Sask. made 'fundamental mistake' treating STC as business, not service: researcher

The wheels on the bus just aren't rolling in Saskatchewan.

A researcher from the University of Regina has found the private sector has not stepped up to fill the transportation gap left in Saskatchewan two years after government shuttered the Saskatchewan Transportation Company.

The provincial government closed the STC after it determined it would cost $85.5 million in subsidies to keep the wheels turning on STC over a five year period.

"The government expected the private players to come and step in all the routes that the STC previously supported," said Chandrakant Rane, a grad student working on his executive masters of business administration at the U of R.

"My finding was that most of the players are trying to make money in the busy corridor, between Moose Jaw, Regina and Saskatoon."

Speaking with numerous people affected by the STC shutdown, including users, municipal and rural representatives, former STC employees and entrepreneurs, Rane'sresearch found people are still suffering because of the closure.

He feels the government didn't create an appropriate "ecosystem" to attract private transportation companies to address the need. He estimates there are between five and six transportation companies operating in Saskatchewan and he had spoken to four, which he said are "small players" and are struggling.

He said the government should introduce incentives for transportation companies to come to Saskatchewan, like subsidies and changes to policy that would make them easier to operate.Ranefeels the government's "fundamental mistake" was looking at STC as a business as opposed to a public service.

Asked for comment on the project, Minister of Crown Investments Corporation Joe Hargrave's office provided a statement saying it would bereviewing the research.

"In the meantime, our position hasn't changed," the statement said.

"The decision to shut down STC was a very difficult one for the Government of Saskatchewan. Continuing to operate STC was going to cost the government and taxpayers an estimated $85 million in subsidies over the next five years."

The government saidSTC's ridership had been "steadily declining," falling by 77 per cent since 1980, 35 per cent since 2012 and 10 per cent during its last year of operation.

"A number of private sector companies currently offer transportation services across the province," the statement said. "We remain hopeful the private sector will identify business opportunities to serve markets where there is demand."

Several groups of people were affected by the closure, including seniors, people with disabilities, chronically ill residents and low income earners in Saskatchewan. The closure also hurt the bottom line for some businesses who relied on the STC for freight.

Rusty Cameron ownsRusty's Wild Rice near Hudson Bay. He has seen sales cut roughly "in half" since the STC closed,as those ordering his product are not willing to pay the more expensive freight, which jumped from roughly $25 withSTC to about $50 through the mail.

"It's basically doubling our freight," said Cameron, who was headed out to work in the rice fields on Friday morning.

"The price of the rice is great. They love the price of the rice but the price of the freight, they just can't handle. That's what's really hurt us."

Cameron said he'd like to see the government reconsider reversing "what they've done," but isn't holding out hope, as assets involving STC were sold.

Ryan Meili, leader of the provicial opposition NDP,said in a news release released Friday that if the NDP were elected, his government would bring back the bus company.

"We owe it to the people of Saskatchewan to restore this essential service," the statement read.