Mayor Laura Cabott says she’s trying to stay out of a sparring match between the governing Liberals and the NDP over the possibility of free transit.

The NDP has been pressing the issue since the signing of the second Confidence and Supply Agreement (CASA) last January.

The NDP wants the city to offer free transit to anyone using the system.

At the time, it was a surprise announcement. Even the city wasn’t consulted about the issue, and was blindsided by the announcement.

Last week, NDP MLA Lane Tredger suggested the government should up its financial support of the idea to $5 million – a considerable increase over the $1.5 million in funding the government is proposing.

Community Services Minister Richard Mostyn rejected the NDP’s idea in correspondence sent to Tredger and published in Friday’s Star.

Cabott spoke to the Star briefly about the issue on Friday afternoon.

She said she had seen the letters flying between Tredger and Mostyn.

She added it’s a dispute between the Liberals and NDP – and one that city officials are determined to stay out of.

“It’s up to the NDP and the Liberals,” Cabott said.

“Our position on free transit hasn’t changed since last May.”

Cabott said the city has since been involved in discussions with government officials since that time, but not too much progress has been made.

She said there has been six months of “lost” time on the issue when riders could have been travelling for free.