THUNDER BAY – Smaller communities across Ontario could be eligible for a share of $5 million in funding aimed at creating transit solutions for those communities.
Transit Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria, during a brief visit on Monday to Thunder Bay, said the goal is to fill a gap in smaller and more remote communities, including First Nations, to provide public transportation options both within the towns and cities themselves, or to help link those communities with larger centres.
It’s up to individual communities to determine their own needs, then to apply for money under the funding envelope.
“We’ve created a lot of flexibility in it to allow (communities) to partner with other communities. Multiple communities could apply together under this program, to support those unique needs,” Sarkaria said.
Whether it’s working with other communities to expand an existing service, working with the private sector to encourage them to come into their municipality, or using the money to kickstart a new service not previous offered, everything is on the table, the minister said.
“I think it’s a very exciting program for those communities that need that transit and want to take that next step and have them experimenting a little bit,” Sarkaria said.
Conservative MPP Kevin Holland (Thunder Bay-Atikokan), said during his time as mayor of O’Connor Township, he saw several requests for a service that would allow residents of the rural community access to Thunder Bay.
A shuttle service that into communities like O’Connor, Murillo or Kakabeka Falls could have pretty good uptake, he suggested.
“Through NOMA, and AMO, we’ve been calling on the government for several years now, to develop some sort of program or funding structure that would allow municipalities to put in a transit system that would get people from their communities into Thunder Bay to connect with the transit,” Holland said.
“That was based on residents asking us for that. They’d be coming for doctor’s appointments or shopping or whatever the case may be to avoid that commute into Thunder Bay. It’s something that’s been on the radar for a long time.”
Sarkaria said Indigenous communities may also want to apply, to help them connect to communities like Thunder Bay, Kenora or Sioux Lookout, where they can access services like medical and dental, or grocery stores.
“I think this program will definitely support that vision and the opportunity to connect Indigenous communities to places like where we’re at here today in Thunder Bay, or to other communities across the province. This is really targeted very specifically at rural communities,” he said.
The $5 million will be an annual investment, Sarkaria added.
