Come March of next year, veterans and members of the Canadian Armed Forces will be able to ride Ontario’s GO Transit system free of charge.
The announcement came last week from the provincial government and Metrolinx, a provincial authority that oversees GO Transit, UP Express, and Presto.
Complimentary rides to both groups were also offered this year on Remembrance Day, November 11th.
The free fares will be made available in 2025 through Presto cards, transit passes used on various public transportation systems in Ontario. Metrolinx also stated that the UP Express—the train that links Toronto’s Union Station to the city’s main airport—will eventually be incorporated into the transit relief program.
The free fares are part of a larger provincial push to bolster recognition and support for Canadian veterans. Through the proposed Honouring Veterans Act, 2024, the government will also introduce a bump in the amount of funds available to veterans and their family members through the Soldiers’ Aid Commission. If the act is passed, annual amounts will increase from $2,000 up to $3,000. Eligible recipients can use the funds to cover expenses related to mental health supports, hearing aids, dental needs, personal items, and more.
“Veterans have made tremendous sacrifices to make our country and province what it is today, and they deserve our unwavering support,” said Ontario’s transportation minister, Prabmeet Sarkaria, in a statement to Cottage Life.
Sarkaria also said offering free fares on GO Transit and UP Express shows the province’s appreciation for those who have served, “making travel easier and more affordable so they can reintegrate successfully into civilian life,” in a provincial news release.
The GO Transit system serves some of the busiest, most densely populated areas in Canada, connecting Toronto and the GTA via routes to and from places such as Peterborough, Waterloo, Guelph, and more. According to Metrolinx, it carries more than 70 million passengers per year.
There are nearly 150,000 veterans in Ontario. Each year, around 9,000 Canadian Armed Forces members are released from military service at an average age of 40.
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