Leiper proposes expanding OC Transpo EquiPass to cover full-time minimum wage workers
Jeff Leiper says the income threshold for Ottawa's reduced transit pass should rise to include anyone working full-time at minimum wage and should be tied to future wage increases.
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Ottawa mayoral candidate Jeff Leiper announced on October 16 that he would expand eligibility for OC Transpo's EquiPass reduced transit pass if elected mayor, so that anyone working full-time at minimum wage would qualify. CTV News reported the proposal.
The EquiPass costs $58.25 per month, according to CTV News, less than half the $138.50 regular adult monthly fare. OC Transpo makes it available to people with a family income below the federal low-income threshold. The 2026 threshold for a single person is $25,909 in annual net income, CTV News reported.
The problem, Leiper says, is that the threshold has not kept pace with wages. Ontario raised the minimum wage to $17.95 per hour on October 1, 2026. At 40 hours per week, CTV News calculated that amounts to $37,336 before taxes, or $31,500 net, more than $5,600 above the EquiPass threshold. A worker earning minimum wage full-time earns too much to qualify, the news outlet reported.
"People are working full-time, paying rent, buying groceries and trying to keep up with rising costs. Yet they can earn just enough to be excluded from programs designed to make life more affordable," Leiper said, according to CTV News. "If you're working full-time for minimum wage, you shouldn't have to choose between paying your rent and getting to work."
Leiper said he would raise the threshold so that a full-time minimum wage worker qualifies, and would tie the threshold to future minimum wage increases so the gap does not grow back. CTV News reported the cost of the EquiPass has been frozen at $58.25 per month since 2019, even as other fares have risen.
"Transit is not a luxury. It's how people get to work, get to school, access health care and stay connected to their communities," Leiper said, according to CTV News.
The other mayoral candidates have taken different approaches to transit costs. Incumbent mayor Mark Sutcliffe has pledged to cut the standard adult monthly pass to $95 per month if re-elected, CTV News reported. Candidate Neil Saravanamuttoo is pledging $1 per ride for everyone, the outlet noted.
Transit has ranked as the top issue Ottawa voters say needs improvement, according to a Nanos Research poll for CTV News Ottawa published earlier in October. The fourteen candidates running for mayor of Ottawa will face voters on October 26, 2026. Advance voting is open on October 16 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at locations across the city.
Voters can read about Jeff Leiper and all candidates running for mayor at the Ottawa 2026 candidates page.
Questions this story answers
What is the EquiPass?
The EquiPass is OC Transpo's reduced monthly transit pass. CTV News reported it costs $58.25 per month in 2026, which is less than half the cost of a regular adult monthly pass at $138.50. OC Transpo makes it available to people whose family income falls below the low-income threshold set by the federal government.
Who currently qualifies for the EquiPass?
According to CTV News, the 2026 income threshold for a single person is an annual net income of $25,909. OC Transpo sets eligibility based on the federal government's low-income threshold. Anyone whose net income is above $25,909 does not qualify for the pass, even if their income is still low by other measures.
Why does Leiper say the threshold needs to change?
CTV News reported that Ontario's minimum wage rose to $17.95 per hour on October 1, 2026. At 40 hours per week, that works out to $37,336 before taxes. CTV News calculated the net income at $31,500, which is more than $5,600 above the EquiPass threshold of $25,909. Leiper says workers at that wage are earning enough to be excluded from the program while still struggling to cover rent, groceries, and travel to work.
What exactly is Leiper proposing?
Leiper says he would update the income threshold so that a person working full-time at minimum wage would qualify. He would also tie the threshold to future increases in the minimum wage, so the eligibility does not fall further behind wages over time. CTV News reported these details on October 16, 2026.
What do other mayoral candidates say about transit fares?
CTV News reported that incumbent mayor Mark Sutcliffe has pledged to cut the cost of a standard adult monthly pass to $95 per month if re-elected. Candidate Neil Saravanamuttoo is pledging to cut fares to $1 per ride for everyone. Leiper's proposal focuses specifically on expanding the reduced-fare EquiPass rather than cutting the full-price pass.
How long has the EquiPass cost $58.25?
CTV News reported that the cost of the EquiPass has been frozen at $58.25 per month since 2019, even as other OC Transpo fares have increased every year. The regular adult monthly pass costs $138.50 in 2026, according to CTV News. The EquiPass price has not changed in seven years while other fares have gone up.
When can Ottawa voters act on this information?
Advance voting day in Ottawa is October 16, 2026, with voting places open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voting day is October 26, 2026. Voters can learn more about all the candidates running for mayor at the Ottawa 2026 candidates page.
Is this Leiper's first transit proposal in this campaign?
No. Leiper has made transit a central issue in his campaign. Earlier in October, a Nanos Research poll for CTV News Ottawa found that public transit was the top issue residents said needs improvement in Ottawa. Leiper's EquiPass proposal on October 16 adds to his earlier platform commitments on rural transit and housing.
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