April 30, 2026 - (Ottawa, ON) Led by bicycle advocacy organization Vélo Canada Bikes, a group of 101 national, provincial, and local organizations has issued a joint statement to the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, Gregor Robertson, requesting the immediate release of $500 million in capital funding committed to the Active Transportation Fund (ATF) in 2025.
The signatories argue that safe walking and cycling networks are essential to “improving affordability” for Canadian households at a time when conflict in the Middle East has driven gas prices to record highs. The group identifies active transportation as a “low-cost, high-impact” solution that provides “reliable, zero-cost alternatives to car dependency” for families struggling with the rising cost of living.
The group warns that despite the funding being committed in 2025, it has not yet been released and municipalities and First Nations across Canada have shovel-ready projects that are now at a critical juncture. With the 2026 building window narrowing, the statement emphasizes that further delay “risks losing an entire building year.”
“Active transportation is the ‘connective tissue’ that makes new high-density housing developments viable,” said Kate Walker, Chair of Vélo Canada Bikes. “As the statement makes clear, these projects are ‘low-cost, high-impact’ solutions to the challenges our country is facing.”
The joint statement highlights an unprecedented level of consensus across sectors, featuring prominent signatories that include:
• National organizations: Leading organizations from the health, environmental, and transportation sectors including the Canadian Cancer Society, Heart & Stroke, the David Suzuki Foundation, and the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA).
• Leading Canadian businesses: Major industry players including Giant Bikes Canada and Cycles Devinci, representing the economic footprint of the cycling sector.
• Provincial and local organizations: Major provincial entities such as Vélo Québec, Cycle Toronto, BIXI Montréal, and HUB Cycling.
“The window for action is closing,” the statement reads. “By unlocking these funds, the federal government will demonstrate that it is ready to move at the speed required to build a modern, affordable, and productive Canada.”
The full joint statement and the complete list of 101 signatories can be found here.
