Echoes of fake news in STC breakup

The continued assertion by our provincial government that private operators will step in to the void left by the closure of STC definitely qualifies as a Trump style fake news item. After more than 20 applications from potential operators to the Highway Traffic Board (HTB) since the closure of STC, only three companies are offering a partial service with 15-seat passenger vans but only between Regina, Saskatoon, Yorkton and Prince Albert. All applicants were approved by the HTB, which publicly stated that it no longer considered its role to involve approval of routes, fares and frequencies. Manitoba, B.C. and Ontario continue to strengthen and build their provincially supported networks but Saskatchewan has deconstructed a complete system for the sake of a modest $10 million per year.

Recent media coverage has stressed winter travel difficulties and small-town residents feeling compelled to relocate. If his trend accelerates this will be another hit to the viability of smaller communities. Surely not an outcome that this government will want with its claim to be the voice of small town and rural residents.

The Saskatchewan Party under new leadership has the opportunity to restore some credibility to the STC file. A public statement of the sale value of each STC asset sold on behalf of its owners, the taxpayers of Saskatchewan, as well as the value of the commission paid to KPMG could be a start. And what assets still remain unsold?

Meanwhile the people of Saskatchewan have the right to keep asking questions to cut through the web of secrecy, mismanagement and a continued reliance on fake news spin. Martin Wooldridge, Edenwold