VANCOUVER, BC - The Alliance of BC Students (ABCS) was pleased by the government's announcement today of the ratification of the U-Pass BC Agreement, which will see $86.1 million invested over 5 years in giving Metro Vancouver post-secondary students affordable access to transit.

“Students will benefit from the hard work of all sides, which has ensured that the longest U-Pass Agreement in BC history was ratified.” said Gurvir Gill, the Chairperson of the ABCS. “The advocacy of student leaders plays a crucial role in the creation of programs such as the U-Pass, and we're so proud of our community for the effort they put into this.”

The Alliance has over 65,000 members in the Metro Vancouver region and this gives all of them access to an affordable method of transportation.

"Students from all backgrounds already face many barriers to financial wellness," noted Grace Dupasquier, Director of Research and Campaigns for the Alliance. “Students in the Metro Vancouver region are already battling housing affordability, and over 20% of students in BC access public financial aid. Affordable access to transit is essential for student wellbeing, and we are so happy to see this investment from the government today."

Ensuring students have access to transit is key in addressing the region's traffic issues. It is also extremely important in regards to working towards the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's goals for reducing carbon emissions worldwide, which are imperative for the mitigation of the current Climate Emergency.