Government tells firm to stop using STC’s name in ads

The province is telling a private company to stop using the STC name.

Carpe Diem Limousine Service Ltd. is running online advertisements saying they are hiring for “our new STC freight division.”

It is also sending letters out to agencies and freight customers with the heading “STC/Carpe Diem Express Inc. Freight Transition.”

That letter says “Carpe Diem Express Inc. will be here to fill the void left by the STC transport and freight divisions.”

It offers customers zero service disruption, the same pricing as STC and the intention to “mimic existing contract to the best of our ability.”

In response, STC minister Joe Hargrave has sent out 174 letters to agencies indicating STC is not working with any private contractors, including Carpe Diem. Another 2,845 letters were sent to freight customers telling them STC has no relationship with Carpe Diem.

Hargrave told reporters Wednesday he was directing his officials to find out how Carpe Diem got contact information for STC freight customers and agencies.

“I would like to know,” he said. Carpe Diem could not be reached for comment, but expressed interest in taking over routes from STC shortly after the province announced the public bus company would be winding down.

On March 22, the day of that announcement, the province racked up bills of more than $22,000. Most of that cost was to pay for taxi fares for customers affected by the temporary shutdown of approximately 40 routes, which impacted more than 100 people.

STC’s closure will, according to the province, save roughly $17 million per year.