An Ontario Liberal leadership hopeful is promising a free ride to curb climate change.

MPP Michael Coteau (Don Valley East) proposes that public transit fares be eliminated within a decade to get commuters out of their cars and onto trains, buses and streetcars.

“Climate change is an urgent, existential threat. We need to act in ways that empower Ontarians to reduce their carbon footprint and save their hard-earned money,” Coteau said Monday.

“Our actions must be bold and decisive ... I believe, as a principle, that like other public services in Ontario, public transit should be free at the point of access,” he said.

“Within the context of a province-wide initiative to identify and mitigate barriers to use of public transit, we will develop and implement a plan to eliminate transit fares incrementally over the course of a decade.”

Coteau noted some foreign jurisdictions are moving toward free fares to ease gridlock and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

But he conceded it will not be easy to subsidize transit, which would cost billions of dollars.

“This initiative will involve all local, regional and provincial transit entities in all parts of Ontario and entail all modes of public transit,” said the former cabinet minister.

“We will undertake cost-benefit analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of fare-free transit at achieving targeted environmental, economic and social objectives and determine the return on the province’s investment in free transit,” he said.

“We will use the findings of this analysis to inform evidence-based decision-making on the role free transit can play in transitioning Ontario to a greater reliance on public transit to meet our transportation needs.”

If he becomes Liberal leader on March 7 and is able to defeat Premier Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives in the 2022 election, Coteau said there would be a gradual phasing-in of free transit.

“During our first mandate, we will prioritize providing fare-free transit to young people and seniors,” the MPP said.

But commuters who switch to public transit from private vehicles would also be considered, he added.

“The Ford Conservatives are running away from the climate crisis. Under my leadership, the Ontario Liberals will stand with Ontarians and fight to do our part to protect our planet.”

So far, five candidates are vying to lead the Liberals, who were trounced by the Tories in June 2018 election.

The front-runner is widely seen to be former minister Steven Del Duca, who lost in Vaughan-Woodbridge to Tory Michael Tibollo.

Also in the hunt are MPP Mitzie Hunter (Scarborough Guildwood), another former minister, and ex-candidates Alvin Tedjo, runner-up in Oakville-Burlington North last year, and Kate Graham, who was third in London North Centre.

The deadline for entering the Liberal contest is 5 p.m. on Nov. 25. Candidates must pay the party a fee of $100,000 to run.

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Former MPP Arthur Potts (Beaches-East York) had been expected to enter, but dropped out on Oct. 29, citing a lack of funds.

Liberals will elect the next leader at a delegated convention in Mississauga four months from now.

Next Monday, most of the candidates will participate in a debate at the Ontario Real Estate Association’s annual convention at the Hilton in Toronto.

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