Past-President's Message
Angus McKay
A time of unprecedented change is upon our industry. I use the word “our” because providing excellence in school bus services is the mantra of every Ontario operator I have met whether they operate 2, 20, 200 or 2,000+ vehicles. The Ontario school transportation industry is able to boast about our enviable service and safety record to the students and parents of this great province because of the dedication, and the blood, sweat and tears of every driver, mechanic, dispatcher, support staff member and operator.
We must remember our role as partners in the education system. Student transportation is critical to making the Ontario school system work efficiently and effectively. We are critical partners in helping Ontario’s school children learn and develop as the leaders of tomorrow. The voice of experience is on our side; more importantly, the voice of passion. We are the face of education on the roads of Ontario and we are leaders in the communities we serve. We will remain leaders in student transportation despite the massive changes being thrust upon us - changes that some feel threaten our very existence. After all, each of us cares deeply about the 800,000 students we transport twice a day SAFELY, SECURELY, ON TIME and READY TO LEARN.
Recent developments from the Ontario government on competitive procurement policies have caused distress to many. There is still much work to be done before we can cross the finish line. After speaking with many of you, I know that together we will continue to provide and improve upon the quality of service we have supplied for almost 60 years. We cannot do it alone. More than ever before, we must stand united and actively share our knowledge, passion, concern, and recommended solutions with all of our stakeholders. Who better to share the trials and tribulations operators endure than ourselves?
We are indeed fortunate to have an excellent working relationship with Ministry staff both within the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Transportation. We will continue to partner with them.
While the road ahead is not without obstacles, we must build on our current momentum as the voice of student transportation in Ontario. In the months ahead we must maintain our focus on investing in and retaining professional drivers (we continue to face a huge disparity between school bus and transit drivers), ensuring adequate funding, and advocating for procurement options that ensure operators' needs are met. At the same time we must preserve the safety and stability of the school bus industry for the students of Ontario.
It is our responsibility to make sure the students of Ontario continue to receive the safest transportation available as they have been privileged to receive for many years. Providing a stable environment for our children to get from home to school and back again safely, continuously developing and improving safety programs, performing regularly scheduled maintenance, and always monitoring our daily operations to help make the ride that much safer is what we do. The dedication of our exceptional employees and our many community partners helps us to attain our goals and reach new heights.
The goal for 2010 is not to maintain the status quo, but to surpass it. Winston Churchill has said, “There is nothing wrong with change, if it is in the right direction”. There are many ways of moving forward, but only one way of standing still. If we stand still, we lose the opportunity to improve the quality of service that has built our reputations for many years.
I would like to thank every operator, driver, mechanic, dispatcher, trainer, bus washer and any other staff member for their dedication to the industry. I also want to thank School Boards and Consortia who partner with us, and all the various government agencies that assist us in being the best that we can be. Finally, I would also like to thank the Board of Directors, our OSBA staff and others working with us for their dedication and hard work on our behalf.
I look forward to working with every stakeholder to support the safe and reliable student transportation system we know today. We will face the challenges in front of us as we defend a stable and reliable industry.
On a personal note, we recently lost a passionate industry advocate with the passing of Stan Sinton. I had the pleasure of working with Stan on the Board of Directors for the last number of years. There was no denying his passion for the industry and his undisputable concern for all students who ride the school bus. I feel honoured to have counted Stan as a friend, colleague, and competitor. My deepest sympathies are extended to Stacey and the children, Barb & Floyd Sinton, and the entire Sinton organization. Stan, you are truly missed.
Be SAFE.
Sincerely,
Angus McKay
President, OSBA
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