Supporters of the Saskatchewan Transportation Company plan to be out in full force in front of MLA Herb Cox’s office Friday.
A rally is planned during the noon hour, between 12:15 p.m. and 12:45 p.m., to protest the cut to STC. The rally is being organized by the North Battleford Save STC chapter, and a large turnout is expected.
The North Battleford bus depot has been hit hard by the news from the provincial budget that Saskatchewan Transportation Company is being wound down by the province.
Ann Galay, manager of the bus depot, was before North Battleford city council Monday night to provide details of the impact to her operation as well as to ridership.
She also noted the impact the loss of service will have on seniors and those needing wheelchair-accessible travel. She noted the particular impact on those having to go to Saskatoon for appointments for radiation, chemo or dialysis.
“I have had some seniors come into the bus depot and they are almost in tears because they don’t know what they are going to do when this is done,” said Galay.
Galay also pointed to the impact on freight charges. She noted right now STC and Greyhound have an agreement that freight charges within the province will be pretty close to the same amount, but once STC is gone there is nothing keeping Greyhound prices as low, she said.
The impact to jobs is also being felt. In North Battleford the bus depot had to lay off both employees except for a few hours a week.
The delegation received a receptive audience at council. Several members of council pledged they would be at the rally Friday.
“This is an important service in Saskatchewan,” said Councillor Len Taylor, who asked what kind of communication the bus depot received from the province.
Galay noted they hadn’t gotten notice. On the day of the budget, bus drivers received sealed envelopes saying the buses would be shut down for 24 hours, but no reasons were given.
“Everyone had no idea,” said Galay. It turned out the reason was because STC didn’t want their drivers on the road when they found out they were losing their jobs.
Galay confirmed to Taylor that STC made up over half the income at the bus depot. The bus depot would stay on because the building is rented by Greyhound. But Galay said she and her husband would likely have to look for other jobs because the income “isn’t enough to keep us both there.”
Councillor Kent Lindgren was concerned about the impact on health clients who needed to get to and from appointments.
“What’s happening here is really putting people’s health at risk,” he said.
Councillor Kelli Hawtin was concerned about the impact to those currently using the $69 bus pass to get to medical appointments in Saskatoon, and also about the loss of service to rural areas.
