Elliot Lake, like many Ontario communities, depends on the dedicated provincial gas tax rebate to fund Elliot Lake's Public Transit bus service, said Elliot Lake Councillor Norman Mann.
"We know the gas tax is on the chopping block," he added.
His comment came during Monday night's meeting of Elliot Lake City Council, while councillors were debating a resolution that originated from a report of the city's Director of Public Works, Darrel Halloch.
In the Ford government's recent budget, a planned increased payment of 2 per cent, which would have been retroactive to last Jan. 1, was put on hold. Now municipalities aren't sure how much of the hoped-for total 4 per cent rebate they were anticipating will be available to them and, when.
"We must maintain our public transit." Councillor Tom Turner said, noting Elliot Lake's classification as a retirement community.
"Look, considering our demographic, and lower incomes in Elliot Lake, I think it's critical that we maintain the public transit alternative here." Turner went on, "I sincerely believe we should support the resolution and send the message on to Queen's Park."
In his report, Halloch recommended just that, saying, "They've rejected the two cents and they're overlooking the plan to go to four cents in total."
"That the government of Ontario can continue to support transit systems across the province, recognizing the economic, environmental and social benefits of public transit investments." Says the city's resolution. "And that council insist that the government of Ontario make evidence-based decisions when considering the effectiveness of current gas tax transfers to municipalities, and growing transit ridership across Ontario."
Councillor Chris Patrie favoured even stronger wording.
"Even requesting that anything they (province of Ontario) do put in place becomes retroactive to cover the entire year because that two cents increase was supposed to be in January 2019," he said. "So it's very sad they're cutting it off. And we're only asking they keep it in place."
Elliot Lake CAO Daniel Gagnon told Councillor Sandy Finamore that even though the city has not requested formal face to face meetings on the gas tax rebate with the Minister of Finance at the upcoming Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Conference, "It doesn't matter."
"We'll make the point anyway," Gagnon said. "There are ample opportunities to corner them."
Elliot Lake is only allowed formal meetings with three Ontario ministers at the AMO and had earlier selected Indigenous Affairs, Infrastructure and Municipal Affairs and Housing.