Bus pass hike hurts disabled

Photo: Carmen Weld

A recent decision by the Liberal government to increase the disability assistance rate, but also hike bus pass costs has the NDP steaming mad.

New Democrat social development spokesperson Michelle Mungall was at transit hubs in the Southern Interior today to speak with those who will be directly affected by this change.

She said the pending change will force the most vulnerable of our society to chose between food and mobility.

“They are making very tough choices,” said Mungall. “Because of this bus pass clawback, they are stuck between a rock and a hard place. They are already living in poverty where they are struggling just to pay the bills and get a decent amount of food on the table. They see an increase and they are happy, but now they might lose their bus pass.”

While she recognized that the monthly benefits are going up, she said the change in the bus pass costs nearly negates any benefit.

“The government raised rates by $77/month and then, moments later, said they would be taking most of that away if people wanted to get a bus pass by charging an extra $52/month for that bus pass,” said Mungall.

“A lot of people who ride the bus with disabilities are going to have to pay an extra $624/year for their bus pass.”

She said she has heard the same stories in Kelowna that she has heard all over the province.

“This is truly a decision that people with disabilities are making between food, paying the bills and being able to be a part of their community and that is just not right,” said Mungall.

“What we are seeing here is a real systemic way of taking giant steps backward for people with disabilities and excluding them from our communities.”

Chris Labenski is one those who will be directly affected by the change. Both he and his roommate have disabilities and rely on public transportation.

Labenski told Castanet that his roommate has multiple sclerosis and she will be forced to find alternate ways to get to doctor appointments, while he will be forced to bike to work — even in the winter.

“We don't know where this leaves us,” shared Labenski. “I am at a minimum wage job and it is really tough.”

“What one hand giveth the other taketh away — that is exactly what this government has done,” said Darryl Harand, a fellow disabled transit user, who adds that a friend of his may have to give up her job as she needs public transit to get there.

“The government didn't need to be in this mess, they could have worked out solutions to solve this.”

Mungall said a local bus driver at the Kelowna Queensway Bus Loop even got her attention to share his disappointment in the plan.

“He talked about the people he sees every day on his bus,” said Mungall. “He knows that the choices they are going to have to make are going to be very difficult. He was really upset that he might not see some of his regular riders on the bus.”

While touring transit loops throughout the province, Mungall's team is also creating buzz online tagging photos, tweets and stories with the hashtag #buspassclawback.

“What I am hearing from people is that they can either keep that $77/month to pay for the increasing costs of food, hydro and rent ... or keep their bus pass and get to doctors appointments, be part of their community, go to Special Olympics, volunteer, even go to the movies, whatever they do to keep included in their community,” said Mungall.