On Friday Aug. 23rd, CUSA’s Vice President Student Issues Artur Estrela Da Silva and Associate Vice President, University and Government Relations, Aidan Kallioinen, welcomed our local Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) Joel Harden, to Haven Connect.
As MPP for Ottawa Centre, and as the province’s Opposition Critic for Transit and Active Transportation, we sought to engage Mr. Harden on ways we can engage the province to help fund a percentage of OC Transpo’s total operating costs. We also discussed the broader financial situation surrounding transit in Ottawa, and the financial pressures facing the City. We discussed these pressures and the effects they have on the recent announcement of changes to service frequency on the LRT, the opening of Line 2 LRT (Trillium Line) as well as bus services in-general.
We also discussed the implications potential cuts to transit have on students, including: Accessibility, the availability and variety of housing options for students, work opportunities, and especially mental health.
We look forward to continuing to work with Joel and his team for a better transit system here in Ottawa, and have the province critically engage the City and student stakeholders on transit priorities.