NEWS RELEASE
JILL DUNLOP, MPP SIMCOE NORTH
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Today, Jill Dunlop, MPP for Simcoe North, announced that the province is keeping transit riders and operators safe in helping to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 by providing the Town of Midland, Penetanguishene and the City of Orillia with just over $33,000 to cover additional cleaning costs of municipal transit systems due to COVID-19.
The Town of Midland will receive $7, 566, Penetanguishene will receive $4,081 and the City of Orillia will receive $21,893. This funding is part of $15 million in provincial support for 110 municipalities across the province 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 transit public transit that will get people moving, reduce congestion, and drive economic growth.
“No one should feel that their commute poses a threat to health and well-being. Because of this investment, our communities across Simcoe North will be able to gradually return to work with the assurance that they are safe and protected through enhanced cleaning measures on our public transit systems,” said Jill Dunlop, MPP Simcoe North.
“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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