The City of Montreal has initiated pre-budget consultations for 2025, focusing on how to allocate funds for public transit. However, opposition politicians are calling for a different type of consultation that includes input from seniors. They are advocating for dialogue with seniors in collaboration with boroughs and the STM, as well as the establishment of a seniors council to advise the administration. Critics argue that public transportation services for the 350,000 seniors on the island are inadequate in terms of effectiveness and cost, emphasizing the importance of consulting those who use these services to ensure cost-effectiveness.
One specific request from the opposition is to extend the STM’s Taxibus services, which are currently only available in certain suburban areas. Pierre Lynch, chair of the executive council of the Association québécoise de défense des droits des personnes retraitées et préretraitées, highlights the advantages of collective Taxibus services in terms of efficiency and cost savings. The opposition is also pushing for the revival of the Golden Age Shuttles, a service similar to adapted transit that was suspended during the pandemic. They estimate it would take $2-3 million to resume this service, stressing the value of investing in services for seniors.
Currently, the STM’s Taxibus service is limited to suburbs such as Pointe-Claire, Dorval, and Nun’s Island in the Verdun borough. The opposition believes that expanding this service to isolated areas in the east and west of Montreal would be beneficial, providing point-to-point transportation for seniors. They argue that consulting with seniors who rely on these services is essential for ensuring effective and efficient public transportation. Despite the city’s invitation for concerns about services for seniors to be addressed in the pre-budget consultations, the opposition plans to table a motion at the next city council meeting to establish a separate seniors’ consultation process.
In response to calls for seniors’ input in budget consultations, the city emphasizes that anyone with concerns about service for seniors can participate in the ongoing pre-budget consultations. However, the opposition party is adamant about setting up a dedicated consultation for seniors to address their specific needs and concerns regarding public transportation services. The pre-budget consultations, which will continue on May 27th, are an opportunity for the public to provide feedback on various budget priorities. The opposition’s push for a seniors’ consultation reflects a growing recognition of the importance of including diverse perspectives in decision-making processes, particularly when it comes to critical services like public transit.
