The eligibility criteria for the Fair Pass Transit Discount Program has just been broadened by the city to make transit cheaper for low-income residents.

The new phase of the program started on July 27th.

Those in the program receive a discount on TTC fare. For adults, the discount is a 36 per cent discount, making the fare $2.10 rather than the full $3.35, while the monthly pass receives a 21 per cent decrease in the program.

Requirements to be accepted into the program have been made easier as it has now been moved to an income threshold, according to the city.

“Anyone who has an income of 75 per cent of Statistics [Canada's] low income measure can apply for the fair path discount program,” says Jane Arbour, program manager in the social development division at the City of Toronto.

“Affordability is really top of mind for many Torontonians. The cost of living has really increased. Folks who are in the sort of lower income group in Toronto, they do rely on public transit to move around the city,” adds Arbour.  “The cost of travel should not act as a barrier to accessing services or going to school or work or the doctor or someone's part time job.”

After one week of the eligibility being broadened, the program received an additional 676 applications, Arbour says.

Statistics Canada says that the low income measure of a family of four people is 54,704. A family would have to make 41,000 or less eligible for the program. This is not the original plan set out by the city.  Arbour says that “the original income threshold was the low income measure after tax plus 15 per cent.” She says there are still plans to implement this in the future of the program.

“We'd like to see that be as temporary as possible. As soon as possible, we'd like to go back up to that original income threshold, but that will likely be considered through the next budget process,” says Arbour

In 2016, the program was approved by city council and began running in 2018. This new phase marks the second change in the program since the program started. Originally, the program was only for those on Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP). This expanded to people receiving the child care fee subsidy, and those receiving the rent geared to income subsidy.

“It allows folks like low wage and part time workers, people who are unemployed or are receiving employment assistance [to use the program]. Those folks prior to this expansion, were not able to access the program,” says Arbour. “This is really broadening that access, so that people who are experiencing poverty are able to access this benefit.”

Listen below for the full interview with Jane Arbour: