Whitehorse city council votes to raise bus fare to $3 in July and $3.50 next year

Whitehorse transit fares are likely going to be increased incrementally, thanks to an unexpected funding boost from the territorial government.

The city is planning to eventually bring fares up to $3.50. Right now, a single cash fare is $2.50.

The 40 per cent fare bump was originally scheduled for July 1 after a heated debate in Whitehorse council chambers during budget deliberations in February. Coun. Paolo Gallina introduced a motion then to increase the fare slowly, but it failed after Mayor Kirk Cameron said it would hold the budget "hostage."

The city has now found some budgetary breathing room, thanks to an unexpected boost of $2.27 million in the comprehensive municipal grant awarded by the territorial government.

Council voted unanimously on Monday to direct that money to the operating budget, to fill the void left by a delayed transit increase. The bylaw amendment still needs to pass third reading on April 28.

Councillor questions fare hike

If the amendment passes third reading later this month, bus fares will increase to $3 on July 1. They'll go up another 50 cents to $3.50 on July 1, 2026.

With more funding secured, Gallina challenged the 2026 increase. He wants the city to focus on improving transit services while keeping the fare at $3.

"I'm prioritizing encouraging more people to ride transit, not pricing folks out of it," Gallina said.

The mayor said he's also in favour of improving transit, but the city is about to face some cash flow challenges. He said the boosted grant isn't enough to balance that in the long-term.

Cameron said this council "is going to have a tough job" trying to balance the city's needs over the next few fiscal years, and the increased territorial grant won't cover the difference.