The City of Winnipeg is offering discounts to eligible adults with its new bus pass program.

The new program, WINNpass, will offer low-income adults a 30 per cent discount in the first year of the program, a 40 per cent discount in May 2021, and by May 2022 a 50 per cent discount on transit passes.

Before COVID-19 entered the province, the City of Winnipeg approved the introduction of a program to help low-income residents afford public transit. The program is being released this month, but residents are currently unable to pick their new cards up.

The City of Winnipeg has closed Winnipeg Transit Customer Services Centres, meaning the new pass cannot be picked up yet. 

While residents will need to wait until centers reopen, the City says they are taking applications.

Those wanting to apply for a WINNpass must meet the following criteria:

  • aged 18-64
  • part of a household with income less than the Low Income Cut Off (LICO)
  • are receiving Employment Income Assistance
  • are a new permanent resident or a refugee who has been in Canada for less than a year and has not yet filed a tax return

Other household members may also be eligible for the discounted bus pass.

The City says residents can apply online, by mail or fax with paper copies, or wait until service centres have reopened to drop off an application person.