Join the May 28th day of action for emergency transit funding!
Essential workers -- like nurses, doctors and sanitation staff -- rely on transit to get to work.
But public transit systems across Canada are facing service cuts and driver layoffs, because they depend mostly on fares for funding. Right now we need more service, not less, for safe physical distancing on transit!
Here’s how you and your organization can participate in the online day of action:
1) Sign the petition: www.keeptransitmoving.ca/take-action
2) Take a selfie and explain why transit is important for you. Use the hashtag #keeptransitmoving and tag your elected representatives on social media
3) CALL PRIME MINISTER JUSTIN TRUDEAU! 613-992-4211 (scroll down for details and a script)
4) Share the #KeepTransitMoving campaign on your social media!
Download graphics from our toolkit and share on social media. Or share these posts on Twitter and Facebook.
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CALL PRIME MINISTER TRUDEAU NOW: 613-992-4211
Call your local MP: https://www.ourcommons.ca/Members/en
SAMPLE PHONE SCRIPT:
Hi, my name is [_________] and I live in [YOUR FEDERAL RIDING].
I appreciate your leadership during this crisis but I urge you to do more for public transit.
I urge you to provide emergency and permanent transit funding.
This is important to me because...
[PERSONALIZE YOUR MESSAGE or use some of these ideas]:
- I use transit to get to work.
- Essential workers rely on transit to get to work and it must be safe.
- We need more service so riders can be physically distant.
- Public transit is critical to a green and fair economic recovery.
- Public transit is vital to help Canada reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- Cities are warning they will have to cut or even outright suspend transit service.
I would appreciate a call-back about this issue. Thank you.
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If you have time to make a 2nd or 3rd phone call, especially if the Prime Minister's voicemail is full, please find your local MP's phone number here and call them with the same message!https://www.ourcommons.ca/Members/en (type in your postal code and click on your MP)
*Find your provincial MLA or MPP's phone number to make the same call!:
Ontario: https://www.ola.org/en/members (scroll down to search by postal code)
Manitoba: https://www.electionsmanitoba.ca/en/Voting/MyVotingInfo
Alberta: https://www.assembly.ab.ca/net/index.aspx?p=mla_home
Québec:
Find your Québec riding : https://www.electionsquebec.qc.ca/provinciales/en/informed.php
Find your MPP’s: http://www.assnat.qc.ca/en/deputes/index.html?appelant=MC
Saskatchewan: https://www.legassembly.sk.ca/mlas/
Nova Scotia: https://nslegislature.ca/members/profiles
Newfoundland and Labrador: https://www.assembly.nl.ca/
New Brunswick: https://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/contacts/MLAReport.html
British Columbia: https://www.leg.bc.ca/learn-about-us/members
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*The Canadian Urban Transit Association is calling for $400 million per month to keep Canadian transit systems running during the pandemic, plus bridge funding.
*Canadian cities have been asking for federal help for months. Unlike the provincial and federal governments, municipalities cannot legally run deficits to pay for their operating budgets.
*The safety of every person depends on safe, accessible public transit right now. Frontline workers in essential services, from health care to grocery stores, are relying on transit to get to work.
*If the federal government doesn’t give transit agencies emergency funding, riders will face reduced service and the decline in ridership due to COVID-19 will be made worse.