Member’s Statement: School Bus Distances
Mr. Speaker, it has been a tough winter for parents with school age children. The Pupil Transportation Regulation under the Education Act entitles students to travel on a school bus if they live 2.4 km from the school. Mr. Speaker, this is too far for children, particularly 4 and 5 year olds to walk in the winter time to attend school. I can imagine the outcry from members present, if we had to walk that same distance in the dead of winter to attend the House. I am assuming this decision was made to save money in the education budget. The regulation cannot stand. Young children who live 1 km from school should have access to a bus, and for older children a 1.5 km threshold would be a better threshold. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.