Movement and BCPRC’s campaign highlights the fact that most other cities in North America already have a LIT Pass.
Even Calgary.
See our Instagram video on the topic, and read our op-ed in the Tyee.
Update: Vancouver Council said yes to the LIT Pass
The drumbeat intensifies to get a low-income transit pass in Metro Vancouver – who’s next?
For Immediate Release
June 3, 2026
Today, Vancouver council passed a motion to signal their support for a low-income transit pass in Metro Vancouver.
- 2:00:00 – motion is introduced
- 3:55:42 – Councillor Montague introduces an amendment
- 4:06:16 – Final vote result
Earlier today, Vancouver council considered a motion that aims to find a way to reduce the cost of transit for people with low incomes. Councillor Sean Orr introduced the motion following Movement and BC Poverty Reduction Coalition’s campaign to introduce a LIT Pass.
As you can see, every councillor present voted to support the motion. This reflects one of our key talking points: support for transit investments are essentially universal, and the government that makes these investments can be confident that voters will support them.
See our Instagram video on the topic, and read our op-ed in the Tyee.
We will be asking other councils across Metro Vancouver to signal their support for the LIT Pass, joining the dozens of groups and over 1600 people who have already signed on.
Our goal is to persuade the provincial government to introduce a low-income pass, in the same way that they offer discounts to children under 12, university students, seniors with low incomes, and people with disabilities.
Quotes from the council meeting:
“They’re raising them [fares] another 5% this year. And who feels that the most? It’s the single parent trying to get to their second job. It’s the young person who aged out of youth programs and can’t afford a monthly pass. It’s the person who has chosen between groceries and bus fare. And unfortunately that’s the reality for a lot of people in this city.” – Councillor Sean Orr, COPE
“In our city the gap between housing costs and incomes is so big that something has to give and essentials like groceries and transport costs really put low income households under pressure.” – Councillor Lucy Maloney, OneCity
“I think we have to use our weight in bringing that forward, so we do need a regional solution.” – Councillor Brian Montague, ABC
“Even the concession fare is only available to over 65 and under 18, which leaves a huge gap for folks who are at the median wage in the city of Vancouver, which obviously is already struggling to meet the various costs of living with affordability housing costs, groceries, and transit. It’s clearly untenable. This is overdue to really take an honest and serious look, and I would hope that we come up with a sensible solution that respects people’s dignity when it comes to means testing.” – Councillor Pete Fry, Vancouver Greens
“We should use our collective voices to actually move this discussion forward in a meaningful way.” – Councillor Sarah Kirby-Yung, ABC
Context from last press release:
This campaign is in anticipation of a transit fare increase of a whopping 5% on July 1st. Cities across the continent have a variety of approaches to ensure no one is denied a transit trip because they can’t afford it.
- Calgary has progressive fare discounts that drop as low as $6.30 per month for people in the lowest bracket.
- Los Angeles offers the first 20 rides free for anyone earning less than $80,000 CAD per year
- Vancouver has a discount for seniors with low incomes and people with disabilities, but that’s it.
1600 people have already written a letter to their MLA saying they want this, and 33 groups have joined the coalition so far. The full list is at the bottom of this release.
We will continue campaigning on the issue through June, culminating in a rally on July 1 at noon at Metrotown Station.
Coalition Members
New Westminster Downtown Residents Association
Vines Art Society
Climate Recentered
Moving Forward Family Services
Project Arrowroot
Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, BC Committee
Vision Zero Vancouver
Gurdwara Dukhnivaran Sahib Society
BC Policy Solutions
Salam Central
Afiya Care Collective
Burnaby Citizens Association
Better Transit YYJ
Shake Up The Establishment
Live Educate Transform Society
The Vancouver Cleaning Cooperative
Migrant Students United Vancouver
Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver
Distro Disco
BC Nurses’ Union
Women Transforming Cities
Vancouver – Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy
Solid State Community Society
Back in Motion
UBC Social Justice Centre
Coordinated Community Response Network (CCRN)
CEED Centre Society
Venue Co-op YVR
Disability Justice Network of British Columbia (BC)
Canada-Philippines Solidarity for Human Rights
Bici Libre
Mela City
South Vancouver Neighbourhood House