City extends transit pass program for refugees

By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on September 29, 2022.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com

A program offering free bus passes for six-months to refugees arriving in the city will be continued with $15,000 in funding from council contingencies.

During their regular meeting on Tuesday, Council voted unanimously to approve the funding after deputy mayor Jenn Schmidt-Rempel presented a motion to continue it.

Since its inception a total of 206 bus passes have been issued at a cost of $89,542.

That information was contained in a report presented Tuesday to Lethbridge city council.

Administration in July was directed by council to extend the City’s recreation fee assistance program to provide the free passes. On July 26, council passed a resolution extending the program to include Ukrainians who have arrived in Lethbridge under the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel Program.

Funding for up to a maximum of $90,000 came from Council Contingencies.

The report to council states passes had specific coding so the six-month period could be included on one card. From July 14-Sept. 26, 5,923 transit boardings with the pass were recorded, Director of Community Services Mike Fox told council Tuesday.

Fox said the City is still getting a few requests that have had to be turned down. Those requests translate to about 31 transit users.

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