Bill C-449

2nd Session, 40th Parliament,

57-58 Elizabeth II, 2009

house of commons of canada

BILL C-449

An Act regarding free public transit for seniors

Whereas seniors should be encouraged to lead active social lives and to escape the isolation in which some of them live;

Whereas transportation is a problem for many seniors in Canada;

Whereas public transit is often the only method of transportation available to some of them;

And whereas the Government of Canada wants to offer financial support to that end;

Now, therefore, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

SHORT TITLE

1. This Act may be cited as the Free Public Transit for Seniors Act.

INTERPRETATION

2. In this Act, “senior” means any person 65 years of age or older.

PUBLIC TRANSIT TRUST

3. (1) The Minister of Finance may make direct payments to a trust established to fund free local public transit for seniors, anywhere in Canada, during off-peak hours.

(2) The amount to be paid to any province, territory or municipality shall be determined in accordance with the terms of the trust indenture establishing the trust.

(3) There shall be paid out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, on the requisition of the Minister of Finance, any amounts to be paid pursuant to this section, at the times and in the manner that the Minister of Finance considers appropriate.