Government must U-turn on STC

I stood witness to the last Saskatchewan Transportation Company (STC) bus leaving the Prince Albert depot on May 31, 2017. It was bittersweet. Sweet because I have private transportation and could stand in solidarity with the employees. Bitter because people without public transportation are at increased health and safety risks.

How many people are now experiencing distress around getting to their next medical appointment? How many people are now risking their lives by hitching rides? It may be coincidence, but in the first week of June, I counted seven hitchhikers at intersections on highways north of Prince Albert, where I normally see one or two.

The bitter has turned to blister. I learned that the provincial government did not ask for Saskatchewan’s share of federal transit funding. It was reported to be $640 million — 7.5 times the funding estimated for five years of STC operation.

The STC is a public transportation system cost-shared with riders. John Thornton’s investigation showed the government was headed down the right road early in its mandate. It increased ridership by lowering fares. Then, my university daughter found the STC an affordable ride home on weekends for family celebrations. Now, it is pricey.

Our government courageously admitted its mistake with the cuts to libraries. It recognized the cuts reduced our quality of life. Eliminating our STC may reduce the quantity of life for our most vulnerable riders.

Let’s tell our government to courageously slam on the brakes and pull a U-turn before we lose our wheels. Nancy Carswell, Shellbrook