(File Photo/paNOW Staff)

By Jaryn Vecchio

Funding Disputes

‘Budgets are about choices’: CUPE calls out P.A. decision-making with paratransit services in need of funding

Feb 8, 2024 | 5:00 PM

CUPE Saskatchewan is putting its support behind the Prince Albert Community Service Centre (CSC) as it struggles to get extra funding from the City of P.A.

Without an additional $103,000, the CSC would be forced to cut weekend and evening paratransit services. The CSC was given nearly $572,000 from the city through the 2024 municipal budget but needs $685,000 to offset the rise in costs.

Judy Henley, president of CUPE Saskatchewan, shared her thoughts on the situation calling out city council’s decision-making.

“Budgets are about choices, and the City of Prince Albert is choosing to make the city less accessible for seniors and people with disabilities,” she said.

Henley also touched on the decision to allocate an extra $700,000 to the new arena project and how some of the funds could have been used to help the CSC.

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The president of CUPE 2182, which covers workers at the CSC, also chimed in on the situation. Mark Krayetski believes the cut of services would also impact people who don’t use them as clients and put limits on how often they can visit businesses and use public facilities.

“That’s why we’re circulating a petition through so many businesses and community organizations,” he said.

Krayetski also touched on the possibility of other cuts.

“It’s probably going to mean some job loss, losses of good people on our end.”

There’s currently no timeline on when the services will officially be cut.

Meanwhile, the City of Prince Albert said the decision to cut services for Access Transit lies squarely on the non-profit running the buses and not them.

They explained that they met with the CSC to negotiate a contract ahead of the 2024 budget deliberations, however, they received counteroffers that stopped them from finalizing it.

Mayor Greg Dionne also previously stated that the two sides are working on setting up a contract that would include the additional funding being asked for. Though, the CSC said this would come into effect in 2025.

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Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow