Low-income people in six Saskatchewan cities will continue to have access to assistance with their transportation needs, following the approval of up to $1.4 million in funding to renew the province's Discounted Bus Pass Program through September 2011.
To qualify for a discounted bus pass, individuals must be receiving benefits through the Saskatchewan Assistance Program, Provincial Training Allowance, Saskatchewan Employment Supplement, Transitional Employment Allowance, or Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability Program.
"The Discounted Bus Pass Program helps low-income people enter and remain in the workforce as well as participate in community activities," Social Services Minister June Draude said. "Our government is pleased to partner with the cities of Saskatoon, Regina, Prince Albert, Moose Jaw, Yorkton and Swift Current to continue this important program on behalf of low-income people in those communities."
The cities of Regina and Saskatoon will each receive up to $650,000 as part of the renewed funding. The City of Prince Albert will receive up to $67,500 and the City of Moose Jaw will receive up to $45,000. The cities of Yorkton and Swift Current will receive up to $18,000 and $12,000 respectively in renewed funding.
"The City of Regina Transit Department is pleased to once again participate, for the eighth year in a row, in the province's Discounted Bus Pass Program," City of Regina General Manager of Community & Protective Services Bonny Bryant said. "This program is well utilized in our city, and we appreciate the assistance it provides to low-income people in our community."
About 63,000 monthly discounted bus passes are currently sold each year under the Discounted Bus Pass Program. As part of the funding renewal, the province will boost its contribution per bus pass to $21, an increase of nearly 17 per cent. Individuals who qualify for the program currently pay $15 to $20 per monthly bus pass. Cities are permitted to adjust the price of the discounted bus pass, provided the price they charge to clients is kept at least $21 lower than the price of a regular monthly pass. Cities that participate in the program also help promote the discounted bus pass with the goal of increasing ridership.
The Discounted Bus Pass Program was implemented on November 1, 2003 as a pilot project with the City of Regina and was extended to other cities in the province starting in 2007.
