Building inclusive cities and mobility systems for immigrants in Atlantic Canada

Traditionally, immigrant transit research in Canada has focused on the three largest census metropolitan areas (CMAs): Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver (TMV). However, with the increase in immigration to small and mid-sized cities (SMCs), as seen in Atlantic Canada, the question of whether the transit systems in these SMCs will support the growing immigrant population remains. This question is particularly important as studies in large CMAs have shown that immigrants rely on public transit more than their Canadian-born counterparts. This thesis bridges the gap that exists in literature by examining immigrant transit experiences and policy responses in two mid-sized cities in Atlantic Canada: Halifax, Nova Scotia, and St. John’s Newfoundland and Labrador. Combining policy analysis, 12 key-informant interviews, 267 online surveys, and 20 ride-along interviews, this research identifies the barriers immigrants face when interacting with the transit space in these Canadian SMCs and the policy responses from the municipalities. The findings underscore that immigrants have varied, unique experiences that impact how they interact with the transit system in their destination cities. Some of these include navigating the unfamiliar landscape, navigating transit systems in winter, the stigma associated with transit use and car-centric culture, and mobility experiences across borders. More specifically, this project explores how to incorporate immigrant needs into transit planning, highlighting the importance of partnerships and engagement, fostering a culture of transit use, and reflecting community diversity in transit operations and workforce. Since the transit systems in Atlantic provinces have long struggled with adequate riders to justify investment in transit, recognizing immigrants as guaranteed riders will play a key role in the transit system being a tool for immigrant inclusion and retention.