Gatineau looks to raise vehicle registration tax to fund transit

Gatineauis looking at another vehicle registration tax to pay for public transit.

Since 1992, owners of passenger vehicles in some Quebec municipalities have paid an annual contribution for public transportation.

It's currently $30 in Gatineau, Cantley and Chelsea.

The province passed Bill 39late last year that allowed municipalitiesthat have public transportation services to furthertax vehicle registration based on fuel consumption.

This tax has been requested by several mayors. Something similar has been in place in the Montrealarea, taking $59 more from registration for regional public transit as of this year.

On Tuesday, Gatineau city council voted unanimously to ask city staff to begin discussions with the Socit de l'assurance automobile du Qubec (SAAQ), Quebec's automobile insurance board, which would implement the tax.

Municipalities must confirm theirinterest tothe SAAQ before March 15 and pass a law by May 31 in order to introduce the taxonJan. 1.

"We did not want to miss the opportunity," said formerGatineau MayorFrance Blisle in French during a media scrum Wednesday,a day before she stepped down.

"If we didn't move forward with this, we would spend a year so that's why it was important to do it."

It is still unknown what the fee in Gatineau will be. Cities have the right to decide their own amounts, according to the SAAQ. They have to charge the same amount for each kind of passenger vehicle.

Blisle said she didn't know if the extra money would be used as part of what the city already puts into public transportation, or if it would beasurplus.

"I imagine it will be an exciting city council discussion," she said.

"The finance committee will look into this to make recommendations to see what we are doing, how much, how we apply it and what the comfort level of council is."

Alternative transportation advocate in support

"It's very good news,"said Patrick Robert-Meunier, general manager of MOBI-O, an alternative transportation advocacy group in the region.

"We know that vehicles and automobiles are a big cost to society. Each dollar that person puts in his car it costs $5to $6 to society."

He said he understands that it appears drivers will be paying more, but he said vehicle owners aren't paying the true cost of driving because the roads are not tolled and parking is often free.

He welcomes opportunitiesto fund many types of alternative transportation including biking and walking, along with public transit.