Broncos families head to Alberta leg islature to fight for trucking changes
Edmonton: Alberta families affected by the Humboldt Broncos bus crash say they will continue to fight for changes to provincial trucking regulations. Sixteen people were killed and 13 were injured when an inexperienced Calgary truck driver ran a stop sign and barrelled into the path of the junior hockey team’s bus in Saskatchewan in April 2018.Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba implemented mandatory training for truck and bus drivers after the crash.
Alberta Transportation Minister Ric Mciver has said the United Conservative government is taking another look at rules for school bus drivers and farmers. It’s also granted hundreds of exemptions since the party was elected earlier this year.
Four Broncos families joined Alberta NDP Opposition Leader Rachel Notley at a news conference Wednesday asking the government to reverse those changes. A letter from a fifth family was read. “When we brought in the safety standards, we had support from both sides,” said Notley. “I am very sad that this has become a fight for these families all over again.”
“We can’t undo the Humboldt bus tragedy, but we can work together to prevent another from happening.”
Several Albertans were killed in the crash, including Jaxon Joseph and Logan Hunter of St. Albert and Logan Boulet of Lethbridge. Others were injured, including Derek Patter of Edmonton and Graysen Cameron from Olds. Their families said Wednesday that any decisions being made should be about safety.
“We can’t take any more chances with inexperienced and inadequately trained drivers of semi trucks,” said Shauna Nordstrom, the mother of Logan Hunter. We are flipping the coin for safety. “We ask the government to stop these exemptions.”