A single fare for all students: FAÉCUM welcomes announcement made by Mélanie Joly

MONTREAL, Oct. 16, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - The Fédération des associations étudiantes du campus de l'Université de Montréal (FAÉCUM) was pleased with mayoral candidate Mélanie Joly's announcement that, if she is elected, her administration will make student transit fares available to all students, as opposed to the current rule limiting this pricing to students aged 25 years or less. Speaking to an audience of approximately 200 Université de Montréal students, Mélanie Joly stated that she would eliminate the age limit applied to STM student fares. FAÉCUM believes that this move will promote increased use of public transit by university students and reduce the impact of rate shock that students experience due to the current age limit of 25 years.

In this sense, FAÉCUM has been making representations regarding a universal student fare for more than a decade. The association is pleased to see that a number of mayoral candidates have made elimination of the arbitrary age-25 limit on student fares a part of their platforms. FAÉCUM would also like to see these candidates recognize that the City of Montreal is a student town and place students' concerns in the forefront, especially with regard to elimination of the age limit for the student fare. "We are encouraged to finally see candidates rank college and university students as one of their key concerns," asserted Tiago Silva, secretary general of FAÉCUM. "Elimination of this arbitrary criterion - age - in setting the student fare is a step in the right direction toward recognizing the importance of higher education in Montreal." In closing, FAÉCUM reiterated its intent to pursue its actions during the municipal election. The association will pay particular attention to the various parties' initiatives regarding the bicycle network, student housing, youth involvement in the City's decision-making forums and regulations governing demonstrations in Montreal.

For over 35 years, the Fédération des associations étudiantes du campus de l'Université de Montréal (FAÉCUM) has been defending and promoting students' academic, political, social and economic rights and interests. Encompassing 80 student associations that represent 39,000 members, FAÉCUM is the largest student campus association in Quebec. Its website for the municipal election is www.mun2013.com.

SOURCE: Fédération des associations étudiantes du campus de l'Université de Montréal

Alexandre Ducharme, press agent, FAÉCUM, cell: 514 497-2602