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Rural seniors hit hard by STC shutdown

Mar 24, 2017 | 12:04 PM

Elsi Kowalenko takes a Saskatchewan Transportation Company (STC)  bus once a month from Perdue to Saskatoon for medical appointments. But now, the 92-year-old will have to find a different way to get around.

Kowalenko was one of the many people who found out Wednesday afternoon the government cut the service to save $85 million over five years.

“A lot of seniors like myself depend on the service,” she said.

Monica Anderson’s 85-year-old father also uses STC, taking the bus from Kyle to Saskatoon because he can’t drive.

“Now my sister and I are going to have to bring him to his appointments which will take up four hours of my day,” she said. 

Although Kowalenko is upset, she understands why the government made the decision.

“There have been a number of times where it’s just the bus driver and me on that great big bus,” she said. 

Amanda Kaweski’s partner is one of the 224 people out of work.

The 28-year-old worked at STC for 11 years and is the family’s main income provider.

“The thing that worries me financially right now is our vehicle payments,” she said. “If we can’t make them, what’s going to happen? Our vehicles get taken, resulting in fewer employment opportunities.”

“For them to slap this out there with no notice, no talk about it, it’s just a major blow.”

Editor’s Note: A previous version of this story stated Amanda Kaweski’s partner was the family’s only income provider. It has been changed to reflect he is the main income provider.

 

jmarshall@rawlco.com

On Twitter: @JTMarshallCKOM