Busing policy contested in courts
Article content
Industry insiders say government mandated changes to the RFP (Request For Proposal) process will lead to higher transportation costs for school boards and reduce safety records.
The Ontario government had hoped to introduce its new RFP process across the province this fall but a series of lawsuits has put the brakes on those plans.
However, some school boards adapted the process early and are already finding it hikes up costs, says Ontario Independent School Bus Operators Association (ISBOA) executive director Karen Cameron.
“The London board went ahead with the RFP process two years ago and found busing costs were initially reduced, but it's a false savings that won't last," she said.
Small bus lines frequently provide some services free-of-charge and that's not the case with large companies, according to Cameron.
Small bus line operators say that because school busing is a sole-purpose industry with one customer, over time competitive tendering will destroy the existing market by creating large monopolies.
Cameron estimates about 30 small bus companies have folded in regions of Ontario where the RFP process is used because they keep losing routes to big corporations.
“No family business can survive. RFPs are causing catastrophic losses,” Cameron said.
Premier Kathleen Wynne was education minister when the new process was put in place.
“She assured us the process would be fair for all operators,” said Cameron. “We've seen that is absolutely not the case.
“She introduced a business model that only big business can handle.”
Rose Ravin agrees. She and Guy Ravin operate F.L. Ravin Limited from an office just west of Tillsonburg on Brownsville Road that once had 19 bus routes but is down to six in Elgin County because of the RFP process.
“We lost more than 60 per cent of our income and we're barely hanging on,” Rose Ravin said, noting they had to sell their facility on Rouse Street in Tillsonburg.
She encourages people to visit the ISBOA website at www.isboa.ca for more information on the issue.
“It has a lot of documentation,” she said.
ISBOA, which has more than 100 independent school bus operator members, have been in five court actions so far and five judges have ruled in favour of small bus operators, including Epoch’s Garage (on behalf of four operators), and F.L. Ravin.
According to the ISBOA website, the most recent award, made by Justice Mary Jo M. Nolan in Windsor on August 30, was $190,000 in costs made in favour of plaintiffs Neil Badder (Aylmer) and Rose Ravin (Tillsonburg), against defendant Southwestern Ontario Student Transportation Services.
Sarnia's Bruce Grand says he's concerned the Liberal government's new way of contracting school bus services will kill smaller operators and put longstanding companies out of business.
“In Lambton and Kent, we all get along so well right now,” said Grand, who is location manager for First Student Canada bus lines in Sarnia, Chatham and Wallaceburg.
“We don't cut each others' throats and that's how we want it to stay.”
Historically, local school bus operators negotiated with their school boards on price and the number of routes. They worked with a constant list of drivers that they knew and trusted.
But the new RFP process is pushing the small guy out because big corporate bus lines are better equipped to make winning bids, as well as the investment if they win the contract.
“What small operator can afford to buy all these buses for all these routes if you win the contract?” asked Grand.
“You buy buses one year that you don't need the next. Families can't make those kinds of investments.”
In Lambton, there are four operators while Chatham Kent has five.
“We haven't lost any but we will if the RFP process isn't stopped,” Grand said.
Cameron said the public should be paying attention.
“The government bureaucrats that are pushing the RFP process aren't taking into account safe service and great value from the family operators.”
Many small operators are watching what happens Nov. 4 when a small bus line from Perth (eastern Ontario) argues in Superior Court that the RFP process is unfair.
“We're just trying to survive and see the outcome of the Nov. 4 trial,” said Ravin.
– with files from Chris Abbott