Ottawa school bus authority 'cautiously optimistic' all routes will be covered this fall
There is cautious optimism within the student transportation industry about starting the new school year with a full slate of bus routes, after last school year brought numerous cancellations because of driver shortages.
With just over a month until the start of the new school year, however, some parents and drivers aren’t as confident about a smooth start.
"I definitely think that there will be shortages again this year," said Shanice Leonard, a parent and school bus driver.
Leonard is worried the job just doesn’t have enough appeal.
"Having a job with low benefits and low wages definitely isn't ideal. It's been an ongoing problem and it's just continuing to get worse."
But it comes amid a push to hire more drivers.
"That's the prudent thing to be doing. It's the best time to be recruiting new drivers," said Nancy Daigneault, Executive Director of School Bus Ontario.
The RoxBorough bus group, which serves the region, put out a public call last week to hire drivers saying they are "...searching for school bus and school van drivers who are willing to undertake part-time work,” and that “no previous experience is required.”
"The local consortium, the transportation planner in Ottawa did start a new program, they're helping to try and recruit new drivers as well, and that could make a significant difference," Daigneault said.
In a statement to CTV News, the Ottawa Student Transportation Authority (OSTA) said, “We are cautiously optimistic that all routes will be covered for the September start-up”.
And while the industry is optimistic about a smooth rollout this September...
"I definitely think there will be issues this year, and continue to be issues if they don't change something," said Leonard.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza's vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as cease-fire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife's edge.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
Putin begins his fifth term as president, more in control of Russia than ever
Vladimir Putin began his fifth term Tuesday as Russian leader at a glittering Kremlin inauguration, setting out on another six years in office after destroying his political opponents, launching a devastating war in Ukraine and concentrating all power in his hands.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.