Lake Country Mayor Blair Ireland took an opportunity at council乌鸦传媒檚 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.

乌鸦传媒淭he contractor is taking money out of our community overseas which is exactly what happens,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淎nywhere else in the world that money would be reinvested in the infrastructure for that business. It乌鸦传媒檚 not a profit centre.乌鸦传媒�

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: 乌鸦传媒楢nother foreign company乌鸦传媒� 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.

乌鸦传媒淵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.乌鸦传媒�

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

乌鸦传媒淭hat乌鸦传媒檚 why we have issues, that乌鸦传媒檚 why we can乌鸦传媒檛 keep bus drivers. Bus drivers don乌鸦传媒檛 get paid enough to do what they乌鸦传媒檙e doing,乌鸦传媒� 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.