Province Investing in Enhanced Public Transit Cleaning

WOODSTOCK – Today, Ernie Hardeman, MPP for Oxford, announced that the province is keeping local transit riders and operators safe and helping reduce the transmission of COVID-19 by providing over $32,000 to cover additional cleaning costs of municipal transit systems.

Woodstock will receive $21,106, Tillsonburg will receive $6,365, and Ingersoll will receive $5,246. This funding is part of $15 million in provincial support for 110 municipalities across Ontario towards enhanced transit cleaning as the province gradually reopens.

Enhanced municipal transit cleaning funding builds upon the recommendations in the recently-released safety guidance for public transit agencies and supports safe and reliable public transit that will get people moving, reduce congestion, and drive economic growth.

“I’m pleased to see our government provide the financial support for our local public transit operators to do the extra cleaning that is required to keep our residents safe in light of the pandemic,” said Hardeman.

“We recognize that municipal transit agencies across the province are facing significant financial challenges as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak,” said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation. “That is why we are providing funding for enhanced cleaning on public transit systems and continuing to work closely with our municipal partners to support safety on public transit.”

Today’s announcement is part of Ontario’s Action Plan: Responding to COVID-19. This $17 billion immediate response provides urgent support to help Ontario businesses, workers, seniors, families, students, Indigenous peoples and communities, and vulnerable populations during COVID-19.

The action plan includes $3.3 billion of additional resources for health care, $3.7 billion to support people and jobs, and it makes available $10 billion for people and businesses through interest and penalty relief measures to improve their cash flow, protecting jobs and household budgets.

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Media inquiries please contact:

Ernie Hardeman, MPP Oxford

(519) 537-5222