STUDENTS TO WATSON: MAKE A PERMANENT U-PASS YOUR NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION

OTTAWA, Dec. 8 /CNW/ - As Ottawa students enter into the exam season and begin planning trips home to visit family, they look to newly-elected mayor Jim Watson, to ring in the new year with a commitment to make a universal transit pass (U-Pass) for university students permanent.

Students from Carleton University and the University of Ottawa will deliver a holiday wish list to welcome Mayor Jim Watson and his new council to city hall. The message, signed by Ottawa university students, is clear: students want support from Council for a permanent universal transit pass program.

"Students are looking to Mayor Watson to make affordable public transit his New Year's resolution," says Paige Gallette, Vice President Communications of the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa. "The U-Pass saves students more than $100 a semester in transit fees, and students want to ensure the program will be available throughout their university degree."

The U-Pass provides essential savings for university students by providing an affordable transit pass to students already saddled with the highest tuition fees in Canada. Through continued council support of the program, Ottawa students would have one less financial worry.

"All students want this holiday season is an affordable Universal Transit Pass and a voice on the Pedestrian and Transit Advisory Committee," added Dina Skvirsky, Vice President Student Issues of the Carleton University Students' Association, "Council can be sure that students' voices will be loud and clear in the new year."

For further information:

Dina Skvirsky
VP Student Issues, Carleton University Student Association
t: 613-796-5784
e: [email protected]

Paige Galette
VP Communications, Student Federation of the University of Ottawa
t:  613-863-6672
e: [email protected]