With the start of the new school year fast approaching, several school service centers are still unable to reach an agreement with their carriers. In order to ensure that the buses are there for the return to class, the government has appointed a negotiator.
In a press release published Wednesday morning, the Ministry of Education announced the appointment of Me Claude Sauvageau as negotiator “to guarantee reliable and safe transportation service to all students in Quebec”.
Discussions are still ongoing between the government and the Federation of Bus Carriers with the aim of facilitating the renewal of contracts. A meeting was to take place on Wednesday between representatives of the carriers and Me Sauvageau, confirmed the Minister of Education, Jean-François Roberge.
“We’re really moving up a gear,” said the minister when questioned by journalists. We are entering a major blitz, I have confidence that we will find a solution. »
The mandate of Me Sauvageau will be to “rally the parties towards a common position”, can we read in the press release. It will also act as support for school service centers and school boards that are engaged in a “negotiation sprint” with carriers.
Minister Roberge denied having let the file drag on when the start of the school year is imminent.
“We started in May, in the spring, to negotiate with carriers. There are several contracts that were already concluded. There are contracts that are signed every day, ”he argued, indicating that less than half of the agreements remained to be settled.
“The important thing is [que les contrats] are all signed before the start of the school year,” insisted Mr. Roberge, refusing to reveal the exact number of agreements still pending.
According to the ministry, several student transport contracts ended on June 30 and renewals are slow to be concluded due to many factors, including inflation, which affects business operating costs and the shortage of labor. work that could lead to service disruptions in certain regions.
On the side of the Federation of School Service Centers of Quebec (FCSSQ), we say we are ready to “deploy contingency measures”. If we exclude the possibility of postponing the start of the school year or offering distance learning courses, it is suggested that public transport could be taken advantage of or that childcare services could be offered to allow parents to drop off their children and return. look for them.
The FCSSQ mentions that each school day without bus transportation saves approximately $5 million, which gives service centers leeway to fund replacement measures.
In its press release, the federation said it welcomed the appointment of Me Sauvageau and said it was “reassured” by the continuation of the negotiations. She hopes that these steps of Quebec will allow “to conclude contractual agreements with the carriers according to the budgetary envelope available”.