<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">Catherine Gardner</b> <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:catherinegardner@magma.ca">catherinegardner@magma.ca</a>></span><br>
Date: 26 October 2012 11:25<br>Subject: Urgent - Budget 2013 Public Consultations - Re Community Pass Fare Increase<br>To: Catherine Gardner <<a href="mailto:catherinegardner@magma.ca">catherinegardner@magma.ca</a>><br>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><font size="3" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Re: Budget 2013 Public Consultations –
Re <u></u><u></u>Community<u></u> <u></u>Pass<u></u><u></u> Fare Increase<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><font size="3" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Dear
Community Members,<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">If
you or someone you know uses the <u></u><u></u>Community<u></u>
<u></u>Pass<u></u><u></u> (persons on ODSP or
registered Para Transpo users) this important message is for you.<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">The <u></u><u></u>Community<u></u> <u></u>Pass<u></u><u></u> will be going up 9.4% or an amount
of $3.00 per month. While I personally do not have a problem with the pass
going up I do have some major concerns which I would like to pass along to you.<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><font size="3" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold">Facts:<u></u><u></u></span></font></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u><u></u><font size="3" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Community</span></font><u></u><font size="3"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> <u></u>Pass<u></u></span></font><u></u><font size="3"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> has not had an increase for a couple of
years. I would personally prefer to have an increase every year instead of a
larger catch up increase in one year. I was informed that they are trying to
get the <u></u><u></u>Community<u></u>
<u></u>Pass<u></u><u></u> aligned with the senior’s
pass over the next couple of years.<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">The <u></u><u></u>Community<u></u> <u></u>Pass<u></u><u></u> will be the <b><span style="font-weight:bold">only pass</span></b> seeing an increase on January 1<sup>st</sup>,
2013. All other passes will be increased on July 1<sup>st</sup>, 2013 with the
other passes seeing an average increase of 2.6 – 2.9%.<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">July
1<sup>st</sup>, 2013 – ticket prices will be going up by $.20 each.<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u><b><font size="3" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold">Community</span></font></b><u></u><b><font size="3"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold"> <u></u>Pass<u></u>
and <u></u>Para<u></u> Users:<u></u><u></u></span></font></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u><font size="3" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Community</span></font><u></u><font size="3"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> <u></u>Pass<u></u> and
Senior pass holders are the only ones who must top up their passes on <u></u>Para<u></u> between 6:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. Monday to Friday.
Community pass holders are the only ones who must top up after 9:00 a.m.<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><font size="3" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold">AODA Transportation Regulations:</span></font></b><font size="3"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">It is
important to note that because OC Transpo crosses over to <u></u><u></u>Quebec<u></u><u></u> they fall under Federal
Transportation Regulations and do not have to follow the (AODA) Accessibility
for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, however OC has stated over and over that
they have agreed to follow the AODA in Spirit and Intent.<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">According
to the AODA starting on January 1<sup>st</sup>, 2013 transportation providers
who provide both conventional and specialized (<u></u>Para<u></u>)
service must provide the same fare options for the conventional and specialized.
The AODA also states that the fares for both conventional and specialized
transportation must be at fare parity.<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">I do
not see the AODA being followed in regards to the transit fare payment options
and or fare parity especially for those using the Community Pass and or those
who must travel to and from the rural areas or from one rural area to another.<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">With
the <u></u><u></u>Community<u></u> <u></u>Pass<u></u><u></u> being the only pass requiring a top
up after 9:00 it is important that we stress this at the budget meetings. We
must also stress that the only requirement for the seniors pass is that one be
over the age of 65, the only requirement for the U-Pass is that you are a full
time student at Carleton or <u></u><u></u>University<u></u>
of <u></u>Ottawa<u></u><u></u>. However for
the <u></u><u></u>Community<u></u> <u></u>Pass<u></u><u></u> you must either be on ODSP which is
a lot lower than seniors on GIS or you must be a registered Para Transpo user.<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Public
consultations start on Mon. Oct. 29th. Click on the following link <a href="http://ottawa.ca/en/city_hall/budgettaxes/budget/budget_2013/consultation/index.htm" target="_blank">http://ottawa.ca/en/city_hall/budgettaxes/budget/budget_2013/consultation/index.htm</a>
to find a consultation meeting in your area. Please note that the meeting at
City Hall on Thurs. Nov. 1<sup>st</sup> will provide special needs supports.<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">I
would appreciate it if you could forward this email onto others who may be
affected by the increases.<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Thank
you and have a good day!<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Monotype Corsiva"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Monotype Corsiva"">Catherine Gardner<u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Community
Advocate, <a href="http://www.pbase.com/catherinegardner" target="_blank">Freelance
Photojournalist</a><u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">(613)
726-3609</span></font><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman""><u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" color="blue" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:blue"><img border="0" width="166" height="135" src="cid:image001.jpg@01CDB36C.A24AE6B0" alt="Photo"><u></u><u></u></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="4" face="Arial"><u></u> <u></u></font></p>
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</div><br><br clear="all"><div><br></div>-- <br>Terrie ( <a href="mailto:mocharebyl@gmail.com" target="_blank">mocharebyl@gmail.com</a> )<br>“If you see an injustice being committed, you aren't an observer, you are a participant.” June Callwood <br>
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