Editing New Candidate Guide (section)

==== Example: Funding of Public Infrastructure and Services ====

#'''Difficult Question''': How would your party pay for and encourage people to take transit?
#'''Positioning''': ''Transit is a service like any other.'' >> Libertarians would prefer the free market to provide that service. But given that government is involved, we need a short-term approach to manage the current funding shortfall.
#'''Supporting''': ''If Ontario taxpayers and families are forced to pay more for public services like transit, everybody will want access to it, in an unsustainable way. We would pay for transit like any prudent householder would, with a balanced budget.'' >> The most recent Ontario budget (May 2013) approaches $128 Billion. The cost to improve transit is estimated to be about $2 billion or about 1.6% of the total. Find savings in the other parts of the overall budget and re-prioritize those expenditures. If transit is so important, then treat it as important and find the money.
#'''Illustrative''': Flexibility is key to encouraging people to take transit. <span style="color:#0000ff">''(applies to GTA only) Whenever subways or streetcars need repair shuttle buses are called in. Whenever snow blocks the Scarborough RT in east Toronto, shuttle buses are called in. Whenever water mains burst and subways are stopped, shuttle buses are called in.''</span> Buses are the most flexible and inexpensive mode of transportation we have. We would also invite other bus companies to offer their competitive service using existing municipal bus ways and roadways. With many companies competing using various sized buses and catering to the comfort of commuters, prices would be competitive as would service. Some bus companies would offer express service, some door-to-door service, some economy service, and some with luxury service. This way, the needs of more commuters would be met and more would be encouraged to leave their cars at home.
#'''Illustrative (alternate)''': It is possible to fund and operate transit in a financially sustainable way. Singapore's transit infrastructure is managed by two private-sector operators, SBS Transit and S.M.R.T., and the transit system actually posted an overall operating profit (as of 2007).