If you live, work, or go to school in Mississauga and can’t afford a monthly bus pass for travel, you can apply for a discount.

The affordable transit program is a partnership between the Region of Peel and the City of Mississauga and offers eligible applicants a 50 per cent discount on the regular cost of a monthly MiWay transit pass to eligible applicants.

The Region recently made this program permanent after a successful pilot project in 2016 and 2017.

If you qualify for this discount, your spouse and any of your dependents who need a MiWay transit pass will also qualify.

Every person who needs this discount must register their own PRESTO farecard on the PRESTO website before applying. If you do not have a card, you can buy one from the MiWay fares booth at City Centre Transit Terminal, any Mississauga community centre, or the PRESTO website. However, the Region will not refund or discount the initial cost of the card.

You also need the current Notice of Assessment (NOA) for yourself and all applicants older than 18. If you do not have your NOA, you can ask the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to replace it for you by calling 1-800-959-8281, or contact the Peel Region at 905-793-9200 for help.

Once you apply and the Region has approved you, MiWay staff need to program the discount onto your card, allowing you to buy the pass at half price for twelve months.

When your approval period ends, the cost of monthly transit passes will return to full price.

To be eligible for a transit discount, you must:

• be a Canadian citizen, a landed immigrant, or have applied for permanent residency, sponsorship, or refugee protection in Canada;
• live in Mississauga; and
• have an after-tax income that matches or is lower than the amounts on this table.

Household size and after-tax income

1 person: $22,133
2 persons: $31,301
3 persons: $38,335
4 persons: $44,266
5 persons: $49,491
6 persons: $54,215
7 persons: $58,558

If you have questions about whether you’re eligible, e-mail the Affordable Transit Program.

To apply on-line, make sure you have:

• the most recent NOA for every person you are including on your application; and
• a registered PRESTO card for each member of your household you are applying for.

To apply for the transit discount by phone, call 905-793-9200 and ask to speak to the affordable transit program co-ordinator.