Special Council meeting, December 11, 2025

High-level summary

The meeting centered on the proposed 2026 budget with strong emphasis on free transit for youth and students, transit education, and accessibility. Delegations urged continued or expanded free transit, while council discussed budget implications, safety, and equity, and moved to formalize certain procedures (bylaw confirmatory) and receive presentations. Key motions and outcomes included formal bylaw enactments and acknowledgments of ongoing or future actions related to transit programs.

Five most important topics discussed

1) Free transit for youth and students - Description: Delegates argued that maintaining free transit is essential for equitable access to education, extracurriculars, and employment, and for reducing financial strain on families. - Direct quotes: - “Free transit for youth connected students with the city, reduced traffic congestion, and allowed youth to get used to using public transit at an earlier age.” - “If the free youth transit program is terminated... it will take away many opportunities and waste unnecessary time for [youth].” - Why it matters for residents: Keeping transit affordable for youth supports continued participation in school and community activities, and helps families budget for transportation.

2) Transit education and youth engagement - Description: Proposals to educate youth on how to use transit, obtain Presto cards, and understand etiquette were raised, with discussion on integrating transit education into civics or the school curriculum. - Direct quotes: - “It would be very helpful to know exactly where you can buy one because... it’s not always easy to find out where exactly to get a Presto card.” - “Maybe especially talking about how the system is free... and also to like teach maybe like bus etiquette.” - Why it matters for residents: Better transit literacy can increase confidence and independence among students and reduce confusion for families new to transit.

3) Accessibility, equity, and community impact - Description: The discussions highlighted that free or affordable transit reduces barriers for low-income families and supports participation in education, volunteering, and part-time work. - Direct quotes: - “That's money that many families simply don't have to spare.” - “Free transit being a guarantee that no matter what's going on at home, they can get around safely and reliably.” - Why it matters for residents: Promoting equity in access to education and activities strengthens community participation and supports long-term social outcomes.

4) Budget process implications and procedural steps - Description: The meeting served as a venue to hear delegations on the mayor’s proposed 2026 budget and to discuss how transit funding might fit into the budget. There were procedural notes about how budgets are prepared and presented, reflecting provincial changes to budgeting processes. - Direct quote: - “This is the new way that the province has us do budgets.” - Why it matters for residents: Budget decisions determine funding for transit services, school-linked programs, and related supports that affect daily travel and access.

5) Public input and youth participation - Description: Councillors acknowledged and encouraged youth involvement, with comments praising the value of youth delegations and suggesting future engagement and outreach. - Direct quotes: - “It makes for stronger communities and stronger democracy.” - Why it matters for residents: Ongoing youth engagement helps ensure that transit and education policy reflects the needs and experiences of younger residents and families.

Notes on files/bylaws - File numbers: None were explicitly mentioned in the provided sections. - Bylaws: A confirmatory bylaw was discussed and passed in at least one excerpt (see Motions).

Opportunities for public input

• Public input opportunities include delegations during budget hearings and future council meetings. The transcripts note that residents were encouraged to share perspectives on transit and budget allocations.
• Specific channels or email addresses are not listed in these excerpts. For participation details, contact the City Clerk or the Budget Office as indicated in meeting materials.

Motions, outcomes, and by-laws

• Motion to Receive Presentations

  • Outcome: Passed unanimously.
  • Details: Used to formalize reception of delegations/presentations.

• Confirmatory Bylaw

  • Outcome: Passed unanimously.
  • Details: Formalizes decisions/readings from the meeting.

• Motion to Promote Youth Testimonials on Public Transit

  • Outcome: Council expressed interest in pursuing this initiative.
  • Next steps: Seek permission from participants to use their testimonials on social media and other platforms.

• Motion to Maintain Free Transit for Youth

  • Outcome: Reported as favorable by delegates; one section indicates the decision has been made that transit will remain free for youth, though explicit formal wording in that excerpt is not uniform across sections.
  • Next steps: Ongoing monitoring and potential further actions to sustain funding and awareness.

• Motion to Continue Free Transit for Students

  • Outcome: Not explicitly stated in the provided excerpts; discussions indicate continued consideration and budget discussion in later sections.

• Motion to Continue Free Transit for Youth

  • Outcome: Not explicitly stated in the provided excerpts; some sections imply ongoing support.

• Motion to Receive Presentations (duplicate entry noted in multiple sections)

  • Already covered above.

Note: Several sections reference motions or decisions that are inferred from delegates’ statements rather than explicitly recorded vote tallies within the excerpt. Where explicit outcomes are stated (e.g., confirmatory bylaw; receive presentations), they are noted above. Other motions are described with the stated next steps or the absence of a formal decision in that excerpt.

Councillors present

• Mayor Rob Burton
• Councillor Adams
• Councillor Nanda
• Councillor Grant
• Councillor Chisum
• Councillor Longo
• Councillor Hazard
• Councillor Hazatil
• (Note: Names appear across multiple transcript excerpts; this list reflects all individuals labeled as Councillors or the Mayor within the provided material.)

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