The group responsible for school transportation in the Grey-Bruce area is asking for assistance from Queens Park.
The Student Transportation Service Consortium of Grey Bruce (STSCGB) has urged the Ontario government to establish new contracts with the six local bus operators.
The last contract ended right after the close of the 2025-26 school year.
Nancy Daigneault, Executive Director of School Bus Ontario, stated that this matter isn’t political but relates to what drivers and mechanics need to prepare for the upcoming school year.
The consortium indicated that if an agreement isn’t reached by Friday, students might have to start the school year using different transportation options.
“We’ve already told drivers that contracts aren’t finalized, and some experienced team members may soon begin looking for jobs elsewhere if this situation isn’t resolved,” said Steve Tiffin from Tiffin Transportation Services Inc., one of the operators.
The six bus operators manage a total of 308 routes.
Daigneault mentioned that it’s crucial to keep skilled drivers on those buses, though it can be expensive.
“In Grey-Bruce region, local operators have raised driver wages by 25 to 30 percent over the life of the current contracts, which is significantly higher than the province’s overall 17.5 percent funding increase during that time,” said Daigneault. “Operators have taken on those extra labor costs because having qualified drivers is vital for safely transporting students.”
School Bus Ontario is a non-profit organization dedicated to advocacy, education, and legislative consultation services for school bus fleet owners, as per its official website.
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