“The well-being of our seniors starts with making it easier and safer for them to get around and stay connected.” – Mark Saunders

Toronto - Today, Mark Saunders released his plan to let seniors ride free on the TTC on Mondays and request more convenient stops during off-peak hours.

Toronto’s population of seniors is growing. The number of residents over the age of 65 is expected to double by 2041. Yet the career politicians at City Hall have failed to meet the urgent needs of seniors, including making the TTC safer and more convenient, building more affordable, age-friendly housing, and tackling the most important issue of all.

“Coming out of the pandemic, the studies are clear: social isolation is a key factor impacting the health, well-being, and quality of life for seniors,” said Saunders. “As Mayor, I will work to break down those barriers and make it easier for our seniors to access public spaces, stay connected, and get around our city safely.”

Toronto’s Seniors Strategy was last updated in 2019 and does not reflect the deep and lasting impacts of the pandemic on the issue of social isolation among seniors. If elected as Mayor, Mark Saunders will immediately move forward with developing a new four-year Toronto Seniors Strategy focused on improving quality of life for seniors living in our city.

The new strategy would include:

• Offering free TTC to seniors 65+ every Monday from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. to make it more affordable for them to get groceries, go to medical appointments, and get around the city.
• Offering additional "Request Stop" options for seniors during off-peak hours on local transit routes, so that seniors can safely get closer to their destination.
• Bringing free WiFi to select parks throughout Toronto, so that seniors and other Torontonians can connect online to important information, social supports and vital services.
• Opening all Toronto libraries on Sunday year-round to provide more community spaces for seniors and Torontonians to gather, learn, and access technology and services.

For more information contact: media@marksaundersfortoronto.ca