Students call on Mississauga City Council to include all undergraduate students in U-Pass pilot project

MISSISSAUGA, ON, April 10, 2012 /CNW/ - Students from the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) call on the Mississauga City Council to vote in favour of including part-time students in the city's transit U-Pass starting September 2012. Part-time students recently voted overwhelmingly in favour of participating in the program during a campus-wide referendum.

"Part-time students voted over 93 per cent in favour of being a part of the U-Pass program," said Gilbert Cassar, President of the UTM Students' Union. "It is now up to the Mississauga City Council to listen to students and include them in the U-Pass program."

Representatives from the UTM Students' Union and Erindale Part-Time Undergraduate Students (EPUS) made deputations at the meeting of the general committee of Mississauga City Council on Wednesday, April 4, 2012 in support of the inclusion of part-time students into the 8-month U-Pass program effective September 2012. The item was deferred by her lordship Mayor Hazel McCallion for consideration at its next council meeting scheduled on Wednesday, April 11, 2012 at 9:00 am.

"The support for the U-Pass program is a testament to student aspiration for an affordable, accessible and sustainable public transit system," continued Cassar. "We hope that members of the Mississauga City Council share this aspiration."

Students will be attending the Mississauga City Council meeting this Wednesday to speak to Councilors and ensure that the U-pass program applies to all undergraduate students.

"Students in Ontario pay the highest tuition fees in Canada and have the highest levels of debt," said Munib Sajjad, Vice President External of the UTM Student's Union. "Having a U-Pass program that saves students money helps reduce the everyday expenses students also have."

Munib Sajjad: [email protected] or 647-262-6629
Gilbert Cassar: [email protected]  or 647-338-7727