Author: Rob

Austerity, Transportation and Health Equity: Emerging impacts of the closure of STC

Post author By Rob
Post date September 2, 2020
1 Comment on Austerity, Transportation and Health Equity: Emerging impacts of the closure of STC

On 31st May 2017, after 70 years of service, the final bus of the government-owned Saskatchewan Transportation Company (STC) took its last trip from Regina. At the time of its closure the company served 253 communities and transported about 200,000 Saskatchewan residents yearly. STC was abruptly shut down as part of the March 2017 budget that saw cuts to several other public institutions and services including libraries, post-secondary institutions among others – although some of these cuts were later reversed after significant public outcry.

At the time of the company’s closure, the STC was an integral part of life in Saskatchewan and played a pivotal role in transporting many essential equipment and supplies used by the various health regions, small businesses and farmers in the province. For example, the bus transported vaccines, blood products and medical equipment (Saskatchewan Transportation company, 2010).

Media Releases

The private sector failed to fill the void created by the termination of STC

Post author By Rob
Post date March 28, 2019

Stop The Cuts is launching a series of Public Hearings at which groups and individuals will be encouraged to discuss what the closure of STC means to them, and what their transportation needs are today – and are likely to be in the future. The first Pubic Hearing will be held in Saskatoon on May 15.

Statements

Stop the Cuts statement on Greyhound closure

Post author By Rob
Post date July 12, 2018

Déjà vu. Since Greyhound announced it was closing operations in Western Canada effective the end of October, several small companies jumped in to say they’d take over routes. This is similar to what happened in Saskatchewan when the government shuttered the Saskatchewan Transportation Company (STC). Encouraged by the SaskParty government’s rhetoric about the capacity of […]

Opinion

Op-Ed: Budget hits hard again

Post author By Rob
Post date April 18, 2018

The Sask Party has taken another swing at poor people in their 2018 budget. After pre-budget hints of another PST increase and more cuts, we are all supposed to feel relieved with the arrival of the 2018-19 provincial budget. On the surface, this budget might seem nicer compared to last year, but it continues to take us down […]

Media Releases

The System is Broken & the Depot is Closing: Provincial Leadership Candidate Forum

Post author By Rob
Post date September 26, 2017

Stop the Cuts is holding an all-candidates forum on the future of inter-city transportation in Saskatchewan, this Friday, September 29, 2017, at the former STC bus depot, 50 23rd St East, Saskatoon. The event will start at 4:30 and is open to the public. It will be streamed live on Facebook and the public are also invited to attend in person.

Media Releases

Stop the Cuts is holding public town hall discussions in rural and northern areas called Crowns and Cuts

Post author By Rob
Post date August 24, 2017

Residents of North Battleford recently attended a Crowns and Cuts the first Town Hall meeting in a series of public discussions in rural and northern areas being facilitated by Stop the Cuts, a citizens group of people concerned about the impacts provincial budget cuts. Crowns and Cuts Town Hall organizers are highlighting the value of […]

Media Releases

Wall’s lack of planning is a transportation crisis for many SK residents

Post author By Rob
Post date June 28, 2017

There is a transportation crisis in Saskatchewan. Until May 31 we had Saskatchewan Transportation Company that was, by all accounts, one of the best bus passenger services in Canada. In Wall’s rush to privatize STC he didn’t allow enough time for a responsible “wind-down” or to learn about the consequences of the cut, and now […]

Media Releases

Federal Transit Funding Could Save STC

Post author By Rob
Post date June 7, 2017

Stop the Cuts is asking Saskatchewan residents to contact their MLAs and MPs to broker a deal. Saskatoon – June 7, 2017 – With the STC, the Saskatchewan Party could have its cake and eat it too. Stop the Cuts has learned about federal transit funding that has become available that could allow the STC […]

Media Releases

Wall government’s cut in STC bus service strands passengers

Post author By Rob
Post date May 27, 2017

The Saskatchewan Transport Company (STC) is designated an essential public service in Saskatchewan for many reasons. Public transportation has been shown to be crucial in serving and maintaining areas of low population density and remote, hard-to-travel-to communities. Saskatchewan people and services are connected through public transport, enabling rural and small town people to enjoy similar […]

General Updates

Celebrate the victory

Post author By Rob
Post date April 24, 2017

Yesterday’s restoration of funding to libraries by the Saskatchewan Party was a major accomplishment for grassroots democracy in Saskatchewan. The people who organized the Save Saskatchewan Libraries campaign did a brilliant job of quickly responding to the cuts, building a Facebook group with over 7,000 members, collecting signatures on petitions, mobilizing people in 85 communities across the province to participate in the “Drop Everything and Read!” and ultimately forcing the government to return 100% of the funds cut from the library system. Victories like this don’t come along every day and it is reason to celebrate!