Transit users in Ottawa may soon receive compensation for recent service interruptions, as city officials propose new measures to address mounting frustrations with public transportation reliability.

Push for Customer Compensation

City councillors Sean Devine and Shawn Menard have introduced separate proposals seeking to establish a system of refunds, discounts, or fare credits for passengers who experience significant delays. The initiatives come in response to widespread service disruptions, including a major Line 1 incident that caused extensive delays on Tuesday.

Councillor Devine emphasized that service guarantees through refunds and credits are common practice in other major cities. “From a purely business level, customers have every right to expect if they pay for a service, they get that service. If they don’t get that service, I think you know the laws of business that you have a right to a refund,” he stated.

Mayor’s Opposition

The compensation proposals face resistance from Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, who argues that financial resources should be directed toward system improvements rather than refunds. “I am determined to invest more money in public transit, not less. I don’t want to take money out of the public transit budget that could go towards improving service,” the mayor explained.

Current Service Challenges

The compensation debate emerges as OC Transpo, the city’s transit authority, grapples with significant operational challenges. The agency recently removed approximately 70 percent of its O-Train fleet from service due to issues with wheel assemblies, leading to warnings of potential delays during peak travel times.

The city council is scheduled to debate these motions during their upcoming meeting on February 11, where the future of transit compensation in Ottawa will be determined.