Murray Wood: Who's hot and who's not
Every Friday, Murray Wood takes a look at the week's news and decides who's hot and who's not. This week's list includes...
The wheels on the bus aren’t going round these days.
Students at all Regina public and Catholic schools made the switch to remote learning Monday, with the divisions citing issues around COVID-19 such as increased case numbers.
It means bus drivers in the city are temporarily out of work.
“There is no job if there’s no school,” said bus driver Vanessa Ranger.
“Christmas and summer and Easter break and all that stuff, we’re already prepared for that. This is just some extra time that we weren’t expecting to have taken from us.”
Regina Public Schools announced Dec. 7 it would be moving kids from the classroom to online learning from today through Jan. 8, with a pause for the holiday break.
The next day, the Catholic division followed suit, saying its students also would learn virtually from today until Jan. 8.
Ranger explained these decisions are leaving her uncertain about the future.
“I understand it from the school divisions’ point of view,” she said. “They’re looking out for the safety of the kids, but it’s hard for me, just my personal situation, because I don’t know is it going to be a week? Is it going to be a month? How long am I without work?”
She said because bus drivers are considered seasonal workers, applying for government assistance like Employment Insurance may not be an option.
The provincial government has hinted that further COVID measures could be enacted as case numbers grow. Premier Scott Moe and Saskatchewan’s chief medical health officer, Dr. Saqib Shahab, are to hold a news conference about COVID on Monday at 3 p.m.
