EDMONTON – The City of Edmonton is considering providing a public transportation discount for underprivileged youth.
Currently, riders who are caught not paying the transit fee are handed a $250 fine. They can face a court appearance if they don’t pay the fine.
Concern has been raised underprivileged youth who don’t pay the fine can be put in an even more compromising position. That’s why there is talk of a discount transit pass for those individuals.
“Sometimes the choice is do I eat or do I pay for my bus ticket,” explained Karen Good, Youth Empowerment & Support Services.
“The fine is $250 which is absolutely astronomical for someone who usually has no money at all.”
It’s estimated the discount would cost the City $4 million to $8 million annually, but it’s been argued the positive ripple effect would outweigh the cost.
“If we want these kids to be empowered and successful over time, we have to work with them that way, rather than chase them around with a ticket,” said Mayor Don Iveson.
“That’s not working and it’s making life harder for them, and that’s bad for the city because if those kids wind up in jail, and even if it’s just the Remand Centre, falling in to the wrong crowd.”
The issue is far from resolved. It’s only been debated at the committee level to this point.
Mayor Iveson has said this is another example of the City taking on an issue that has traditionally been a provincial responsibility.
He intends to discuss the matter during the ongoing city charters negotiations.
“This in Edmonton and Calgary is precisely the kind of thing that we need special assistance with in order to make those most vulnerable Albertans in our cities more successful.”
With files from Global News’ Vinesh Pratap
Comments