On July 1, Translink will implement another 5% fare increase, making life for Metro Vancouverites even more expensive.
This new fare hike in July will add another $120 per family member to household expenses each year. The cost of living here is already the highest in Canada, and another increase this July will only deepen the financial strain on workers, families, and low‑income riders.
No one should be denied transit because they can’t afford it.
Metro Vancouver is one of the few regions in Canada without a discounted transit program for low‑income youth and working‑age adults. We’re calling on the provincial government to expand the BC Bus Pass program to include all low‑income people and to stop punishing riders with unjust fare hikes.
Read our op-ed about the LIT pass in the Tyee.
Send a letter to your MLA for a low-income transit (LIT) pass.
Email or meet with your provincial representative (MLA).
Attend our rally on July 1 from 12-1:30 pm at Metrotown Station.
How else can I help support a Low-Income Transit pass?
Meet with your MLA
Sending an email to your MLA is a great start, but taking the time to meet with them is even more impactful. Your MLA is your provincial representative, and they work for you, regardless of your voter status and whether or not you cast your vote for them. A big part of their job is to meet with constituents (people who live in their area) and listen to their concerns, then they can go bring that concern forward to the right part of government or to the legislature where it can effect the legislation is put forward.
To meet with your MLA, call or email their office and ask to set up a meeting with them, and let them know what you’d like to talk about. You can refer to this page for information about the low-income transit pass. It’s especially powerful to share a story of how a low-income transit pass would change your life, or your friends’ and family’s lives.
We’re setting up drop-in hours for people to come in to our office and get help with contacting their MLA for a meeting, and we’re also working on a resource page with more information about that process. You can always reach out to us at hello@movementyvr.ca for help in the meantime.
Attend our rally on July 1 from 12-1:30 pm at Metrotown Station.
Spread the word. Share our social media posts, download posters to put up in your community.
Isn’t there already a low-income pass?
The BC Bus Pass is only for low-income seniors and persons with disabilities; it does not cover low-income non-senior individuals. We are advocating for a discounted pass for ALL low-income people in BC.
Is this actually achievable?
Yes, totally! We already have the building blocks of this program through the BC Bus Program described above, expanding this program to include all low-income people would be easy.
TransLink staff recommended a low-income discount to the Mayors’ Council that would cost $70 million yearly (just for metro van)
Who would be responsible for implementing this? And is this just for Metro Vancouver or for all of BC?
The BC Bus Pass Program is administered by the Province of British Columbia, specifically under the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction. While it is a province-wide program (and we ultimately want to see it expanded to include all low-income residents across BC), our focus is on Metro Vancouver, where we represent transit riders and are facing upcoming fare increases in July.
At the same time, we are committed to working with transit advocates across the province to achieve this goal collectively. Several cities are already taking action to improve affordability: Kamloops has recently implemented a low-income transit program, and Penticton offers free transit to all residents under 24.
How would people apply for the program?
Those eligible for the BC Bus Pass Program (such as Indigenous Elders and newcomer seniors in Surrey) have told us the application process is confusing and intimidating, and many are unaware that the program exists.
We are calling for a simpler, more accessible process, including clearer communication and fewer administrative barriers. Like Edmonton’s model, access to a low-income transit pass should be integrated into places where people already receive support, such as discounted recreation, social housing, or income assistance, so people can access it more easily.
Why are we not advocating for free transit?
The LIT Pass is a fight we can win, bringing relief to the people that need it soon, not eventually.
Here’s why: 1. Most other cities already have a LIT pass; even Calgary. It’s embarrassing that we don’t, and that makes it an easier sell to provincial politicians from any party. 2. It doesn’t cost very much to implement – about $70 million/year.
There are lots of different groups calling for different levels of affordability, which is great because the more people telling the province that transit affordability is a problem, the better! Together with other groups, we can shift the discussion so that the status quo is no longer acceptable.