Local MPPs are asking the City of Windsor to revisit the decision to suspend transit service after this weekend.
MPP Lisa Gretzky and MPP Percy Hatfield said the decision does not take into account the needs of Windsor residents during a pandemic.
“Health care workers use Transit Windsor to get to work, and elderly residents use transit to get to the grocery store and to the pharmacy,” said Gretzky. “The health and safety of transit workers and riders during the COVID-19 pandemic is absolutely paramount — the buses need to be cleaned to the highest, safest standard. Like every other city, we need to take every necessary precaution so that we can continue to offer transit to people, particularly those with low incomes, that rely on the bus as an essential service.”
The MPPs said they have talked to the local union, which agrees that suspending transit service is not the best decision for the community.
“We strongly believe everyone should closely follow the recommendations of public health officials in Windsor-Essex and across Canada during this pandemic,” said Hatfield. “That means asking people in Windsor to stay home as much as possible. But it also means we need to ensure essential staff can get to work — including hospital staff, long-term care home staff, those who stock grocery shelves, 911 dispatchers, and people who work in pharmacies.”
The NDP MPPs have asked the provincial government to provide funding for local municipalities to help make transit safe for riders and drivers.
Windsor's Medical Officer of Health Dr. Wajid Ahmed has not recommended the suspension at this time.
“The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit has not recommended the discontinuation of transit services. Under the right circumstances, such as employing appropriate environmental cleaning practices and managing the number and space of passengers, public transit can serve as an important means of transportation to access food, supplies, or go to work for essential workers who may not have a private vehicle or other options. Individuals who are high-risk for contracting COVID-19 such as seniors (65+) and individuals with underlying medical conditions should not take public transit and should try to arrange for delivery of supplies to their home.”