Perth-Wellington MPP Matthew Rae was in Stratford on March 8 to announce funding for the continued operations of PC Connect.
The funding is from the Community Transportation Grant Program via the Ministry of Transportation and is for $749,000. Rae says the funding will allow PC Connect to continue operating and expand its services.
"This is ensuring rural residents are able to travel, whether it's for medical appointments, visiting family and friends or even for shopping at some of our urban centres. This ensures rural residents can get around our beautiful riding," said Rae. "This funding is in addition to the over $4.26 that's been provided to Perth County and the City of Stratford since 2018. So it's just some additional money that the county and the City of Stratford asked the Ministry of Transportation for to maintain that service. Again, I know it's very well used by many people, especially as we enter the warmer months, a lot of tourists come from outside of Ontario and even outside of Canada to our area and they use it, which is great to see, as well."
Rae adds that Wellington County received just over $227,000 in additional funds through the Community Transportation Grant earlier this year for the Ride Well Program, having already received just over $742,000.
The PC Connect Service has become a vital means of getting around for many people in the area, especially those who perhaps don't have their own vehicle. Rae says it's critical that funding like this is available to keep programs like PC Connect around.
"I know it's important to have that option in our rural transportation network in a cost effective way. Whether it is for medical appointments, or I know many use it for travelling to Stratford, or travelling even to London and Kitchener because PC Connect goes there, too, so travelling to larger centres they may need to go to for whatever reason. I know it's important to have those options available locally," Rae added.
