Transit Dispute Tied

to Deeper Social issues

Citizen Letter of the Day, Sept. 24, 1996, Rev. Brian Kopke Bus drivers have voted to strike. Less than a year ago, Ottawa-Carleton regional government joined the Harris government bandwagon and stuck it to the needy by cutting $1 million in bus pass subsidies for the poor. That million dollars went directly to OC Transpo, but now it does not. As I read through the monthly reports of community chaplaincy and local social action groups, I was struck by the statements that there are many people not attending adult high school because they can not afford the $46 for a bus pass. It is a sorry state of affairs when the government is shortsighted and politically expedient, and our communities begin to fester with problems that will increase social costs in health, policing, and social work in the not-too-distant future. The real question centres on what type of community we want: one with programs to deal with micreant teens and adults, or one filled with programs giving kids a head start, fostering education at all levels and using money creatively so that there is a double payback, as there was with the bus subsidy. This threat of a bus strike is directly tied to political decisions to diminish entitlements. Whatever happened to the wisdom of "an ounce of prevention" or "a stitch in time saves nine?"

Last Update: July 31, 2000
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