FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 6, 2021
SIMCOE – The Ontario government is extending funding of up to $14 million over two years for communities providing transportation services in unserved and underserved regions across Ontario through the Community Transportation Grant Program.
Additional funding will help ensure transportation services in 38 communities across the province have additional time to fully establish their transportation services as they recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and build transportation services up to a sustainable level. This will better position municipalities to continue operating after the program has completed.
As part of this two-year extension, the County of Norfolk is eligible to receive provincial funding of up to $149,276.22 per year in 2023-24 and 2024-25 for a total of up to $298,552.44 over two years.
“With Ontario re-opening, this funding will assist with keeping Ride Norfolk operating, for example, to help the tourist-dependent businesses along the lakeshore,” said Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett
“The Community Transportation Grant Program is making life easier for people living in areas with few public transportation options,” said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation. “The additional investment in local and intercommunity transportation services will help residents – including Indigenous people, seniors and people with disabilities – get to work, school or appointments and will give communities added security as they recover from the impacts of COVID-19 and plan for the future.”
The Community Transportation Grant Program is currently providing up to $30 million over five years (2018-2023) to 38 municipalities to deliver 43 projects. This includes several municipalities who are partnering with or serving Indigenous communities and organizations.
The funding announced today will extend support for transportation services including bus service, on-demand shared rides and door-to-door transportation services supported by the program for two additional years.
Quick Facts
- The Community Transportation Grant Program supports transportation services in nine communities in the north, twelve in the southwest, ten in eastern Ontario and seven in the Greater Golden Horseshoe.
- Services supported through the Community Transportation Grant Program include bus service, on-demand shared rides and door-to-door transportation services that support various population groups including seniors and people with disabilities.
- Connecting communities underserved by transportation services is one of the actions in Ontario’s regional transportation plans for the southwest and north
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For more information, contact MPP Toby Barrett at 519-428-0446 or toby.barrett@pc.ola.org