Montreal Vehicle Owners to Pay More for Public Transit
Drivers in the Montreal area are facing a significant increase in their vehicle registration tax, set to more than double next year. This hike, from $59 to $150, is a move by Montreal-area mayors to secure more funding for public transit.
This decision comes after the province of Quebec declined to increase its financial support for public transit. The Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal (CMM), representing over 80 municipalities in the Montreal area, voted to implement the tax increase. According to Laval Mayor Stéphane Boyer, the choice was a difficult but essential step to maintain public transport services.
The financial strain on public transit agencies has been mounting, partly due to reduced ridership during the pandemic, inflation, and revenue siphoned off to the new Réseau express métropolitain (REM) light-rail network. Mayors are seeking $421 million from the province to cover transit agency deficits, but the province has only offered $200 million.
Transport Minister Geneviève Guilbault has emphasized the need for transit agencies to become more financially self-sufficient, including finding ways to cut expenses.
While the tax increase is planned for next year, the CMM has left open the possibility of reducing or eliminating the increase if the province provides more funding. However, the CMM insists the increase is not a mere tactic. Mayor Boyer stressed the importance of public transit for residents, highlighting that many rely on it for daily commutes.
Not all municipalities support the tax increase. Some, particularly those with limited public transit options, view it as unfair. Vaudreuil-Dorion Mayor Guy Pilon called the tax increase “nonsense” for areas without transit services.
Advocacy groups such as L’alliance TRANSIT support the CMM’s move, urging Minister Guilbault to create a five-year plan that ensures stable funding. Guilbault has stated her intention to resolve the transit agency deficit issue before summer.
