Motion: Public Transportation Strategy

The Premier’s attitude on public transportation has always been to dismiss the need for it in New Brunswick. But I hear from people from all over the province who tell me that if we have convenient and affordable inter-city bus and regional rail, they would use it. We just need the political will to make it happen.

David Coon

WHEREAS transportation is the second-largest source of New Brunswick’s greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for approximately 26% of its total greenhouse gas emissions, and the second-largest sector for energy demand at 23%; 

WHEREAS New Brunswick could achieve the most significant greenhouse gas emission reductions in the transportation sector by reducing the reliance on personal vehicles and using alternative forms of transportation;

WHEREAS public transportation provides an affordable alternative to private car usage and ensures equitable access to essential services, education, and employment opportunities;

WHEREAS, unlike Premier Higgs, Premiers Ford and Legault work hand in hand with the CEO of VIA Rail and the federal government to improve regional rail service in central Canada;

WHEREAS Premier Higgs’ inattention to public transportation extends to the Maritime Bus service and city transit services, which receive no provincial support for their operating budgets;

WHEREAS the New Brunswick Transportation Authority is well suited to lead the development and implementation of an effective public transportation strategy;

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Legislative Assembly urge the government to revive the New Brunswick Transportation Authority to lead the implementation of a provincial public transportation strategy, including inter-city bus and regional rail;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Assembly urge the government to allocate the necessary resources and funding to support the New Brunswick Transportation Authority in executing the public transportation strategy;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Assembly urge the government to properly allocate funding for the operational costs of city transit services and to ensure Maritime Bus can provide interconnection with transportation services in Quebec in the next provincial budget.