P.E.I. facing 'serious' shortage of school bus drivers
CBC News | Posted: November 29, 2014 2:28 AM | Last Updated: November 29, 2014
Province is considering providing loans to drivers so they can pay for the $4,000 training
Questions were raised Thursday in the P.E.I. legislature about a shortage of school bus drivers and substitute drivers.
Education Minister Alan McIsaac says the problem is bus driver training costs about $4,000 and people don’t want to shell out the money if there is not a job waiting for them.
As a result, the province is considering paying some of the upfront costs and then having the drivers pay them back through the money they earn.
“We are looking at whatever ways possible to make sure that we do fill that gap because there is presently a serious shortage,” said McIsaac.
Independent PC MLA Olive Crane suggested the Island’s school boards should be allowed to apply for new provincial training funds to train substitute bus drivers.