Photos courtesy Saskatchewan Transportation Company, Facebook.
On Wednesday, provincial Finance Minister Kevin Doherty announced the Saskatchewan Transportation Company has a two-month lifespan before the province closes it down altogether.
“The decision to wind down STC was a difficult decision, and I know that sounds clichee, but look, the fact of the matter is that 230 people’s lives have been changed today. We ought not to forget that, through no fault of their own,” he said.
NDP Finance Critic Cathy Sproule quickly took aim at the move.
“Less than a year ago, the then-minister responsible said – promised – that STC is a needed service and it was safe from a sale. Now, they’re scrapping it out of the blue and without asking permission of the owners, the Saskatchewan people,” she said.
The CEO of New North says the planned elimination of the Saskatchewan Transportation company will have a huge impact on Northern Saskatchewan.
Matt Heley says there was some inkling about cuts to STC, but he didn’t see the government shutting down the bus company.
“That was a shocking… revelation. I just did not see that coming and in a budget where you can anticipate certain things, and even before the budget there was some talk about it and from I heard, the government was going to dismiss it. But I guess I must have been mishearing them” added Heley.
Heley says even if a private operator was to step in and provide services for northern residents, he doesn’t think it would be a cheap and effective service that STC offered.
Heley added that the elimination of STC by the end of May will affect the poorest and least able to get around the most.
It is estimated it would need nearly $85 million in subsidies to keep it running for another five years.
STC will continue to accept freight for delivery until May 19. All passenger services will cease May 31.
The shutdown will affect 224 workers and 253 communities across the province.