Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River NDP candidate Georgina Jolibois said the New Democrats would restore public transportation service to northern Saskatchewan.
The Saskatchewan Transportation Company closed in May 2007, after the provincial government stated it would cost $85 million over five years to subsidize. It also cited poor ridership in shuttering the service.
Jolibois said since that time northerners who do not have reliable transportation have struggled to make medical appointments.
“I’ve heard from too many seniors and families who can’t get medical help or visit their family in Saskatchewan because of the STC cuts,” said Jolibois.
The federal government has offered provinces in western Canada millions of dollars to help restore the lost service, yet Saskatchewan declined.
The province has suggested that the private sector would fill the void, but they too have struggled to make it viable.
“It’s a myth that the federal government can’t step in here and help northern Saskatchewan get moving again,” added Jolibois. “We don’t need to wait for a private operator. We can start investing in people to make sure that all communities in the North are accessible.”
Jolibois could not elaborate on what the transportation model would look like or how much money it would cost.
However, she said northerners deserve the same level of service as what is provided in southern Saskatchewan.
(Photo: One of the last rides on the STC. MBC file.)