While the STC is gone for now, it could be back in the future. On Wednesday, Saskatchewan NDP leader Trent Wotherspoon said his party would restore service if elected, and Prince Albert Northcote NDP MLA Nicole Rancourt backed up that promise.
“The NDP will bring back a transportation service for the province when we’re back in government, because we realize that this is such an important, essential service, for our province,” said Rancourt, who was also on hand to witness the final STC bus departure.
Rancourt said the service was vital for rural Saskatchewan residents seeking medical treatment and other services, and criticized the government for its spending priorities.
“We know that it’s a service that the government has to subsidize, but that’s because it’s a service that’s provided to individuals, and this exact service … is offered in bigger cities because they know the importance of allowing residents to get to different locations,” she said.
Rancourt also questioned whether the government had fully considered the effect that shutting down the STC would have in other areas, like health and social services.
“They say it’s going to cost less, not providing this, but I don’t think that they’re really looking into the impact that it’s going to have on the increased costs for health and social services and justice and all the different other agencies that now are going to have to step up to help provide some kind of transportation allowance.”
@kerr_jas • jason.kerr@paherald.sk.ca
