As the city struggles to put this year's budget to bed, Thunder Bay advocates talk transit

The resounding theme of the public pre-budget deputation meeting on Thursday night in Thunder Bay, Ont. was transit – in a few different forms. 

The meeting allowed residents and representatives of community groups to speak to council, following the release of the 2023 proposed budget, about what they would like to see approved in this year's chequebook.

More than an hour was spent on the Waterfront Trail Rotary Community Action Team's deputation about desires for a 13.5 kilometre waterfront trail from Fisherman's Park via Mission Marsh to Jackknife Bridge. Later on, deputations advocating for protected active transportation lanes were heard, along with the Affordable Access Pilot Program for Transit, which would see reductions in city transit fees for low-income individuals.

The calls to make the city more accessible come at a time when council is toying with how to reduce a proposed tax levy of 5.6 per cent, an unprecedentedly high rate in Thunder Bay. The speakers made their case for why investments in their passion projects should be spared from the chopping block.

But amid sky-high inflation, staffing shortages and supply chain disruptions, businesses want to see a lower tax levy than what's been tabled, according to Charla Robinson, president of the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce.

She said most chamber members believe they can only handle a maximum tax levy of three per cent before growth.

That's a number Mayor Ken Boshcoff said he'd be more comfortable with, too.

"The chamber has vocalized what they, I think, realize is probably where it's going to almost end up," Boshcoff said."Now you're pushing people to the breaking point, and anything more than three per cent will really do our city a lot of harm."

On the other hand, a lower tax levy means cuts elsewhere. Boshcoff said there's ways it can be done – like not replacing all of the city's retiring staff, for example – but there isn't a simple solution. 

City manager Norm Gale said a three per cent tax levy would require at least $5.5 million in budget cuts – which, while not impossible, would be challenging.

Now you're pushing people to the breaking point, and anything more than 3 per cent will really do our city a lot of harm.- Mayor Ken Boshcoff

Cutting the budget means increasing risk, which can be done by raising revenue projections, lowering contributions to the reserve fund, and reducing or changing service levels.

But at the end of the day, the city is required to have a balanced budget, and every cent counts.

Expanding the waterfront trail

The Waterfront Trail Action Team asked council to earmark funds from the $16.5 million Renew Thunder Bay Reserve fund for its project, which would only be spent if the city receives matching funds from the provincial and federal governments – meaning, a third coming from each party before the Renew Thunder Bay Reserve fund is used. The action team is also seeking fundraising dollars to support the trail expansion, and the Port Arthur Rotary Club is forming a registered charity to facilitate this. 

"It's been talked about for 15 to 20 years in the city and without a trail association present, things have been moving rather slowly," said Warren Philp, a member of the Waterfront Trail Rotary Community Action Team.

The action team also wants council to make the waterfront trail's completion a top priority in the 2023-2026 strategic plan, and add the project to the city's 10-year approved capital budget and forecast. 

Though he acknowledged it's a "tough budget" this year, Philp said investing in the city's waterfront is worthwhile from an economic standpoint.

"We think the trail is an easy way to provide more foundational pieces for growth in our city that adds to the tax base, and it works out ultimately to be a big win for our city in the long run," he said.

Active transportation lanes

Ken Shields, Sarah Brown and Kelsey Agnew spoke on behalf of Just Bike Thunder Bay and The Memorial Link project, a proposed five-kilometre, physically protected active transportation lane along Memorial Avenue.

They're asking council to proceed with plans for the Vickers Carrick Bridge this year – something they say has been deferred for a few budgets now – and to start putting protected bike lanes on May Street and Memorial Avenue, similar to those on Balmoral Avenue.  

They made the case that investing in active transportation means investing in people's health, well-being and safety. Brown said she's been cycling to work every day, but she's putting her life at risk in doing so.

"People don't ride because we don't have a safe place to ride," she said. 

Making city transit more affordable

Members of Poverty Free Thunder Bay are looking to protect the new Affordable Access Pilot Program for Transit. The program, which would halve the cost of a monthly bus pass for eligible low-income individuals, was approved last summer to start this coming July, pending ratification in the 2023 budget.

Tracey MacKinnon of Poverty Free Thunder Bay shared her lived experience with poverty as a person on the Ontario Disability Support Program. She said she pays more than 80 per cent of what she receives from the program on rent alone. 

More than 250 people have said they would benefit from the transit program, which would save them $41/month. That money could be spent on groceries, rent and bills, instead, and could make getting to places like school, work, the grocery store or doctor's office a little easier.

What Paul Berger of Poverty Free Thunder Bay would really like to see is free transit for people who need it the most – he's part of the Fair Free Transit working group – he said the pilot program is a start.

"[Tracey] has lived experience of trying to stretch things and going without things in a way that I think all of us, I hope city councillors, are thinking about," Berger said. "Let's not make cuts in the areas where it really, really matters to people."