Gatineau looks to raise vehicle registration tax to fund transit
Natalia Goodwin | CBC News | Posted: February 23, 2024 9:00 AM | Last Updated: February 23
City talking to province's insurance board, no amount set
Gatineau is looking at another vehicle registration tax to pay for public transit.
Since 1992, owners of passenger vehicles in some Quebec municipalities have paid an annual contribution for public transportation.
It's currently $30 in Gatineau, Cantley and Chelsea.
The province passed Bill 39 late last year that allowed municipalities that have public transportation services to further tax vehicle registration based on fuel consumption.
This tax has been requested by several mayors. Something similar has been in place in the Montreal area, taking $59 more from registration for regional public transit as of this year.
On Tuesday, Gatineau city council voted unanimously to ask city staff to begin discussions with the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ), Quebec's automobile insurance board, which would implement the tax.
Municipalities must confirm their interest to the SAAQ before March 15 and pass a law by May 31 in order to introduce the tax on Jan. 1.
"We did not want to miss the opportunity," said former Gatineau Mayor France Bélisle in French during a media scrum Wednesday, a day before she stepped down.
"If we didn't move forward with this, we would spend a year … so that's why it was important to do it."
It is still unknown what the fee in Gatineau will be. Cities have the right to decide their own amounts, according to the SAAQ. They have to charge the same amount for each kind of passenger vehicle.
Bélisle said she didn't know if the extra money would be used as part of what the city already puts into public transportation, or if it would be a surplus.
"I imagine it will be an exciting city council discussion," she said.
"The finance committee will look into this to make recommendations … to see what we are doing, how much, how we apply it and what the comfort level of council is."
Alternative transportation advocate in support
"It's very good news," said Patrick Robert-Meunier, general manager of MOBI-O, an alternative transportation advocacy group in the region.
"We know that vehicles and automobiles are a big cost to society. Each dollar that person puts in his car … it costs $5 to $6 to society."
He said he understands that it appears drivers will be paying more, but he said vehicle owners aren't paying the true cost of driving because the roads are not tolled and parking is often free.
He welcomes opportunities to fund many types of alternative transportation including biking and walking, along with public transit.