QUESTIONS & ANSWERS:

Federal Government employees

Other organizations 

How can I sign up for the ECOPASS program? 

We have almost completed our full rollout of the program to Federal Government departments and agencies. Please check your internal communications for news regarding when ECOPASS is coming to your department.

You can also visit publiservice.gc.ca (Federal Gov't employees only) to see if your department is already on board.You can also find information regarding ECOPASS enrollment, cancellation, transfers or pass modification. 

How do I get my ECOPASS?

To introduce the ECOPASS, an OC Transpo team may visit your department or agency on a specified date, which will be advertised in advance. Employees will remit their application form once returned by Compensation, have their picture taken, and walk away with an ECOPASS. The ECOPASS is offered to Ontario residents only. If you cannot make it on the day the team visits, your compensation advisor will return your application form and you can go to any one of our four Sales and Information Centres to obtain your ECOPASS. Please note that you can only go after the 20^th of the month prior to the effective date of your ECOPASS.

When will deductions begin to show on my pay stub?

Your deduction will be on the first pay of each month, not including months with 3 pay periods as the deduction in this case will be on the second pay.

Will I be able to get an ECOPASS for family members?

The ECOPASS family option is NOT available for Federal Government employees. 

I have lost my ECOPASS. What do I do?

Please send an email to ECOPASS@ottawa.ca with your name, department, the date your ECOPASS was lost, and your preferred Sales and Information Centre to obtain your replacement ECOPASS.  We will then confirm the information and advise you when you can then visit the Sales and Information Centre to obtain your new ECOPASS. The cost of a replacement is $25.00 that is fully refundable should you find your original ECOPASS. Please note that you are allowed a maximum of 2 replacement ECOPASS.

Should you find your lost ECOPASS after having notified us, please advise us as we can update your file immediately.

Is there a reciprocal agreement with the Société de Transport de l'Outaouais (STO)?

The ECOPASS is offered to Ontario residents only. The STO offers residents of Quebec their own Payroll Deduction pass.  OC Transpo and the STO both accept the ECOPASS and the STO Payroll Deduction Pass as a regular pass. 

What happens if I leave my department?

You will need to advise your compensation advisor by the 15^th of the month prior to the effective date of cancellation.  This can be done by submitting a cancellation form to your compensation advisor.

For further details, please visit: publiservice.gc.ca (Federal Gov't employees only)

Can I opt out of the program while I am on holidays? What if I want to walk or cycle throughout the summer?

A one-year commitment is required, after which you can stop your payroll deduction. If you do leave the program before the one-year commitment is reached, it can only be for any of the reasons outlined in your terms and conditions.  We do not allow cancellation for holidays or seasonal use.  The program does offer almost two months of free transit to cover your holidays.  

What if you are transferred to or move to a location where bus travel is not an option?

Anyone moving to a new work location where bus travel is not an option may discontinue the payroll plan and hand in their ECOPASS.    

An employee can also discontinue the payroll plan and hand in their ECOPASS if they change residences to an area outside of the urban transit area for OC Transpo or inside the urban transit area but within walking distance from the company.   

For further information regarding transferring within departments, please visit publiservice.gc.ca (Federal Gov't employees only)

Does ECOPASS qualify for the tax credit?

Absolutely. If you are an ECOPASS subscriber, please retain your pay stubs for Income Tax purposes. 
  

ECOPASS subscribers will be contacted through their employer should more information become available. 

How can I sign up for the ECOPASS program?

Your Employer must be registered with the program in order for you to participate.  Please speak to your Human Resources department or your Payroll department, and have them contact ECOPASS@ottawa.ca  for more information on registering their company.

Is there a minimum number of participants required?

At this time, we require a commitment from 25 or more full-time permanent employees within a company.   

Once my company has joined the program, when and where can I sign up?

To introduce the ECOPASS, an OC Transpo team may visit your offices on a specified date, which will be advertised in advance.  Employees will fill out an application, show ID as verification, have their picture taken, and walk away with an ECOPASS.  The ECOPASS is offered to Ontario residents only.  

What if I can't make it on the day the team visits?

A Human Resources officer will be assigned as an administrator for the program.  The administrator will be able to give you an application and voucher that you can take to any OC Transpo Sales and Information Centre to obtain your ECOPASS.  

When will deductions begin to show on my pay stub?

The first deduction occurs on the first full pay period following our visit to your company or from the date of your enrollment.  Each company’s payroll schedule varies, but we will provide you with the dates when we visit your company.

Will I be able to get an ECOPASS for family members?

Yes, but ONLY if your company decides to opt into the Family ECOPASS program. Employers do have the option of offering the ECOPASS program that includes family members or offering only the program that includes employees.  We do not have a student ECOPASS. Contact your company administrator for specific details.

I have lost my ECOPASS. What do I do?

Please visit your company administrator to obtain a replacement voucher.  Once the administrator has entered the information into our online system, please take your voucher to any one of our Sales and Information Centres to obtain your new ECOPASS. The cost of a replacement is $25.00 that is fully refundable should you find your original ECOPASS. Please note that you are allowed a maximum of 2 replacement ECOPASS.

Is there a reciprocal agreement with the Société de Transport de l'Outaouais (STO)?

The ECOPASS is offered to Ontario residents only. The STO offers residents of Quebec their own Payroll Deduction pass.  OC Transpo and the STO both accept the ECOPASS and the STO Payroll Deduction Pass as a regular pass.

What happens when you leave the company?

You will need to advise your company administrator in order to action your cancellation request.  Anyone leaving the employ of the company MUST hand in their card when they leave.  Should you not return your card, you will continue to be charged and invoiced for the pass until it is returned.

Can I opt out of the program while I am on holidays? What if I want to walk or cycle throughout the summer?

A one-year commitment is required, after which you can stop deductions.  If you do leave the program before the one-year commitment is reached, it can only be for any of the reasons outlined in your terms and conditions.  We do not allow cancellation for holidays or seasonal use.  The program does offer almost two months of free transit to cover your holidays. 

What if you are transferred to or move to a location where bus travel is not an option?

Anyone moving to a new work location where bus travel is not an option may discontinue the payroll plan and hand in their ECOPASS.   An employee can also discontinue the payroll plan and hand in their ECOPASS if they change residences to an area outside of the urban transit area for OC Transpo or inside the urban transit area but within walking distance from the company.