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TWO COUNCILLORS LEAVING
SCHOOL BUS DRIVER SHORTAGES POSSIBLE THIS YEAR
For the CTSE, the shortage has been far less of a concern. According to director of transportation Yan St. Louis, the operators they work with have been able to fill vacant positions. “At this point we have 99 per cent of our routes covered,” said St. Louis. “We have been fortunate to not experience the same shortages as others.” Concerns over driver availability predates the pandemic, according to Murray. She believes the challenges facing bus drivers and operators were exacerbated by COVID, highlighting the demands of the job. In an effort to reduce pressure on drivers and help service gaps, STEO is taking on a more active role in supporting bus operators to hire more drivers. “We are assisting them with recruitment, retention and engagement of drivers,” said Murray. “We are making efforts and working with operators is ways we haven’t in the past. I want to assure parents that we are doing everything we can to offset the impact on families.” Parents should have a way to get kids to school should buses be cancelled. “Having a Plan B in place always makes the family better those morning when service may not be provided,” said Murray. “We know it’s not ideal, but we want to be trans- parent and honest with the school boards and parents.” The CTSE transported 9,203 students, in the 2020-2021 school year according to its annual reports, at a cost of more than $4,000,000 to the CEPEO and $11,000,000 to the CSDCEO. STEO reported over $47,000,000 in actual revenue for their 2019 fiscal year, the most recent financial report available.
JOSEPH COPPOLINO joseph.coppolino@eap.on.ca
With the 2022-2023 school year just around the corner, Student Transportation of Eastern Ontario (STEO), the consortium of operators responsible for organizing bus services for the region’s English school boards, continues to scramble to find bus drivers. While the Consortium de Transport Sco- laire de l’Est (CTSE), responsible for the French school boards, sees little concern. The STEO and CTSE are responsible for providing transportation to approximately 40,000 students from the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) and Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario (CSDBEO), and the Conseil Scolaire de Dis- trict de l’Est Ontario (CSDCEO) and Conseil des École Publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario (CEPEO), respectively. The STEO is predicting 30 routes wit- hout driverss across its service area. STEO Chief Administrative Officer Janet Murray is confident contingencies in place will be able to cover the routes should they not be filled by September. “We are in the fortuitous situation of having operators with spare drivers who can fill gaps,” said Murray. “Often, a lot of the staff at bus companies are licensed to be drivers. So, they have mechanics, office staff or the owners themselves who can provide coverage.” A worst-case scenario is a driver may have to cover more than one route, causing students to be late for school in the morning or waiting longer for a pick-up.
Les conseillers Cindy Saucier et André Brisson ne font pas campagne pour leur réélection cette année. -photo d’archive
CHRISTOPHER SMITH christopher.smith@eap.on.ca
and we are looking at having more time to travel, et cetera, and be with family.” Mayor Pierre Leroux has been acclaimed to his position for another four years. That leaves four councillor positions open for the October ballot. Councillors Mike Tarnowski and Jamie Laurin are both running for re-election. Com- peting against them for a place on council are candidates Charles Armstrong, Tony Baas, Lisa Deacon, Eric Greer, and Marc Lalonde. “There are some good candidates running and I believe Russell Township will be in good hands,” said Saucier. “I have lived here 35 years, but I believe I have a different vision for Russell Township. It is time to move on.”
Only two out of four Russell Township councillors are running for re-election. Two councillors are leaving Russell Township council this year for sure. The nomination period is officially closed, and councillors Cindy Saucier and André Brisson have decided not to run for re-election this year. “I did two terms, and [it’s] time to get some new candidates on council,” said Sau- cier. “Also, if I commit to four more years, I would be 70 and I have been experiencing some high blood pressure which I think will lower with less stress. My husband is retired
P002954-1
ÉLECTIONS MUNICIPALES ET SCOLAIRES 2022 RÉVISIONS À LA LISTE ÉLECTORALE
2022 MUNICIPAL AND SCHOOL ELECTIONS REVISIONS TO THE VOTERS’ LIST
La liste électorale, préparée selon l’article 23 de la Loi de 1996 sur les élections municipales , est disponible dans les bureaux du greffier municipal à compter du
Les électeurs sont invités à l’examiner afin de vérifier que leur nom et autres renseignements pertinents y sont convenablement inscrits. Tout électeur peut faire une demande d’ajout, de correction ou de radiation en remplissant un formulaire au bureau du greffier. Présentation d’une pièce d’identité sera requise.
The list of electors (Voters’ List) prepared under Section 23 of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 will be available in the Clerk’s office, at the Municipal Hall on
Electors should examine the list to ensure that their name and relevant information are correctly shown. Applications for additions, corrections or deletions from the list may be made by an elector by completing and filing a form obtainable at the office of the Clerk. Presentation of identification will be required.
1 SEPTEMBRE 2022
SEPTEMBER 1, 2022
The last day for filing applications concerning additions, corrections or deletions shall be OCTOBER 24, 2022
Dernier jour pour la réception des demandes d’ajout, de correction ou de radiation: LE 24 OCTOBRE 2022 MUNICIPALITÉ GREFFIER MUNICIPAL OU PERSONNEL ÉLECTORAL
MUNICIPAL CLERK OR ELECTION OFFICIAL Sébastien Dion 751 St-Jean Street, P.O. Box 710 Casselman (Ontario) K0A 1M0 www.casselman.ca
MUNICIPALITY
TELEPHONE
TÉLÉPHONE
Sébastien Dion 751, rue St-Jean, P.O. Box 710 Casselman (Ontario) K0A 1M0 www.casselman.ca Josée Brizard 958, route 500 ouest Casselman (Ontario) K0A 1M0 www.nationmun.ca Joanne Camiré Laflamme 717, rue Notre Dame Embrun (Ontario) K0A 1W1 www.russell.ca
613 764-3139 ext. 206
613 764-3139 poste 206
Municipality of Casselman
Municipalité de Casselman
Josée Brizard 958 Road 500 West Casselman, ON K0A 1M0 www.nationmun.ca Joanne Camiré Laflamme 717 Notre Dame Street Embrun, ON K0A 1W1 www.russell.ca
613 764-4444 ext. 235
613 764-4444 poste 235
The Nation Municipality
Municipalité de La Nation
613 443-3066 ext. 2310
613 443-3066 poste 2310
Township of Russell
Canton de Russell
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