The City of Ottawa has reduced the frequency of O-Train (LRT) service from every 5–6 minutes to every 10 minutes during weekday off-peak hours (9 a.m.–3 p.m. and 6:30–9:30 p.m.), a decision made without consultation with student groups. This service reduction has negatively impacted many students who rely on affordable and reliable public transit to commute to campus, attend classes, and manage their daily responsibilities.

In response, the University of Ottawa Students’ Union (UOSU), in collaboration with the Carleton Union Student Association (CUSA) and the OC Transpo workers’ union, sent a formal letter to the Mayor opposing the cuts. They emphasized the disproportionate impact on students, many of whom live off-campus and rely on consistent access to transit. On September 12, a UOSU delegation addressed the Transit Commission to highlight how these service cuts negatively impact students, who collectively contribute approximately $20 million annually to OC Transpo through the U-Pass program.

In a further development, OC Transpo announced a 5% increase to the U-Pass fare effective January 1, 2025, again without consulting UOSU—violating the 2014 agreement that caps annual increases at 2.5% as of September 1. UOSU formally rejected the increase as illegal and launched a petition that garnered over 3,000 signatures within 48 hours. The UOSU addressed the Transit Commission again on November 25 to demand accountability and transparency.

UOSU’s advocacy efforts gained political and legal support, with several municipal councillors (Stéphanie Plante, Shawn Ménard, Laine Johnson) and Members of Provincial Parliament (Lucille Collard, Joel Harden) publicly endorsing the students' position. On December 11, following sustained pressure and widespread media coverage, City Council voted to delay the fare increase until proper consultation with the U-Pass agreement signatories takes place.

Looking ahead, UOSU maintains that it will not support any fare increases unless OC Transpo significantly improves transit services. The Students’ Union is committed to keeping students informed and will host consultation sessions in the fall to ensure their voices continue to shape future transit decisions.