Lake Country Mayor Blair Ireland took an opportunity at council害羞草研究所檚 Feb. 21 regular meeting, to drive home a message to BC Transit leadership.

Representatives from the Crown corporation provided council with an update on the Kelowna Regional Transit System (KRTS).

After the presentation, Ireland said they needed to discuss the elephant in the room.

害羞草研究所淭he contractor is taking money out of our community overseas which is exactly what happens,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淎nywhere else in the world that money would be reinvested in the infrastructure for that business. It害羞草研究所檚 not a profit centre.害羞草研究所�

KRTS is currently operated by Swedish company First Transit which signed a deal to sell its operations to French-based Transdev Group in October 2022.

READ MORE: 害羞草研究所楢nother foreign company害羞草研究所� looks to take over Kelowna regional transit: Union

Ireland told the representatives that BC Transit needs to take a strong look at the KRTS is operated.

害羞草研究所淵our leadership really needs to hear that we need them to remove these contractors so that we can do this job properly and reinvest in our communities in our own country.害羞草研究所�

The mayor added that his comments were not a reflection of BC Transit but, again, of the contractor.

害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 why we have issues, that害羞草研究所檚 why we can害羞草研究所檛 keep bus drivers. Bus drivers don害羞草研究所檛 get paid enough to do what they害羞草研究所檙e doing,害羞草研究所� said Ireland.

BC Transit is seeking support from Central Okanagan municipalities as it applies for federal government grants to upgrade the aging Hardy Road bus yard and begin the design and planning for a new facility proposed for Hollywood Road.

READ MORE: A tale of two yards: Millions needed for new and old Kelowna transit facilities

gary.barnes@kelownacapnews.com
Like us on and follow us on and subscribe to our daily and subscribe to our daily newsletter.