– Media Release – June 2, 2025 –
Removing the HST from intercity bus and rail fares would be a climate-friendly, simple and practical way to benefit lower and middle income Canadians, says Transport Action Atlantic. The advocacy group held its 2025 annual general meeting virtually on May 31.
Eliminating the tax on public transportation tickets would mean an immediate fare reduction for most train and motor coach users, says TAA president Tim Hayman. The benefit would go directly to the passenger – not the carrier. It would surely be welcome news for people who don’t own cars or choose not to fly, he noted, adding it would also serve as an incentive for those who drive to leave their cars at home.
The discussion at the AGM ranged over a variety of public transportation issues, aimed at resetting the group’s agenda for the coming year.
Another key TAA priority is encouraging action by the Government of Canada to fix the badly deteriorated VIA Rail passenger service in the region. Over the past two decades train frequencies have been reduced, schedules have slowed substantially due to poorly maintained track and freight train interference, bus connections to offline communities have been severed, and passenger amenities have been downgraded. One example of the effects of track conditions is the reality that it now takes longer for VIA’s Ocean to travel from Moncton to Campbellton than in the era of steam locomotives.
“We will continue to advocate for reasonable and affordable improvements that would restore passenger rail in the Maritimes to at least the minimal standard that existed at the turn of the millennium,” Tim Hayman said. “The number one priority is to get the track on CN’s Newcastle Subdivision rehabilitated to the standards maintained in the 20th Century, because without that badly-needed investment passenger rail in this region will never improve.”
As next steps, TAA is calling for restoration of reliable bus connections to destinations not currently served by passenger rail, such as Saint John, Fredericton, Prince Edward Island, Cape Breton, and the Newfoundland ferry. The third goal is the return to daily VIA service between Halifax and Montreal – an objective that the organization believes is achievable in the near term if the political will is there to do it.
“We believe Atlantic Canadians should not have to wait – probably ten years or more – for delivery of the new long-haul passenger equipment promised last year by the federal government before they see any substantive improvement in passenger rail,” the TAA president commented.
Discussion at the meeting also included ferry services, and lack thereof. It was noted that Canada’s new government had included in its election platform a promise of major fare reductions in the constitutional Marine Atlantic service to Newfoundland, as well as to tolls on the Confederation Bridge and its alternative service provided by Northumberland Ferries; however, no timeline has been given, and concern was expressed that it could be a repeat of a 2015 promise by the Trudeau Liberals to withdraw the 65% cost recovery requirement imposed on Marine Atlantic by the Harper Conservatives. That campaign pledge took nearly nine years to come to fruition.
Another ferry issue is the need for a reliable year-round service to connect Campobello Island with the Canadian mainland. The only permanent access the 800 residents have to the rest of New Brunswick is by using an international bridge to the United States – a routing that has become increasingly problematic over the years, and especially in recent months. TAA has endorsed the position expressed by a leading Campobello ferry advocate, who maintains the absence of a year-round link to the rest of Canada is a Charter Rights issue.
Transport Action will also continue to support and advocate for better urban and rural transit in Atlantic Canada. It was noted that Canada’s smallest province – Prince Edward Island – has shown itself to be a leader in this field by funding rural transit throughout the island, and making public transportation services affordable for everyone.
TAA past-president Ted Bartlett appeared on CBC’s Information Morning Moncton on June 4 to discuss these priorities. You can listen to that interview here.
Ted was also on Information Morning Fredericton, which you can listen to here.
Hear Ted on the Todd Veinotte show, beginning at approximately 19:30 into the June 5 show.
We have several more media appearances scheduled, and will continue to update this post with those appearances as they are published.
