OSTA won't compensate parents for cancelled school bus routes

The authority providing school bus service to students in Ottawa's English public and Catholic school boards says it's saving money after cancellinghundreds of routesdue to a driver shortage, but can't use that money to compensate parents because it'sbeing used to hire more drivers.

Last month, the Ottawa Student Transportation Authority (OSTA) saidithad to cancel 300 bus routesbecause itcouldn't hire enough drivers, leaving the families of roughly 7,600 students scramblingto find alternativeways to school.

In a news release issued Tuesday, OSTA said it "does save some money through withheld payments for services not provided," but is using that money to get new drivers from other transportation operatorsin the region.

"Unfortunately, OSTA does not have funds to compensate parents and guardians paying to transport their children to school following a bus cancellation.Even with repurposed savings,OSTA has a $6.5 million budget deficit," the release said.

OSTA said the Ottawa Catholic School BoardandOttawa-Carleton District School Board are asking families suffering financially to contact their school principal, who "will work with them to find solutions to help address their individual concerns."