ECHO social fare
Pay less to take the bus
- For Gatineau residents whose annual income is below the low income cut-off and newcomers arrived in Canada within the last 12 months.
- A saving of $46 off the regular monthly fare
- Available with a personalized Multi card
- Paratransit customers can pay cash
- Regular system customers can use their pass on STO and OC Transpo buses
A unique program in Quebec that is making a real difference in people’s lives
- Thanks to the ÉCHO Program, we are making a tangible difference in Gatineau’s social and economic development with a more accessible public transit system:
- helps people break out of isolation;
- encourages participation and integration into civil life; and
- helps people access and keep jobs.
Payment methods and fares
Regular system customers
- Monthly enrolment with the Multi card
- Fare: $64.00* per month
- Unlimited trips for one month
- Can be reloaded:
- online 48 hours before your next trip;
- at any STO service point;
or - at any STO point of sale.
- E-wallet on the Multi card
- Practical and ecological
- As easy to use as a paper ticket
- Load money onto your Multi card
- online 48 hours before your next trip;
- at any STO service point; or
- at any STO point of sale.
- Minimum purchase of $10 each time you load
- Pass your Multi card over the reader on the bus
- The transfer is automatically generated and is valid for two hours
STO proud!
We are the first transportation company in Quebec to offer a social fare that makes public transit more accessible for everyone.
Paratransit customers
- Fare: $2.80* per trip
- Cash payment accepted given that paratransit vehicles do not have a reader.
PAYMENT METHOD | Standard FARE (2024) | ECHO FARE (2024) |
|---|---|---|
Monthly enrolment with Multi card | $110*/month | $64*/month |
Fare per trip with Multi card | $3.80* | $2.80* |
* Fares subject to change without notice.
Who is eligible for the ECHO Program?
Every Gatineau resident whose annual income is below the low-income cut-off:
- Amount identified by the Government of Canada
- Updated at the start of the year
- Used to determine whether a person is eligible for the ECHO Program based on:
- their status
- the annual incomes of their family members aged 16 and over who are not full-time students and live at the same address.
GOOD TO KNOW!
Refer to line 236 of your federal income tax return for your annual income.
Household size | Low-income cut-off | Household size | Low-income cut-off |
|---|---|---|---|
1 person | $20 590 | 5 persons | $44 330 |
2 persons | $25 060 | 6 persons | $49 163 |
3 persons | $31 205 | 7 persons or + | $53 996 |
4 persons | $38 930 |
|
|
Eligibility
- Gatineau resident with a low income aged 16 or over
- living alone
- living as a couple
- living with or without children
- Social assistance recipient
- Newcomer
Apply to enroll
Fill out the enrolment form and submit it along with all of the required documents. Address the envelope to the ECHO PROGRAM and:
- mail it to:
111 rue Jean-Proulx, Gatineau, Quebec J8Z 1T4.
OR - bring it in person to anySTO service point:
- You cannot photocopy your documents at the service points
CONFIDENTIALITY OF PERSONAL RECORDS:
Only photocopies of the documents are accepted and, once the application has been processed, all documents are destroyed.
Documents required according to your status
Resident with low income
Living alone
- the ECHO Program enrolment form filled out online or in printable format;
- a copy of the statement for the Goods and your most recent Services Tax / Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST) Credit; and
- if you are under age 18, a copy of a document proving that you are a fully emancipated adult:
- court order; or
- marriage certificate or divorce order.
FULL-TIME STUDENT
You are not eligible for the ÉCHO Program. Instead, check the reduced fares for students
Living as a couple
- the ECHO Program enrolment form filled out online or in printable format;
- a copy of your most recent statement for the Goods and Services Tax / Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST) Credit; and
- if you are under age 18, a copy of a document proving that you are a fully emancipated adult:
- court order; or
- marriage certificate or divorce order.
With children
In addition to the documents listed above, you must also submit a copy of your most recent Canada child benefit (CCB) statement.
Social assistance recipient
- the ECHO Program enrolment form filled out online or in printable format; and
- a copy of your most recent claim booklet provided by Quebec’s Ministère du travail, de l'emploi et de la solidarité sociale (MTESS).
According to an employee at Le Boulev’art de la Vallée, customers who are in a precarious financial situation would face somewhat less stress when it comes to getting around. They could get out more and break out of their isolation.
Newcomers
To be considered a newcomer:
- you must have arrived in Canada within the past 12 months;
- if you arrived more than 12 months ago, refer to the Resident aged 16 or over with low income section.
Required documents:
- The ECHO Program enrolment form filled out online or in printable format; and
- a copy of the Confirmation of Permanent Residence issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada; OR
- a copy of the Refugee Protection Claimant Document issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada; OR
- a copy of the certificate of identity for refugees.
Processing your application
Allow approximately one month to have your application processed. You can contact us at 819 770-3242 to know your application statut.
If your eligibility is confirmed
- go to any STO service point;
- bring:
- a photo ID; and
- any original supporting documents if necessary;
- if you already have a Multi card, bring it;
- if you do not have a Multi card, we will provide one when you come in;
- the first Multi card is free, but if it is lost or stolen, a replacement fee will apply;
- you can then load your Multi card:
- online 48 hours before your next trip;
- at an ; or
- at any of the 50 points of sale. (redirection : Tarifs /Réseau de vente et rechargement)
*A minimum purchase of $10 is required to load your card.
Your application is incomplete
You have 60 days to provide the missing information.
You are not eligible
The reason will be indicated in the email you receive. You can reapply the following year.
Reapplying
- You must reapply every year before the end of October
- Try to reapply at least one month before the deadline
Contact us
By email: echo@sto.ca
By phone: 819-770-3242.
In person: at any STO service point.