of Gatineau begin levying a $90 fee on drivers, starting in January 2025.
That fee is expected to inject $15 million into the city’s transit system, which has seen ridership and fare revenue plummet since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
It would be on top of the $30 annual cost the province has charged through the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) since 1992.
The transit system in the Outaouais “is not up to par at the moment,” said Buckingham Coun. Edmond Leclerc, the vice-president of the STO’s board of directors.
“What we are proposing is ambitious. We are aware of this,” Leclerc told reporters in French after a transit committee meeting earlier this week, adding the aim is to have buses running every 15 minutes on peak routes and at [eal times.
“In public transit, we know that it is supply that will stimulate demand. At the moment, we cannot say that we have [a system] that allows people to abandon their second car.”
New powers granted by Quebec government
At the start of 2024, the Quebec government gave cities the power to levy an additional tax on licence plate renewals to help fund public transit.
Gatineau city council began those discussions last month with the SAAQ, with then-mayor France Bélisle saying she was unsure what the tax would mean for the municipality.
The STO is also recommending the $90 fee be adjusted for inflation in coming years. Leclerc said he’s uncertain how much other Quebec municipalities plan to charge, but Montreal — which was given the power several years ago — opted for $59.
Interim Gatineau Mayor Daniel Champagne, who stepped in after Bélisle resigned earlier this year, told Radio-Canada he agrees a fee should be charged but isn’t sure yet what the amount should be.
He also said council has to be open and transparent about how revenue from the levy will be spent.
“I think that our city council is clearly determined to put together all the measures and use all the tools necessary to make sure that we have efficient public transportation,” Champagne said.
STO’s recommendation came just a few minutes before announcing it had lost $12.3 million in 2023 and $84.8 million since 2019.
The proposal will be discussed at the next council meeting in mid-April before being voted on at a future date.