2025-03: Additional Funding for Paratransit Vehicles
Year: 2025
Resolution
Whereas accessible and safe transportation is one of the six publicly identified priority areas of the Saskatchewan Disability Strategy; and
Whereas paratransit provides a critical link for passengers across the province, who may have physical or mental disabilities and/or use a wheelchair, that requires the service to get to work, school, appointments and a wide range of other daily activities; and
Whereas the Transit Assistance for People with Disabilities Funding (TAPD) program directly supports this priority by helping Saskatchewan municipalities provide safe, available, public paratransit service which is foundational to citizens experiencing disability; and
Whereas the Government of Saskatchewan's role under the TAPD program is to provide financial support to municipalities who offer paratransit services for persons with disabilities, and
Whereas municipalities that receive operating funding under the TAPD program may apply for capital funding for the purchase of a replacement vehicle for their paratransit service which is 75% of the cost of the vehicle to a maximum amount of $55,000. The municipality is responsible for covering the remaining cost; and
Whereas the cost of paratransit vehicles has increased substantially, and the current maximum of $55,000 equates to only 30% of a typical paratransit bus, leaving municipalities to take on the remaining 70%; and
Whereas the lack of appropriate funding for paratransit vehicles jeopardizes these vital transit services for those in need.
Therefore be it resolved that SUMA advocate the Government of Saskatchewan to increase the funding cap for paratransit vehicles to equal the actual 75% cost, and implement regulations that automatically index the cap to inflation.
Acts affected: None
Sectors/Regions affected: ALL
Provincial Response
Dear Randy Goulden;
Thank you for your May 1, 2025, letter regarding resolutions passed at the 2025 Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association Convention.
Re: 2025-03: Additional Funding for Paratransit Vehicles
- The TAPD program is a long-standing program established in 1975 that provides financial support to cities and towns that offer public paratransit services for people experiencing disabilities through operating and capital assistance grants. Annually, $800,000 of capital funding for the replacement or purchase of new paratransit vehicles and $2,987,000 of funding in support of paratransit operations is distributed to eligible municipalities offering paratransit services in Saskatchewan.
- Saskatchewan values the feedback from SUMA and will carefully consider the request to increase the funding cap for paratransit vehicles under the TAPD program and indexing the funding cap to inflation as we review the program in the future.
- Since 2007, Saskatchewan has provided more than $52.2 million for TAPD Operating Assistance and $9.13 million for TAPD Capital Assistance grants.
- Municipalities in Saskatchewan receive an annual Municipal Revenue Sharing (MRS) grant from the Government of Saskatchewan that can be used at its discretion, including operation, maintenance, or expansion of its paratransit service. MRS has increased by 184 per cent since 2007, and Saskatchewan municipalities will collectively receive over $361 million from the program in 2025.
- Purchase of vehicles for paratransit service is also eligible under the Public Transit project category of the federal Canada Community-Building Fund (CCBF) program. A municipality may submit an Infrastructure Investment Plan (IIP) to allocate the CCBF funding for these purposes. Details about the CCBF program and IIP submission are available at Saskatchewan.ca.
- The CCBF funding is provided upfront, twice per year, allowing municipalities to pool, bank, and borrow against this funding while investing in infrastructure projects within 19 eligible categories. A participating municipality decides towards what eligible project their CCBF funding should be allocated through the submission of IIPs to the ministry.
Congratulations on another successful convention. I look forward to continuing our work together and future discussions on areas of mutual interest.
Sincerely,
Eric Schmalz
Minister of Government Relations
Minister Responsible for First Nations, Metis and Northern Affairs
MInister Responsible for Provincial Capital Commission
