The City of Whitehorse could still be spinning its wheels on transit.

Despite voting against sending the 2004 budget back to the budget committee to consider improving transit this year, council will have to reconsider the budget because of its vote to defeat the $61 million proposal last night.

Coun. Yvonne Harris was the only member of council to vote in favour of her proposal. It would have had the city reconsider its proposed budget so it could develop a transit loop from the downtown to the multiplex sports centre and Yukon College.

Coun. Dave Austin was absent the last night's meeting, with Harris attending by conference call.

'We could have put it together by September,' she told council.

Initially, her proposal was to amend the budget so 'sufficient' funds would be found to develop the loop. When told she had to put a figure to that, she suggested $100,000 would allow for the new route.

However, she was unsure where that funding would come from. She suggested the city send the budget back to the budget committee so the city could look at the feasibility of the route.

While council voted down her suggestion, the budget will be going back for reconsideration because council also defeated it at third reading.

Mayor Ernie Bourassa said he wasn't willing to vote for a one-sided proposal, questioning where the revenue to fund such a route would come from.

While he said he does like Harris' idea, he believes it is coming a year early. When the second phase of the multiplex sports facility is open, there will likely be more demand to justify such a route.

Last July, the city cut bus service. Some routes were combined or eliminated. Fares were hiked and a 75-minute schedule was implemented during hours when the buses aren't heavily used. During peak hours, there continues to be a 35-minute schedule.

'We cut for very good reasons,' Coun. Doug Graham said.

Harris suggested the city could be getting money in the coming years from the federal government. Graham said it was ridiculous for the city to be counting on such money.

Prime Minister Paul Martin is looking at new funding formulas for municipalities. He met recently with mayors from bigger cities across the country.

Harris said she can't understand why Martin would make statements about better funding for municipalities and follow through. She then acknowledged there could be a possible change in the federal government with an upcoming election that could hinder those plans.

Coun. Dave Stockdale said in light of the fact the city is scheduled to meet with a group of residents pushing for a transit advisory committee next month, the city could hold off on the proposed loop.

'I don't think it'll fly,' he said.

Harris argued the city is putting seniors at an 'extreme disadvantage' by not developing the loop to the pool, given the time it takes to get to the facility. There also isn't a bus stop at the pool, but down the road on Hamilton Boulevard.

Roberta Morgan, of the Yukon Council on Aging, said she knows of one person who has to travel for two hours just to get from Porter Creek to Crestview on public transit.

'The buses are poorly-timed,' she said.

Morgan was one of several delegates who appeared before council Monday night pushing for the city to improve transit service. Many seniors must rely on public transit to get around town, she said.

While there's been a lot of talk in council chambers about the 2007 Canada Winter Games, there's nothing being said about the seniors' games, Morgan added.

She questioned whether the city had any plans to assist with transit during the event.

'You cannot ignore us,' she said.

Asked by Stockdale whether the council had put in a request for assistance, Morgan pointed out the games are being handled by the Elderactive group.

Paul Davis pointed to the inconveniences it causes for workers. Many people are leaving the territory, he pointed out.

'We will simply kill off everyone that works in the lower end,' he said.

Sharon Maldover of the Yukon Status of Women Council asked city council to imagine being a single mother and using the transit system.

You couldn't take your child for a Sunday swim at the pool because there is no Sunday service, she said.

Public Service Alliance of Canada representative Jean-Francois Des Lauriers also pointed to the benefits of a downtown loop.

'This is where the majority of people work,' he said.

Brian Eaton continued his push for the transit advisory committee.

See letter, p. 7.