Drivers in the Montreal area are now paying significantly more to register their vehicles, with the increase in fees meant to fund public transit services.
However, many residents are finding themselves paying for services they cannot access.
In the rural community of Les Cèdres, Dominique Bruyère said she was shocked when she opened her vehicle registration bill.
“It was really expensive. It was $362. So I checked it and wondered why. And there was $150 for public transport,” she said.
Since Jan. 1, anyone registering their car in the more than 80 municipalities that make up the Montreal Metropolitan Community (CMM) has seen a dramatic hike in fees.
The public transit tax has increased from $59 to $150, and in some areas, it is as high as $180.
“And they’re charging me $150 for the bus, which doesn’t exist. I asked them to find me a bus stop and they said, ‘well, we don’t have buses here.’ I’m like, and that’s why I’m calling you,” she said.
Bruyère said she tried to dispute the charge with the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) and the region’s governing transit authority but was advised to take the issue up with her mayor.
Les Cèdres Mayor Bernard Daoust, however, said there’s little he can do because the rate is set by the CMM.
Daoust was among the minority of mayors who voted against the hike
“It’s not for us to pay for this large deficit. First of all, we have no public transit service here. Really, zero service.”
Daoust said that small communities like his should not be forced to pay for public transit deficits, especially when they have no access to such services.
Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante, on the other hand, was among the mayors who voted in favor of the hike.
Last May, she said that Quebec had only provided half of the funding needed to address the deficit in the region’s public transit system.
“And our goal is to keep the burden... We know a lot of families are struggling financially. So our goal is not to add to it. But at the same time, we know that we need to take care of the public transport network in the entire area,” she said.
Daoust is also calling on Quebec to intervene.
“At some point, the government is going to have to make a decision.”
In a statement to CTV, the CMM said, “The development of public transit requires significant investments and therefore it is necessary to have a certain population density before implementing a service in a given sector.”
“Of course, the ultimate goal is to create a structuring network that will benefit the entire population.”
Meanwhile, Bruyère said she will continue to dispute the charge.
“I’m going to go as far as I have to because I refuse to be complacent like Quebecers have become. And I’m going to do something about it. I’m done. I’m angry,” she said.
