Renfrew County school bus drivers and transportation authority reach tentative agreement
Over 10,000 students in rural eastern Ontario will have school bus service again after an agreement was reached between school bus operators and the Renfrew County Joint Transportion Consortium (RCJTC).
- Sign up now for daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
A joint statement from the RCJTC, directors of education for two of Renfrew County's school districts and seven school bus operators on Monday afternoon said a start date for the resumption of transportation services will be shared with parents as soon as Friday.
"The RCJTC and seven bus companies are pleased to share that they have reached an agreement in principle," the statement read.
"A tentative start date for transportation services will be shared by the bus companies by Friday, October 11th with confirmation of the start date to be received by early next week."
The multi-year agreements between the RCJTC and bus operators will allow school buses to run without interruption until the end of the 2028-29 school year, the statement said.
Elementary and secondary school students in Renfrew County have been without school bus transportation this semester.
The contract between school bus operators and RCJTC had expired and both sides had been at an impasse regarding funding.
Bus operators in Renfrew County have said their costs have increased between 30 and 70 per cent since the COVID-19 pandemic began, but the RCJTC had argued it cannot offer more than the 12 per cent increase it put on the table without the school boards needing to make cuts elsewhere.
Discussions had been ongoing between the two sides.
"Everyone involved in these discussions understands how difficult the first few weeks of school have been for families, students, and the community. We want to express our collective thanks and appreciation for your patience and understanding during this difficult time," the statement said.
With files from CTV News Ottawa's Dylan Dyson and Ted Raymond
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Northern Ontario teen recovering in hospital after being attacked; ex-boyfriend charged with attempted murder
Timmins-James Bay MP Charlie Angus was among approximately 120 people who gathered Sunday night for a candlelight vigil near the scene of a vicious attack against a 16-year-old in Cobalt.
Kitchener, Ont. teen facing 29 charges after serious threats made against schools, businesses and people
A 15-year-old boy from Kitchener, Ont. is facing a long list of criminal charges as the Waterloo Regional Police Service wraps up a lengthy swatting investigation.
Former finance minister Bill Morneau questions if it's the 'right time' for emissions cap following Trump re-election
Following the re-election of former U.S. president Donald Trump, former finance minister Bill Morneau says the Canadian government should re-evaluate the timing of some cornerstone Liberal policies.
B.C. woman sentenced for stealing $14K in funds raised for schoolkids
A B.C. woman who stole more than $14,000 in volunteer-raised funds that were supposed to be spent on school supplies and programs – including hot meals for vulnerable kids – won't spend any time in jail.
Airlines cancel flights to Haiti after gunfire hits Spirit airplane over Port-au-Prince
A Spirit Airlines plane was hit by gunfire Monday over Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince, according to diplomatic source in the country, resulting in what the airline described as “minor injuries” to one of its crew members.
Montreal man facing first-degree murder in woman's death; accused was on bail after allegedly threatening her
A 36-year-old Montreal man who was out on bail after allegedly uttering death threats against his partner is now accused of murdering her on the South Shore.
'Your body, my choice': Attacks on women surge on social media following U.S. election
Sexist and abusive attacks on women, like 'your body, my choice' and 'get back to the kitchen,' have surged across social media since Trump’s reelection.
Man who allegedly staged bear attack arrested for murder in stolen identity scheme
A man accused of killing a person and staging it as a fatal bear attack in Tennessee was taken into custody in South Carolina over the weekend on murder charges, in what authorities described as a plot to steal the victim’s identity.
Alien-like signal from 2023 has been decoded. The next step is to figure out what it means
If Earth's astronomical observatories were to pick up a signal from outer space, it would need an all-hands-on-deck effort to decipher the extraterrestrial message. A father-daughter team of citizen scientists recently deciphered the message. Its meaning, however, remains a mystery.