For immediate release OTTAWA, November 26, 2004 - Starting today, employees of Public Works and Government Services Canada working in the National Capital Region will be able to take advantage of the Transit Pass program. It allows employees to purchase easily accessible discounted annual transit passes from OC Transpo and the Société de transport de l'Outaouais (STO) through monthly deductions. This announcement was made by the Honourable Scott Brison, Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada and the Honourable Stéphane Dion, Minister of the Environment. "I'm proud that the department is participating in the transit pass program," said Minister Brison. "By making public transportation more affordable and more accessible, it contributes to our ongoing commitment to work towards a cleaner environment and greener government." This initiative is the result of a very successful one-year pilot project involving more than 900 employees in four government departments in the National Capital Region: Environment Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Transport Canada, and Treasury Board Secretariat of Canada. "The Transit Pass Program is part of the federal government's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions within its own operations," said Minister Dion. "I am pleased to see the role Environment Canada has played to help implement such a successful program that will now be offered to other government departments." Employees participating in the program will receive 15 percent off regular OC Transpo fares by purchasing a pass through payroll deductions. STO riders will receive 10 percent off regular fares and will pay through pre-authorized bank debits. Discounts are not subsidized by the Government of Canada. "The transit pass program truly is a win-win situation for the environment, employees and the transportation companies involved," said the Honourable Jean-C. Lapierre, Minister of Transport. "Getting people out of cars and into buses will help reduce greenhouse gas and other air emissions. At the same time, federal employees in the National Capital Region can save money, while contributing to a cleaner environment and a more sustainable transportation system." Transportation is the single largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada, accounting for approximately 25 percent of the total. This sector presents important opportunities and challenges for Canada in meeting its obligations under the Kyoto Protocol, which was negotiated in December 1997 under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Increasing transit use is a key component of Canada's Kyoto strategy. It also supports the objectives of the Government of Canada's One-Tonne Challenge, which calls on individual Canadians to reduce their GHG emissions by one tonne per year. - 30 - For further information, media can contact: Renée David Press Secretary of Minister Brison Public Works and Government Services Canada (819) 997-5421 Emma Orawiec Press Secretary of Minister Dion Environment Canada (819) 997-1441 Irène Marcheterre Director of Communications Office of Minister Lapierre Transport Canada (613) 991-0700 PWGSC press releases are also available on our Internet site at: www.pwgsc.gc.ca/comm/min/text/mediaroom-e.html
