The Manitoba government is partnering with Winnipeg Transit to make life more affordable for local families. On Thursday, the government announced it is launching free transit passes for Winnipeg youth between the ages of 11 and 17, who are in Grades 7 to 12 at public, independent, and home schools. Students between the ages of 18 and 21 who are still in high school are also eligible. The province explained that monthly passes currently cost $57.50, which comes out to $692 per child every year. This means an average family with two kids will save over $1,300 annually. “It’s making a difference for those young people as we’re back in class and it’s also helping their families… That’s real relief for affordability while everybody’s thinking about the cost of living,” said Premier Wab Kinew at a news conference on Thursday. Passes will be given to students through a phased rollout. Winnipeg schools will be distributing the passes, beginning with Grades 11 and 12 on Thursday. Students in Grades 9 and 10 will get the passes on Sept. 22, while kids in Grades 7 and 8 will be able to access the passes by the end of the month. Passes are valid from September 2026 to August 2027. “What I like, perhaps, the most about this initiative is that it is practical. It is straightforward and it builds on something that the City of Winnipeg has already been doing,” said Mayor Scott Gillingham. “For a few years now, the City of Winnipeg has provided free transit to children under the age of 12. This partnership takes that idea a significant step further.” The City of Winnipeg plans to closely monitor ridership, crowding and service reliability during this program to identify routes and times in need of additional service. Additionally, police officers, transit inspectors and community safety officers will have a more visible presence on the main routes serving middle and high schools.
