Government Transit Advocacy Letter

Dear Minister of Transportation and Transit, Mike Farnworth, Parliamentary Secretary, George Anderson; and Members of the Legislative Assembly for the Okanagan: Amelia Boultbee, David Williams, Gavin Dew, Harwinder Sandhu, Kristina Loewen, Macklin McCall, and Tara Armstrong

The Okanagan College Students’ Union represents nearly 5000 students across the Okanagan Valley. On behalf of the students we represent, we are writing to express our strong support for the BC Federation of Labour’s Connecting BC Transit campaign and to urge the provincial government to implement its proposed plan to significantly expand and strengthen public transit across British Columbia. For students in the Okanagan, reliable, affordable, and well-connected, inter-community transit is not a convenience, but a necessity.

Post-secondary students increasingly rely on public transit to access their education, employment, childcare, healthcare, and essential services. However, many students in our region face long commute times, limited service hours, infrequent routes, and a lack of reliable and frequent enough inter-community connections. These challenges are especially acute for students who live in one community and study or work in another, which is an increasing reality for many Okanagan Students as Okanagan College continues to limit in person course availability at its regional campuses due to the provincial public post secondary funding crisis.

We urge the province to prioritize the expansion of inter-community transit routes connecting Kelowna, Penticton, Vernon, and Salmon Arm. Stronger regional transit links would reduce isolation between communities, improve access to education and employment opportunities, and support more equitable participation in post-secondary education. Students at regional campuses and those forced to travel for required in-person classes are disproportionately impacted by the absence of frequent, reliable inter-community service.

We also strongly support the implementation of free transit for youth up to age 18. Introducing universal free transit for young people would remove a major financial barrier, support early independence, and encourage lifelong use of public transit. Many students transition directly from secondary to post-secondary education, and ensuring free, accessible transit during these formative years would help ease that transition. Some Okanagan communities have expanded this free access to youth in their 20s, something we applaud as deeply admirable and supportive. 

Within communities, we are calling for more reliable and frequent service, as well as expanded routes that serve a wider range of neighbourhoods. In Kelowna, Penticton, Vernon, and Salmon Arm, students regularly report that transit schedules do not align with class times, work shifts, or caregiving responsibilities. Infrequent service and limited evening or weekend routes leave students stranded or force them to rely on costly alternatives such as ride sharing or taxi services. Improving frequency and neighbourhood coverage would significantly enhance safety, accessibility, and quality of life for students and the broader community.

Investing in public transit is an investment in education, economic participation, and climate action. A strong, well-funded transit system supports students, workers, seniors, and families alike, while reducing congestion and emissions across the region. The Connecting BC Transit campaign offers a clear, achievable vision for how the province can meet these goals, and we urge the Ministry to act on its recommendations.

We appreciate your attention to this issue and welcome the opportunity to discuss how improved transit can better serve students and communities throughout the Okanagan. We look forward to seeing provincial leadership that reflects the importance of accessible, connected, and reliable public transportation for all.

Sincerely,
Okanagan College Students’ Union Board of Directors: 

Annabelle Lee
Anna Borysova
Jonathan Chiweda
Amy Stevenson
Chelsey Simmons
Alfiya Khanum
Ben Harris
Jordyn Wentworth
David Simmons
Malachai Gossen
Loki Croft
Jack Rynda
Sara Delgado