AMAN Singh, BC NDP candidate for Richmond-Queensborough, on Tuesday announced that a dedicated school bus service to and from Queensborough to New Westminster Secondary School will be made permanent and the fees for more than 230 teenagers will be removed.

The bus pilot program started earlier this year to ensure that students with home addresses in Queensborough could get to high school on public transportation. The BC NDP will also fund the program so that families no longer have to pay the $30 a month fee.

“Ensuring that families and students can rely on this bus program for free with help families with their costs. And it means that they can travel to and from school safely without worrying about walking over a bridge,” said Singh.

A TransLink school bus was cut by BC Conservative Leader John Rustad’s BC Liberal government in 2013. In 2023, the BC NDP government announced a school bus pilot program for students.

“John Rustad’s previous government cut bus service and then dragged their feet on getting support for students. We’ll continue to support families in Queensborough. Parents in our communities deserve a government that’s on your side,” said Singh.

Jennifer Whiteside, BC NDP candidate for New Westminster-Coquitlam, said: “Ensuring students have a safe, reliable way to get to school while saving families money is the right thing to do. This program is about investing in our children’s future and making sure families in Queensborough have access to the services they need to thrive.”

Maya Russell, School Trustee in New Westminster, said: “I’ve heard from families that this bus service has been a huge relief. Providing a reliable, safe way to get to school saves families time and stress. This funding  is a relief and provides certainty going forward.”