THUNDER BAY – Northern Ontario Service Deliverers Association (NOSDA) welcomes Friday’s announcement by the Ontario Government that they will be expanding Inter-Community Transportation across the north with special efforts in the Northwest.
NOSDA has long known that many of their clients are unable to move between communities to secure essential services without either great expense or a reliance on strangers to transport them. The expansion of Ontario Northland services into the Northwest, through a partnership with private carriers, will ensure that Ontario Works clients will be able to obtain the services they require on a timely basis. It will also have the added advantage of reducing transportation expenditures incurred on client’s behalf.
“NOSDA is also excited about the new Community Transportation Grant Stream that will not only provide funding for internal community transportation for those areas without an urban transportation system but will provide opportunities to connect communities not on the main line inter-community bus system through a locally operated service. We hope a number of communities across the North will take advantage of this opportunity” observed Angus.
Iain Angus, in welcoming the announcement, noted that “NOSDA is optimistic that over time, the creation of this integrated intercommunity scheduled bus transportation system will lead to more patients taking the bus than relying on the ambulances to get them to their hospital appointments.” NOSDA complimented the work of Common Voice Northwest’s Transportation Task Force in preparing the groundwork and rationale for Friday’s announcement. Staff from the three Northwest DSSABs participated in the development of the position paper.
“We thank the Ontario Government for recognizing the need to ensure that there is adequate inter-community bus transportation right across the North and in making this announcement” concluded Iain Angus, Chair.
