Québec solidaire proposes to create an emergency fund to finance a series of measures to improve the supply of public transport in the regions and to “reduce the use of solo cars”, as the price of gas continues to to climb.
“For several years, we have witnessed the increasingly centralization of our local services, our health services, our education services, and we have been left to our own devices with the rise in the price of gasoline which really costs more when you have to travel 50 kilometers to get the nearest pint of milk “, to have a blood test done or to visit a loved one in a CHSLD, argued the spokesperson for solidarity on Sunday. matters of regional development, Émilise Lessard-Therrien, in a telephone interview.
A first measure would be to create intermunicipal boards for public transit in each region of the province, to ensure that bus lines allow travel from one city to another. This would also allow, according to Mr.me Lessard-Therrien, to adapt the offer to the local context, as has been done in the Gaspé, “where the model works, it has proven itself”.
“We haven’t been able to put a figure on it because we want it to really meet the needs of the communities,” she said, arguing that with the surprise profits made through the tax on essence, “there is money”.
Québec solidaire also wants to create car-sharing services, as there are already in major urban centres. In particular, the rental of heavier vehicles, such as 4 x 4s or trucks.
“People in the regions sometimes need to have trucks because they have land, because they have activities that require the occasional use of a truck,” explained Mr.me Lessard-Therrien. But the possibility of renting one when needed made it possible to buy only a small car for daily trips, which would have the double advantage of costing less and polluting less.
Change of mentality
The MP recognizes, however, “that there is a change of mentality that will have to take place”, as taking the car is often more practical than waiting for the passage of your bus. Despite everything, she says she is “convinced that, just because it costs so much to fill up your car, there are people who will consider it”.
According to her, regional transport is in the grip of a vicious circle, where the deficient supply of public transport pushes people towards the car. As a result, “there are bus lines that have never resumed since the start of the pandemic due to lack of traffic, she noted. I would like to see where the government’s advertisements are to encourage people to use public transport”.
She accused the government of François Legault of abandoning the regions and of having reduced “local services and neglected regional public transport”.
The office of Transport Minister François Bonnardel declined to comment on Québec solidaire’s proposal.
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This article was produced with the financial support of the Facebook Fellowships and The Canadian Press for News