The official opposition says a simple amendment to school bus policy could address major transportation concerns for parents, but the government claims the change is not possible.
PC Education Critic Paul Dinn says the current policy prevents school buses from picking up children at childcare centres, even when those centres are located along established bus routes with multiple students attending.
Dinn proposes a simple policy change that would allow parents to provide a childcare address in addition to their home address when registering for the school year, enabling bus routes to be established accordingly.
However, when Dinn approached the government with the proposal, he was told it falls outside the scope of the Schools Act and is not within the government’s legislative authority.
Dinn disputes this claim, arguing that under the very same act, the minister has the power to issue policy directives regarding the transportation of students.
