A five-year experiment in free transit

Op-Ed: Prime Minister Stephen Harper could set the wheels in motion to support free public transit in cities.

By Ian Taylor, Last Updated Monday, January 21, 2008

(Published as an op-ed in the Hamilton Spectator on January 21, 2008.)

Local taxpayers shouldn't have to pay for free transit.

Not when our prime minister could become an environmental champion with a plan that makes economic common sense. It could also help him win the next election, even though the idea scares me.

The federal government should give Hamilton $1 billion to introduce free public transit as an international pilot project and environmental test study.

We'd invite urban experts from around the world to come to Hamilton to see how our system could operate in their cities. Then watch the Hammer grow and we'd recover our investment.

The $1 billion would fund $250 million in new equipment and vehicles and provide $150 million per year in operating costs for a five-year test project.

If the not-so-new Conservatives are feeling generous, with $2 billion we could add light rail service and extend the existing system even further.

Based on other cities' experiences, the biggest challenge facing free public transit will be keeping up with demand. The present system would need to double, then probably double again as more and more new riders learn to love their free transit.

How would Canada pay for this? With a newly revised GST, or what should become known as the Government Supports Transit Tax.

Stephen Harper could win more awards than Al Gore, Bill Gates and David Suzuki combined.

He'd finally overcome Canada's reputation as an environmental dinosaur. He'd go from being Mr. Mean to Mr. Green.

I hope, however, that he doesn't let Environment Minister John Baird in on this proposal.

The last time Baird got involved in urban public transit was to cancel the City of Ottawa's proposed new north-south rail service and, thereby, influence the outcome of that city's election. What a mess.

Instead, the prime minister should consult someone who could give him a more enlightened view of clean air and public transit in the future -- like his children.

They could tell him that free public transit is one of the most effective ways to reduce pollution, reduce greenhouse gasses and stop global warming.

Canada would become an international star in taking bold, dynamic and thoughtful steps to deal with pollution and its consequences on the environment.

I shouldn't have to tell anyone how soon governments would see their investments in free transit start to pay off through higher tax returns from economic growth and expansion.

This would be like a $1,200 tax subsidy to everyone using transit and particularly help poor families. That makes more sense for our children than subsidizing kids' hockey equipment and golf lessons.

For local employers, this would be a giant tax break and I know Harper likes tax breaks' for business.

Hamilton's real estate prices would jump and there'd be a traffic jam on the QEW as Torontonians head west to check out the quality of life in Canada's Hammer. And by not helping Toronto, western voters would applaud the Conservatives.

There would be economic downsides. The automobile sector would suffer, but then it's already suffering badly from its own decisions on environmental leadership.

There would be fewer gas stations and auto repair shops and some parking garages would be turned into low-cost housing.

The big economic impact would be on the city's overall economy. Downtown Hamilton would become a real downtown again. Housing demand would skyrocket. Employers would attract more and better workers to move here. The city's reputation would turn around, quickly.

Then, there's the upcoming federal election.

On the issue of the environment, it'll be Harper and John Baird against Stephane Dion and his green dog, Kyoto. I'd bet on that dog before I'd expect any votes due to Baird's past performances on the world stage.

Maybe the Conservatives have written off Hamilton in the next election, although I did read in The Spec once that there is a Conservative MP in this area. Given their near-invisibility, local Conservatives might benefit from a forward-looking initiative such as free transit. Or, like the last election, some could focus their campaign fighting against gun control and same-sex marriage.

Look south, everyone. Smell the change in the air. We could make U.S. politicians envious of our leadership ability in the fight to protect this planet.

Maybe I could once again wear my little Canada pin when I travel out of country. Lately, I've been ashamed to be a Canadian when I travel.

Harper's main claim to fame so far is to give big tax breaks to his business buddies. Oh, and that Atomic Energy fiasco.

How about a measly $1 billion or $1.5 billion to save Hamilton?