1 minute read
Province announces funds for additional cleaning costs on transit
CHATHAM-KENT/LEAMINGTON — MPP Rick Nicholls, Chatham-Kent-Leamington, has announced that the province is keeping transit riders and operators safe and reducing the transmission of COVID-19.
The province is providing Chatham-Kent with $39,873, and Leamington with $18,552 to cover additional cleaning costs of municipal transit systems due to COVID-19.
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 public transit that will get people moving, reduce congestion, and drive economic growth.
“As our province continues to reopen, it is important we have the proper resources to do so safely, said MPP Nicholls. “With this investment, our communities will be safer places to live, work, and play as we get back to a new normal.”
“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.”
The 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.
