School bus operators warn of delays

Association says provincial funding changes mean there isn't enough to cover fuel costs, driver pay

- KRISTIN RUSHOWY

Over the next couple of weeks and months, things could get worse before they get better. This could result in slowdowns.

School bus operators warn of a bumpy road ahead after a change in provincial funding they say will lead to delays and cancellations.

The Ontario government, while increasing transportation funding overall, still does not cover actual costs and is not providing enough to cover "adequate driver compensation, driver retention bonuses and new buses," said Nancy Daigneault, executive director of School Bus Ontario.

"To make matters worse, the Ministry of Education imposed a devastating reduction of between 56 to 58 cents per litre of fuel, which has left operators in certain regions worried about filling their tanks to cover the millions of kilometres a day travelled," and some operators are still owed money from the previous school year, added Daigneault.

Daigneault called the problem "unintended consequences" of the new funding model, which was announced last year and since then "we've been working to try to rectify some issues" with it.