Insurance rates could impact school bus service in Alberta: contractor association
Hundreds of school buses could soon be off the road, the Alberta School Bus Contractors’ Association says.
“Already with a hike of insurance, our company was in debt. Now starting Nov. 1, this second wave of insurance hike will create a deeper debt,” school bus contractor Chantal Frechette said.“Small contractors were hit the hardest. They saw an increase of 358 per cent. They went from approximately $1,200 a bus to $4,300 a bus,” Alberta School Bus Contractors’ Association president Mark Critch said.With insurance renewals a week away, Frechette expects rates to be even higher.
“The government has a responsibility to step up and to make sure kids can get to and from school safely. They also have a responsibility around regulating the insurance industry,” NDP critic Sarah Hoffman said.