More than 16,000 Ontario students could be without bus service for the first day of school unless the provincial government reaches a deal with the Student Transportation Service Consortium of Grey Bruce (STSCGB) by Aug. 21.
The STSCGB operates approximately 308 school bus routes through six different companies, all of which are currently without a contract for the upcoming school year.
The Bluewater District School Board and Bruce-Grey Catholic District School Board issued a joint statement acknowledging school bus services may not be available to start the year.
“Over the past several months, Bluewater District School Board, Bruce-Grey Catholic District School Board, and Shared School Services have been working to negotiate a renewed contract with our local school bus operators, in close cooperation with the Ministry of Education,” a joint statement from the two Grey Bruce school boards says. “We understand operators are facing increased cost pressures, and at the same time have a responsibility to work within the level of provincial funding provided. Despite our continued efforts, a resolution has not yet been reached.”
“We want to be transparent with families that bus service may not be available for all students at the start of the school year in September. As a result, families may need to provide alternative transportation for their children.”
School Bus Ontario says if no contract is signed by Friday (Aug. 21), there will be no buses on the road for the first day of school.
“This is not a political issue for parents,” says Executive Director of School Bus Ontario Nancy Daigneault. “It’s about their morning routine, their jobs, their children’s safety, and the peace of mind that comes from knowing the school bus will arrive. Families don’t care about contract negotiations – they care whether the bus shows up in September.”
The longer the deal is delayed, the longer it will take to get buses back on the road.
“Each day of delay, there will be a delay in buses starting by a day,” says Daigneault. “So if it’s three days later, then it might be three days late. We are hoping to avoid that and we are hoping to be able to get back on day one of school.”
According to the report, operators remain ready and willing to provide service, but they have been unable to prepare properly for the school year – including mandatory inspections, preventative maintenance, route planning, driver scheduling, and dry runs.
“Every family in Ontario knows that the cost of living has increased dramatically over the past several years,” says Owner of Tiffin Transportation Services Inc. Steve Tiffin. “We simply need contracts that recognize those realities so we can continue providing the safe, reliable school bus service that students and families depend on.”