We are parents and guardians of students who rely on the bus service provided by Simcoe County Student Transportation Consortium and Simcoe County School Board. We are collectively raising concerns regarding the unacceptable and consistent failure of the school transportation system. Our children have been subjected to delays, cancellations, and unsafe waiting conditions for extended periods, which have negatively impacted their education, health, and our ability to meet work and family responsibilities.

We believe the current situation violates the Education Act, Occupational Health and Safety Act and our basic right to reliable transportation. Below, we outline the specific issues:

1. Chronic Delays and Cancellations:
The bus service has been late over 30 times this school year alone, causing significant disruptions to our children’s education.
Delays often extend beyond the 15-minute window.
2. Unsafe Waiting Conditions:
Our children have been forced to wait outside in freezing temperatures, snow, rain, and other extreme weather conditions without shelter, sometimes for over 45 minutes at a time.
This exposure has led to illnesses and health problems among our children and ourselves, as we are often forced to wait alongside them.
3. Job Loss and Financial Hardship:
Due to the unreliable bus service, many of us have been late for work multiple times, resulting in lost jobs and financial hardship.
We are often forced to make last-minute alternative arrangements, which disrupts our professional responsibilities and further strains our family resources.
4. Inconsistent Communication:
We have received minimal communication from the school bus company or the school board regarding these issues. The lack of transparency and inconsistent updates only exacerbate our frustration and the uncertainty regarding when the bus will arrive.
5. Violation of Educational Rights:
Our children’s education has been disrupted due to missed school days or late arrivals. This ongoing failure of the school transportation system is interfering with our children's right to a full and consistent education, as outlined in the Education Act.

Our Demands:
As concerned parents and guardians, we demand the following immediate actions to address this issue:

Reliable and Timely Bus Service: We request that the bus company and school board take immediate steps to ensure buses are on time and reliable, with a clear communication system in place for delays.

Safe Waiting Conditions: We demand that buses arrive promptly and that children are not forced to wait in dangerous weather conditions. Appropriate measures must be taken to ensure safe, comfortable, and timely waiting arrangements for children.

Accountability and Compensation: We request that the school board and bus company account for the disruptions caused to our children’s education and our own financial stability. 


We ask that Simcoe County Student Transportation Consortium and Simcoe County School Board take immediate action to resolve these issues and provide our children with the reliable, safe, and timely transportation they deserve.

If these issues are not addressed promptly, we will consider taking further legal action, including the filing of a class action lawsuit to ensure that our children’s rights are protected.

***For anyone who is confused of education regulations and laws in Ontario:

When a school board plans to build a new school, for example—Wasaga Beach Public School—it must submit a capital plan to the Ministry of Education. This plan typically includes considerations for student transportation, such as bus routes and capacity. The Ministry reviews these plans to ensure that all aspects, including transportation, are adequately addressed before approving funding for construction. 

The school board, in partnership with its consortium, should have conducted a transportation impact assessment and workforce analysis.
Failure to do this—or to act on known shortages—is a failure of due diligence. Which is NEGLIGENT. 

Situations led to student safety risks or denied access to education—parents and community members may lodge formal complaints with the school board, the transportation consortium, or escalate to the Ontario Ombudsman, who has oversight over school boards and transportation issues. (ALL OF WHICH WE HAVE DONE).

If these issues are not resolved—parents have a right to file a class action lawsuit for negligence.