PROTECTING PUBLIC TRANSIT IN BC AS AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE (2024)

Issue

Whether taking transit in Metro Vancouver, on the Victoria Regional Transit System, on BC Bus North, or through one of 57 Regional Transit Systems across the Fraser Valley, Kootenays, Southern Interior, Vancouver Island and the North Central region, people, society, and our economy rely on transit and depend on it being there. With the very shape of the built environment in many municipalities increasingly influenced by transit services and systems, BC communities are now too intertwined with transit to allow for complete loss of service due to labour disruptions. Essential service designation is imperative to maintain uninterrupted operations during periods of labour unrest, as evidenced by recent disruptions to BC Transit service in the Fraser Valley (2023) and to Metro Vancouver's bus system (early 2024), but which could negatively impact any corner of our province that relies on public transit.

Background

Public transit systems are the transportation lifelines of many BC communities, providing essential connectivity for millions of residents. Many workers rely on transit to get to their jobs, providing a way of accessing their livelihoods. Many students and youth depend on transit to get to their schools and classes and build their education and skills for the future. Many families, seniors, individuals with disabilities, newcomers and others rely on the transit system to access health care, childcare, and other services essential to their well-being, health, and safety.

However, recent labour disruptions in various transit systems in BC have highlighted the vulnerability of these services, the profound impact their suspension has on society and the economy, and which could impact any part of our province with transit service in the future.

In 2023, the Fraser Valley experienced significant challenges due to labour disruptions in BC Transit when workers walked off the job on March 20, 2023. This led to a cessation of services, leaving thousands of commuters without a reliable means of transportation until the system returned to normal operations on August 6, 2023. The impact was particularly severe for low-income individuals, students, and the elderly, who rely heavily on public transport for their daily activities. The economic repercussions were also notable, as many businesses suffered due to reduced customer access and employee lateness or absence.

Early 2024 witnessed a similar, albeit much shorter, scenario in Metro Vancouver's bus system. The disruptions inconvenienced 300,000 daily users, who were unable to use transit to access work, attend school, make health care or other appointments, or otherwise carry on their regular business and activities. In addition, without transit service, the region’s road network suffered increased congestion due to a sudden influx of personal vehicles, impacting even those who did not use the transit system.

Given the critical importance of transit services to communities across our province, we can no longer allow situations where the system is disrupted, and services stopped. Public transit transcends its role as a mere transportation service, and is fundamental to urban mobility, economic stability, and social equity. In light of this, the designation of public transit as an essential service is necessary. This designation would ensure that, even during labour disputes, a basic level of service is maintained, thereby safeguarding the public interest and mitigating the adverse effects on the economy and daily life.

This is even more critical given the Provincial Government’s recent legislation that further integrates BC communities with transit service. Throughout BC, communities are increasingly being built around and integrated into transit services. The routing of a SkyTrain station or the location of a bus exchange directly influences the size, shape, and style of developments occurring nearby. For years, this has been largely an effect of the market and local planning decisions, but recently, the province of BC has legislated this type of integrated growth through Bill 47 and Bill 44.

Bill 47 explicitly directs density and development around nodes of transit service. This legislation impacts 31 communities across the province, from Metro Vancouver, to the Fraser Valley, to the Okanagan, to the Island,[1] and requires municipalities to designate Transit-Oriented Development Areas near transit hubs and allow for high-density, mixed-use development. Bill 47 also restricts local governments’ ability to require residential off-street parking in these areas, with the province explicitly stating that parking can “disincentivize residents from utilizing transit.”[2]

Bill 44, meanwhile, dictates density and growth, specifically along transit routes. This legislation requires municipalities to allow up to six units of “small-scale, multi-unit housing,” such as townhomes, secondary suites, laneway homes and triplexes, to be built on single-family and duplex residential lots near frequent transit service, deepening the integration between housing development and transit service.

If the province is legislating growth and development, and dictating the shape and form of that development, all based on the presence of transit service, then it must act to ensure that service is available and accessible, even during labour disputes.

The Labour Relations Board cites that “where a labour dispute has the potential to threaten the health, safety, and welfare of British Columbians, the Minister of Labour may direct the Labour Relations Board to designate minimum levels of service that must be maintained during a strike or lockout.” The ability to earn a living and support oneself and one’s family is integral to one’s welfare, particularly during an affordability crisis. However, this ability is directly undermined when the transit system shuts down and people are unable to get to their jobs. Also, the inability of transit users to get to medical appointments or treatments, particularly seniors or individuals with disabilities, negatively impacts their welfare.

Given the importance of the transit system, our growing reliance on it, and the Government’s own legislation further integrating communities and transit, the province must act to ensure transit service is deemed essential and is there for residents and businesses when they need it.

THE CHAMBER RECOMMENDS

That the Provincial Government:

1. Designate a core level of public transit services as 'essential' and, through the Minister of Labour and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, direct the Labour Relations Board and transit contractors to designate a minimum but adequate level of transit service that is to be maintained during any form of labour disruption.
2. Ensure a framework and communicate an expectation for dialogue and negotiation among transit contractors, unions, and government bodies to proactively address and resolve labour issues without resorting to service disruption.
3. Implement regular assessments and reviews of this essential services policy, ensuring the level of service remains relevant and sufficient to meet the changing needs of transit users.