School transportation disruptions cause dozens of Quebec kids to miss school
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Loading... - Arbi Mounir
- 20 Mar 2023
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Labour disputes and a lack of school bus drivers in Quebec are disrupting transportation throughout the province, compelling parents to find alternatives and some kids to miss class.
Bus drivers’ unions and employers say that low pay and tough working conditions are adding to widespread labour shortages, which means the job is not attractive enough to meet the province’s needs – causing more and more disruptions across Quebec. Both are asking for more resources from the provincial government to raise wages.
The Globe and Mail contacted nearly all of the province’s school boards and service centres – the equivalent of a school board in the French system – to inquire about transportation issues. Precise numbers of students affected are difficult to obtain, and several boards and centres did not reply by deadline because of spring break – but many said the challenge is widespread.
While some institutions experienced no trouble, others said they are facing challenges in regions from the Montérégie, in the province’s south, to the remote Côte-Nord, where alternatives like public transit are scarce.
Caroline Vallée, VP for the Public Sector at the Bus Carriers Federation (FTA in French), which represents the employers of school bus drivers in Quebec, said around 1,500 routes were cancelled at least once throughout the province during the 2021-2022 school year. This was significantly more than previous years, and the situation is getting worse, she said in an interview.
The Samares School Service Centre, which oversees 53 elementary schools and 10 high schools in the Lanaudière region, north of Montreal, said that around 1,200 students have been affected by transportation failures every month this school year. Read More…
