By Teena Monteleone

Government prepares to sell off STC assets

Mar 23, 2017 | 5:00 PM

The Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Transportation Company said the government is exploring options when it comes to selling the province’s fleet of buses. During the 2017 provincial budget delivery, Finance Minister Kevin Doherty announced STC would be winding down by the end of May to help save the government $85 million over the next five years.

“Obviously we couldn’t do anything before the budget…but we’ll get plans in place to sell the buses to various organizations or maybe bus companies in the United States,” Joe Hargrave said. “We’ll look at selling the buses in one fashion or another.”

Several concerns have been voiced since the public heard the province would be ending the service. John Fryters with the Prince Albert Seniors Advocacy Centre said the closure of STC will greatly restrict seniors, especially in rural areas, from obtaining necessary medical services.

The community of La Loche, located about a five-hour drive north of Prince Albert received STC service in 2007.

“(The elimination of STC) adds more instability for residents to travel to other communities,” Mayor Robert St. Pierre said.

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St. Pierre hopes for a private company to eventually take over the routes.

“We’ve been forgotten for many years, please don’t let us be forgetten again, transportation is an essential service,” he said.

Greyhound spokesperson Lanesha Gipson said they’re assessing the impact of the STC service ending but they have no immediate plans to pick up routes. Meanwhile, Hargrave is optimistic already established private contractors will take advantage of the opportunity for more business. He anticipates service clubs, non-profit organizations, family and friends will help those in need of transportation.

“STC only drives by or only serves 253 communities and there are well over 500 communities in this province. So, that means there is well over 250 other communities that don’t have STC service and those people still make it to their appointments in Regina or Saskatoon. They get rides in,” Hargrave said.

The province noted bus travel in Saskatchewan peaked 35 years ago, but has declined by 77 per cent since. As for the short window of time before service ends, the province said new buses were on order and they would have to pay for them. STC was founded in 1946 under then-Premier Tommy Douglas.

 –With files from CKOM

teena.monteleone@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @TeenaMonteleone