A big loss: Active Transportation Fund cuts will impact everyone in P.E.I. as infrastructure debt grows, advocates say

Earlier this year, the P.E.I. government quietly ended its Active Transportation Fund. Over six years it had funded $23.5 million in projects ranging from walking paths and bike racks to active transportation (AT) pathways and Charlottetown’s bicycle bus system. A provincial staff member let out the news during line-by-line budget deliberations in May. Support for [...]

Earlier this year, the P.E.I. government quietly ended its Active Transportation Fund. Over six years it had funded $23.5 million in projects ranging from walking paths and bike racks to active transportation (AT) pathways and Charlottetown’s bicycle bus system. A provincial staff member let out the news during line-by-line budget deliberations in May.

Support for programs Travis Saunders, MoveWell P.E.I. co-chair, says the cut is a big loss to just about everyone in P.E.I. He was emphatic about not blaming anyone, instead saying what a great resource the fund had been. “It’s funded learn-to-bike programs, the City of Charlottetown’s active transportation plan.

It’s funded staffing for running active transportation programming for kids that teach them how to bike,” he said in a July 3 Guardian interview. It has also funded bigger infrastructure, like adding shoulders to existing roads or building AT lanes and bike lanes, he said. The fund went to community organizations and municipalities.

Municipalities split costs with the province, allowing them to complete work they may not manage otherwise, Saunders said. During budget debates, the staff member referred to the AT funding project as complete. But after decades of building car-focused infrastructure, P.E.I. is paying off a “debt” of other infrastructure.

That work is not done, despite the fund ending, Saunders said. Then there is the question of upkeep. While some AT Fund projects were more abstract, like Charlottetown’s AT plan documents, others are literal concrete that will require maintenance in coming years.

Low activity rates In early June, Saunders was one of a dozen signatories to a letter sent to Ernie Hudson, minister of transportation, infrastructure and energy. It outlined some benefits of the fund and argued it only takes a small portion of the department’s budget, about two per cent. It also said the cut goes against the Chief Public Health Office’s LiveWell plan.

“P.E.I. already has the lowest rates for active and sustainable transportation in Canada, and these rates will not improve without the consistent and predictable funding provided by the AT Fund.” Other signatories included representatives from Cycling P.E.I., the Federation of P.E.I. Municipalities, National Association of Federal Retirees, Bike Friendly Communities, Special Olympics P.E.I., The Island Walk, Island Trails and Sport P.E.I. Departmental response In a response letter, Deputy Minister Brian Matheson said the province is proud of the work completed over the life of the fund. “Unfortunately, as was stated in the legislature, this program is now completed due to the financial pressures the province is currently facing.

Tough decisions must be made, and funding is only available to complete previously approved projects.” On July 7, a spokesperson for the department said all funding available for the 2026–27 fiscal year has been committed to projects that were approved in previous years and require funding over multiple years. “Because all funds have been assigned, no new funding is available through the program and applications are closed,” said Stacey Miller, senior communications officer.

“This information has been shared with applicants and funding recipients, the program webpage is updated, and the application portal is closed.”