Province is playing Russian Roulette with students' lives

Isabelle Hains and Delalene Harris Foran, President of CUPE 1253 speak to the media at a press conference held December 1, 2010 in Fredericton.

Calls for action in school transportation safety

(Bathurst, NB - December 17, 2010) - A Bathurst mother whose son was killed along with seven others in a tragic passenger van collision three years ago says the province is "playing Russian Roulette" with the lives of students who travel to extra-curricular events.

Isabelle Hains says that a December 11 incident involving a vehicle carrying a hockey team from Dalhousie to Miramichi shows that the safe transportation of students to extra-curricular activities "is not the top priority of the New Brunswick Department of Education."

"All I know is that the Department of Education says one thing, and the reality is another," says Hains. "Children continue to be transported to extra-curricular activities in unsafe vehicles and I am left with no other conclusion than they're just waiting for another tragedy to occur."

In the most recent incident, the wheel nuts on two back tires of a Multi Function Activity Bus (MFAB) transporting a hockey team from Dalhousie to Miramichi were found to be loose after the driver noticed the vehicle wasn't operating properly. The MFAB is operated by the École Aux Quatre Vents in Dalhousie. The MFAB passed a Motor Vehicle Inspection on November 30 at which time it had winter tires installed. According to reports, the person (not the driver) responsible for the MFAB was supposed to bring the vehicle back into the garage and have the tires checked before it reached 80 kms but it appears this was never done. Meantime, the vehicle was used for nearly two weeks before the loose wheel nuts were noticed on December 11.

Hains wants to know who was responsible and what the Minister of Education is going to do about it. She says she is worried that the system designed to protect students in the wake of the Bathurst tragedy is in the hands of volunteers who may be well intentioned, but who "lack the professionalism and skill to carry through with the very serious burden that has been placed on their shoulders."

"I wonder if the person who was supposed to bring the MFAB back to the garage after 80 kms was a teacher who, in addition to his or her regular duties, has been assigned the responsibility of making sure the vehicle is maintained properly," asks Hains. "If it is a teacher or another volunteer, then the time is long overdue for a new approach to student safety in New Brunswick."

Hains says this is the second time in one month that students' lives were endangered and she asks if the Department is willing to accept another Boys in Red Tragedy before doing the right thing and hiring professional, Class 2 Drivers, as called for in the Bathurst Coroners Inquest of May 2009.

Calling the Dalhousie incident "unforgiveable", she says the province has to get serious about student transportation safety if it expects to have the confidence of parents who allow their children to participate in school sports.

Hains has been lobbying the provincial and federal governments for improved school transportation safety since the Boys in Red tragedy in January, 2008. On December 1, she met with the Minister of Education, Jody Carr and Minister of Public Safety, Robert Trevors, to discuss a November 25 incident in Sackville where 60 children were transported to Halifax in chartered buses with worn tires.

Within days of the November 25 incident, Prestige Bus Service of Sackville was barred from transporting New Brunswick students and was facing charges in Nova Scotia. Hains was asking for charges to be laid by the NB Department of Public Safety under the Motor Vehicle Act and for District Superintendent, Karen Branscrombe, to be reprimanded by the NB Minister of Education for failing to fulfill her duties as called for in the Education Act.

In his response, the Minister of Education promised to form a stakeholders group in the new year with a view to discussing the problems and solutions to student transportation safety. At the same time, the Minister of Public Safety said the bus company was under investigation.

But in a report released December 3, Jody Carr concluded that Education Department employees followed policy in the Sackville incident and that there would be no reprimand for anyone.

And nearly one month later, the NB Department of Public Safety has yet to lay charges against Prestige Bus Services.

Hains says the Dalhousie incident shows that the time has long since passed for discussion. “It’s time for action and as the parent of a child who was killed because of unsafe school transportation practices I intend to make sure that the victims voices are heard every step of the way.”

- 30 -

For further information, please contact:

Isabelle Hains
506-546-6370
info@vanangels.ca
www.VanAngels.ca

Plastic Rings on Tires Make Buses Safer

Checking the bright green rings is a required step when bus drivers inspect their buses before they go on the road in Houston, Texas.

From the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Houston, Texas.

A loose wheel nut on a tire can spell disaster if you're driving a bus.

Now METRO has installed tiny, neon-green triangular rings that are giving passengers a safer ride. Wheel-Check is a loose wheel-nut indicator. The plastic rings sit on top of lug nuts.

Click here to read the full story on Metro Blog

"If all goes well with the lug nuts, the Wheel-Checks will all point in the same direction," said Larry Hewitt, METRO director of maintenance support functions. "If a lug nut becomes loose, then the Wheel-Checks will point out of position or sequence."

Each ring cost 32 cents and allows bus operators to do a simple visual check to find out if a lug nut is loose. Wheel-Checks are also heat sensitive and can signal hot-wheel conditions caused by a tight brake or wheel bearing problem. If the temperature soars higher than 248 degrees Fahrenheit, the circumference of the ring will blister and distort.

News889: Bus Drivers Union President on Tom Young Show to discuss Dalhousie Hockey Team Bus Tire incident

Delalene Harris-Foran, President CUPE 1253 (responsible for Yellow School Bus Drivers) will appear on the Tom Young Show at 3:00 pm today to talk about the most recent incident involving a group of hockey players from Dalhousie who had to be removed from a MFAB when the driver noticed the back wheel was loose.

Please note, we are told this morning by the Minister of Education Jody Carr that an investigation into this latest near miss is underway to determine who is responsible for making sure that winter tires which have been changed by the DOT have been properly torqued.

Click here to listen to the Tom Young Show live at 3 pm!

http://www.news889.com/

Click here to read original article on CUPE Website

Another Bus Tire Incident in NB! Tire almost falls off bus carrying hockey team: Minister says investigation underway

Isabelle Hains and Delalene Harris Foran speak to the media at a press conference held December 1, 2010 in Fredericton to discuss the Sackville bus tire incident.

UPDATE: We have been advised this morning by Education Minister Jody Carr that an investigation into this newest bus tire incident is underway.

CUPE 1253 renews its call for action on school bus use

“We can’t ask volunteer drivers to be responsible for the maintenance of the vehicle. This time, we were fortunate that the driver was a professional school bus driver and decided to stop to inspect the wheels.”

Click here to read original article on CUPE Website

The union representing school bus drivers, CUPE Local 1253, is concerned about another incident that happened during the transport of students for an extra-curricular activity.

“One of our professional bus drivers, who is also a driver-trainer, was asked to take the Aux Quatre Vents school hockey team to Miramichi. On his way back, he noticed the multi-function activity bus was not handling right. He decided to pull over to the side of the road and discovered that the nuts on the back wheels were loose”, explained the president of the New Brunswick Council of School District Unions (CUPE 1253), Delalene Harris Foran.

“The driver decided to have the bus towed back to Bathurst and parents had to come and pick up their kids.”

“Apparently, the bus had been inspected in November and all new tires were put on, but nobody took the bus back to have the wheel nuts torqued”, explained Harris Foran.

“We can’t ask volunteer drivers to be responsible for the maintenance of the vehicle. This time, we were fortunate that the driver was a professional school bus driver and decided to stop to inspect the wheels.”

“This is the second time in less than a month that a bus transporting students to extra-curricular activities had to be pulled off the road for safety reasons.”

“Once again, we call upon the minister of Education to implement the Coroner’s Inquest recommendation that only Class 2-B professional school bus drivers using school buses be used to transport children at extra-curricular activities at all times”, concluded Harris Foran.

Click here to read original article on CUPE Website

YouTube Interview with Isabelle Hains with Blogger Charles LeBlanc

Candle Lighting Second Sunday in December in Honour of Beloved Children

Candles are lit at the site of the Boys in Red tragedy on the one year anniversary, January 12, 2009.

For the 14th year in a row, candles will be lit on the second Sunday in December to honour beloved children who are no longer with us. The Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting unites family and friends around the globe in lighting candles for one hour to honor and remember children who have died at any age from any cause. As candles are lit at 7 p.m. local time, creating a virtual wave of light, hundreds of thousands of persons commemorate and honor the memory of children in a way that transcends all ethnic, cultural, religious, and political boundaries.

http://www.compassionatefriends.org/news_events/Worldwide_Candle_Lighting.aspx

NB Legislature: Liberal Education Critic Hedard Albert Asks Question about Bus Tires

http://www.gnb.ca/legis/QP/video/57-1-06_e.asx

Click on the link and at 23.10 listen to a five minute exchange in the New Brunswick Legislature between Liberal Education Critic, Hedard Albert (Caraquet) and NB Minister of Education, Jody Carr about the unsafe tires on Prestige Bus Services chartered buses which were pulled over in Nova Scotia on November 24, 2010. Mr. Albert also asked the question to NB Minister of Public Safety, Robert Trevors.

Go to 23:10

http://www.gnb.ca/legis/QP/video/57-1-06_e.asx

In his response to Albert's question, Minster Jody Carr said the "highway safety inspection services worked well."

YES, they certainly did ....in NOVA SCOTIA.

Isabelle Hains Comments on Decision by NB Education Minister Jody Carr that policies were followed in Sackville bus tire incident

"They haven't learned a thing from the death of our sons"

Daily Gleaner: Education minister believes officials followed transportation policies

A5 By SHAWN BERRY berry.shawn@dailygleaner.com

Education Minister Jody Carr says he's confident school officials acted appropriately before an incident that saw two charter buses carrying students pulled off the roads.

Click here to read original article in the Daily Gleaner

"I am satisfied that appropriate policies were followed by District 2 and Marshview Middle School to ensure student safety while on an out-of-province field trip," Carr said Friday.

Meanwhile, the Department of Public Safety continues its investigation into the incident that saw two buses owned by Prestige Bus Service of Sackville ordered off the road by authorities in Nova Scotia. The drivers were each ticketed for "operating a vehicle not equipped as required by law."

"I am awaiting the results of the Department of Public Safety's investigation into the charter company's violation of the Motor Vehicle Act," Carr said.

The Western Star: New Brunswick government says school followed policies amid bus tire concerns

FREDERICTON - New Brunswick's education minister says he's satisfied that school officials followed policies to ensure student safety after chartered buses were stopped recently in Nova Scotia over tire-tread standards.

Jody Carr says he is still awaiting results of an investigation by his province's Department of Public Safety into the incident.

Click here to read original article on the Western Star website

Two buses owned by Prestige Bus Service of Sackville, N.B., were carrying about 60 students during a field trip last week when they were stopped by Nova Scotia highway safety inspectors.

Carr has advised schools not to use the company until the investigation is complete.

He says considerable improvements have been made to policies governing student transportation, but more work remains.

Carr says the provincial government has committed to create a strategy on extra-curricular activity transportation, and he will have more to say about it early in the new year.

Click here to read original article on the Western Star website

Truro Daily News: New Brunswick government says school followed policies amid bus tire concerns

FREDERICTON - New Brunswick's education minister says he's satisfied that school officials followed policies to ensure student safety after chartered buses were stopped recently in Nova Scotia over tire-tread standards.

Jody Carr says he is still awaiting results of an investigation by his province's Department of Public Safety into the incident.

Click here to read original article in the Truro Daily News

Two buses owned by Prestige Bus Service of Sackville, N.B., were carrying about 60 students during a field trip last week when they were stopped by Nova Scotia highway safety inspectors.

Carr has advised schools not to use the company until the investigation is complete.

He says considerable improvements have been made to policies governing student transportation, but more work remains.

Carr says the provincial government has committed to create a strategy on extra-curricular activity transportation, and he will have more to say about it early in the new year.

Click here to read original article in the Truro Daily News

The Journal Pioneer: New Brunswick government says school followed policies amid bus tire concerns

FREDERICTON - New Brunswick's education minister says he's satisfied that school officials followed policies to ensure student safety after chartered buses were stopped recently in Nova Scotia over tire-tread standards.

Jody Carr says he is still awaiting results of an investigation by his province's Department of Public Safety into the incident.

Two buses owned by Prestige Bus Service of Sackville, N.B., were carrying about 60 students during a field trip last week when they were stopped by Nova Scotia highway safety inspectors.

Click here to read original article on Journal Pioneer website

Carr has advised schools not to use the company until the investigation is complete.

He says considerable improvements have been made to policies governing student transportation, but more work remains.

Carr says the provincial government has committed to create a strategy on extra-curricular activity transportation, and he will have more to say about it early in the new year.

Click here to read original article on Journal Pioneer website

The Guardian: New Brunswick government says school followed policies amid bus tire concerns

FREDERICTON - New Brunswick's education minister says he's satisfied that school officials followed policies to ensure student safety after chartered buses were stopped recently in Nova Scotia over tire-tread standards.

Jody Carr says he is still awaiting results of an investigation by his province's Department of Public Safety into the incident.

Click here to read original article on The Guardian website

Two buses owned by Prestige Bus Service of Sackville, N.B., were carrying about 60 students during a field trip last week when they were stopped by Nova Scotia highway safety inspectors.

Carr has advised schools not to use the company until the investigation is complete.

He says considerable improvements have been made to policies governing student transportation, but more work remains.

Carr says the provincial government has committed to create a strategy on extra-curricular activity transportation, and he will have more to say about it early in the new year.

Click here to read original article on The Guardian website

St. John's Telegram: New Brunswick government says school followed policies amid bus tire concerns

FREDERICTON - New Brunswick's education minister says he's satisfied that school officials followed policies to ensure student safety after chartered buses were stopped recently in Nova Scotia over tire-tread standards.

Jody Carr says he is still awaiting results of an investigation by his province's Department of Public Safety into the incident.

Two buses owned by Prestige Bus Service of Sackville, N.B., were carrying about 60 students during a field trip last week when they were stopped by Nova Scotia highway safety inspectors.

Click here to read original article on St. John's Telegram website

Carr has advised schools not to use the company until the investigation is complete.

He says considerable improvements have been made to policies governing student transportation, but more work remains.

Carr says the provincial government has committed to create a strategy on extra-curricular activity transportation, and he will have more to say about it early in the new year.

Click here to read original article on St. John's Telegram website

Global Maritimes: Mother says N.B. gov't risking student safety

FREDERICTON - A woman from northern New Brunswick whose son died in a school van crash says the provincial government is denying the safety of the province's children.

Isabelle Hains is pleading with the government to enact the remaining recommendations from a coroner's inquest into the crash nearly three years ago.

Click here to read original article on Global Maritimes website

Seven members of a high school boys' basketball team and the wife of their coach died when their van collided with a transport truck near Bathurst.

The latest call for changes follows an incident last week when two buses carrying New Brunswick students were stopped in Nova Scotia over tire-tread standards.

Education Minister Jody Carr says the government is serious about the health and safety of students.

He says he will work with Hains and review the regulations and the coroner's report.

Meanwhile, Carr says he expects to have the results of a government review into last week's incident before the end of the week.


Click here to read original article on Global Maritimes website

Tribune Post: Sackville-based bus company banned from carrying NB students

A Sackville-based bus company has been temporarily banned by New Brunswick Education Minister Jody Carr from transporting students.

The decision came as the result of an incident last week when two buses belonging to Prestige Bus Service of Sackville, which were carrying about 60 Marshview Middle School students on an educational field trip to Halifax, were stopped by Nova Scotia highway safety inspectors. One bus was stopped near the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax while the second bus was ordered off of the highway in Enfield.

Click here to read original article in the Sackville Tribune Post

Highway vehicle inspectors carried out roadside, walk-around inspections on both vehicles, which resulted in lengthy delays for the students, and subsequently found that both buses failed to meet tire-tread standards.

The tires found to be less than the regulatory tread depth limit of 3.17 millimetres, were allegedly located on what are known as ‘tag axles’, the first of two rear axles which provide additional support for unusually heavy loads. The main rear drive axle, which comprises dual wheels on each side that provide the power and force needed to move the vehicle, is located behind the ‘tag axle’.

Reports of the incident have been met with outcries by the public, some of whom are outraged by the alleged vehicle safety violations and others who believe the situation has been blown out of proportion.

A Bathurst mother who lost her teenage son in a 15 passenger van collision near Bathurst which claimed the lives of seven high school basketball players and their coach’s wife on January 12, 2008 said in an email to the Sackville Tribune-Post last week that the New Brunswick Department of Education "hasn't learned a thing" from the Boys in Red Tragedy.

Isabelle Hains says the violations for winter tire regulations are “unbelievable after everything we have been through these past three years.”

She added that she can’t believe that school children were allowed to be transported to extra curricular activities in charter buses that were not outfitted with the proper winter tires.

“…children continue to be transported to extra curricular activities in an unsafe manner," she said.

When contacted by phone on Monday, a representative for Prestige Bus Service said the company did not wish to comment on the incident at that time.

Click here to read original article in the Sackville Tribune Post

Global Winnipeg: Mother says N.B. gov't risking student safety

FREDERICTON - A woman from northern New Brunswick whose son died in a school van crash says the provincial government is denying the safety of the province's children.

Isabelle Hains is pleading with the government to enact the remaining recommendations from a coroner's inquest into the crash nearly three years ago.

Click here to read original article on Global Winnipeg

Seven members of a high school boys' basketball team and the wife of their coach died when their van collided with a transport truck near Bathurst.

The latest call for changes follows an incident last week when two buses carrying New Brunswick students were stopped in Nova Scotia over tire-tread standards.

Education Minister Jody Carr says the government is serious about the health and safety of students.

He says he will work with Hains and review the regulations and the coroner's report.

Meanwhile, Carr says he expects to have the results of a government review into last week's incident before the end of the week.

Click here to read original article on Global Winnipeg

News 88,9: Isabelle Hains on Tom Young Show Today at 3 pm

Isabelle Hains will be speaking with Todd Veinotte on the Tom Young Show today on 88.9 today at 3 pm.

Click here to listen to the program LIVE. Click on the "Listen Live" button.

Telegraph Journal: Details on incident that 'sickened' victim's mom to be released today

Isabelle Hains, a mother of one of seven Bathurst High School students killed in a school van crash three years ago, answers questions during a press conference held Wednesday afternoon at the Crowne Plaza in Fredericton. Photo by Shawn Berry

A8 SHAWN BERRY CANADAEAST NEWS SERVICE

FREDERICTON - New Brunswick's education minister is reviewing the actions of school district employees in an incident that saw two private buses carrying a group of middle school students from Sackville pulled off the road because of balding tires.

Click here to read original story in the Telegraph Journal

"That's all being reviewed right now," Jody Carr said Wednesday.

"I want to ensure first that the policies and guidelines have been followed under the district and department policies."

Carr will release details by today of his department's investigation into the incident that saw the two buses carrying 60 middle school students from Sackville ordered off the road by authorities in Nova Scotia.

In the meantime, school districts have been told not to use Prestige Bus Service of Sackville.

Carr met with Isabelle Hains, the mother of one of seven Bathurst High School students killed in a school van crash almost three years ago. She urged him to carry through with the recommendations that came out of the coroner's inquest into the tragedy.

"It's a concern to our government. We take very seriously the safety of our students," Carr said.

Paul Allen, executive director of the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board, the agency responsible for motor coaches in that province, confirmed Wednesday that the drivers of two buses belonging to Prestige Bus Service were ticketed last week under the Nova Scotia's motor vehicle act.

The drivers were each charged with "operating a vehicle not equipped as required by law." The offence carries a fine of $222.

One of the drivers told a Halifax newspaper that two worn tires on the tag axles of each bus were identified prior to departure from Sackville and a decision was made to replace them the next day.

Hains wants schools to use only school buses or multi-function mini-buses driven by qualified school bus drivers for educational or extra-curricular activities.

Hains said hearing about the latest incident gave her an anxiety attack.

"I was sickened by it...I couldn't even believe what I had heard."

Hains had high hopes going into the meeting with Carr.

"What I would love for him to say is that he will implement the coroner's inquest recommendations from the deaths of our sons and say, 'Yes, we will use yellow-school-bus drivers, yes, we will use yellow school buses and yes, we will use multi-function activity vehicles."

The safety of children shouldn't have a price tag on it, Hains said.

"They're worth anything for a parent. We would do anything for our children, but the government is not doing anything for us."

Curt Bennett's Mechanical Inspection of 15 passenger van "This vehicle would NOT have passed inspection"

Moncton Times: Concerned mother pushes for bus regulations

Education Minister Jody Carr will release information related to investigation by tomorrow

A3 BY SHAWN BERRY TIMES & TRANSCRIPT STAFF

New Brunswick's education minister is reviewing the actions of school district employees in an incident that saw two private buses carrying a group of middle-school students from Sackville pulled off the road because of balding tires.

"That's all being reviewed right now," Jody Carr said yesterday.

Carr will release details by tomorrow of his department's investigation into the incident that saw the two buses carrying 60 middle-school students from Sackville ordered off the road by authorities in Nova Scotia.

In the meantime, school districts have been told not to use Prestige Bus Service of Sackville.

Carr met with Isabelle Hains, the mother of one of seven Bathurst High School students killed in a school van crash almost three years ago. She urged him to carry through with the recommendations that came out of the coroner's inquest into the tragedy.

"It's a concern to our government. We take very seriously the safety of our students," Carr said.

Paul Allen, executive director of the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board, the agency responsible for motor coaches in that province, confirmed yesterday that the drivers of two buses belonging to Prestige Bus Service were ticketed last week under the Nova Scotia's motor vehicle act. The drivers were each charged with "operating a vehicle not equipped as required by law." The offence carries a fine of $222.

One of the drivers told a Halifax newspaper that two worn tires on the tag axles of each bus were identified prior to departure from Sackville and a decision was made to replace them the next day.

Hains wants schools to use only school buses or multi-function mini-buses driven by qualified school bus drivers for educational or extra-curricular activities.

Hains said hearing about the latest incident gave her an anxiety attack.

"I was sickened by it ... I couldn't even believe what I had heard."

Hains had high hopes going into the meeting with Carr. The safety of children shouldn't have a pricetag on it, she said.

"They're worth anything for a parent. We would do anything for our children, but the government is not doing anything for us."

Metro Calgary: New Brunswick mom wants new school bus rules

FREDERICTON - A mother from northern New Brunswick has launched her latest effort to improve the safety of student travel in the province, almost three years after her son was killed in a school van crash.

Isabelle Hains says she wants the province to enact the remaining recommendations from a coroner's inquest into the January 2008 crash near Bathurst, N.B., that claimed the life of her son Daniel, six other members of a high school boys' basketball team and the wife of their coach.

The van they were travelling in collided with a transport truck during a snowstorm.

Since then the province has prohibited the use of similar 15-passenger vans for student travel and set tougher rules for winter tires on school vehicles.

Hains wants only yellow school buses or multi-purpose mini-buses that are driven by qualified bus drivers used for student travel.

"If student transportation is really the priority of the New Brunswick government then I challenge the premier and his ministers ... to do what we all know must be done," Hains said Wednesday.

"The government is denying the safety of our children ... they need to step up and put our children in safe vehicles."

Hains and other parents of the boys killed in the crash have been lobbying for tougher rules since the tragedy.

Hains met with Education Minister Jody Carr Wednesday to push for more changes.

Carr said he will review the regulations and the coroner's report.

"We take the issue of health and safety of students very seriously," Carr said before meeting with Hains. "I will be reaching out to her to work with her as well as all of the stakeholders in New Brunswick to make sure that health and safety of students is of utmost priority."

The latest call for changes follows an incident last week when two buses carrying 60 New Brunswick students were stopped in Nova Scotia over tire-tread standards.

Carr has suspended the use of the Sackville-based bus company until his department and the Department of Public Safety complete their review of the incident. He said he expects to have the results of the review before the end of the week.

CANOE: School bus company charged for safety violations

A New Brunswick bus company is facing charges after two buses carrying middle school students were pulled over for having tires that were nearly worn through.

Two buses from Prestige Bus Lines were carrying students from Sackville, N.B., to Halifax, N.S., when they were pulled over for a safety inspection, CBC reported.

New Brunswick Education Minister Jody Carr said the bus line would be temporarily banned from carrying students.

Under provincial law, school bus drivers are required to complete detailed vehicle inspections before leaving on any trip with young people aboard, including checking the tires.

If found guilty, the company could face fines or a license suspension.

CBC: N.B. bus company faces charges in N.S.

The Sackville, N.B., charter company whose buses were pulled off the road while transporting school students in Nova Scotia last week, is now facing charges.

Prestige Bus Lines was taking 60 students from Marshview Middle School to Halifax when inspectors at a check stop determined the bus tires were too worn.

Public Safety Robert Trevors referred to the charges during question period on Tuesday in the legislative assembly.

Click here to read original article on CBC website

"The Department of Public Safety is investigating this matter as we speak," Trevors said.

"This company has been charged in Nova Scotia courts, so we will not comment until we have had a full investigation done by the New Brunswick Department of Public Safety regarding this legal matter."

The field trip hit delays when one of the buses was pulled over in Halifax at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic.

The second chartered bus was pulled off the road hours later at an Irving Big Stop store in Enfield, where it took four hours to change the tires.

Last Friday, Education Minister Jody Carr said Prestige would be temporarily banned from carrying New Brunswick students.

Carr said he wants to know why children were placed in a dangerous situation.

He also wants to know more about the company's track record.

Bus drivers in New Brunswick are obligated to inspect the bus they'll be driving before leaving on trips.


Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nova-scotia/story/2010/12/01/nb-trevors-charter-bus-charges-609.html#ixzz16rba0xgK

Moncton Times Transcript: Concerned mother to meet with Education Minister

Mother of Bathurst crash victim to press Jody Carr on bus safety issue

A11 BY SHAWN BERRY TIMES & TRANSCRIPT STAFF

Education Minister Jody Carr will meet today with the mother of a teen killed in the 2008 van crash in Bathurst.

Click here to read the original article in the Moncton Times Transcript

The recent news that two buses carrying 60 middle-school students from Sackville were ordered off the road by authorities in Nova Scotia because of balding tires is prompting Isabelle Hains to press Carr to put an end to school groups using private buses.

Hains will ask Carr to abide by the final recommendations of the coroner's inquest into the crash that claimed the life of her son Daniel and six of his teammates from the Bathurst High School basketball team, as well as their coach's wife.

The recommendations in question state that only yellow school buses or multi-functional vehicles driven by qualified school-bus drivers should be used for travel to and from extra-curricular school events.

In the most recent event, the two buses owned by Prestige Bus Service of Sackville, were stopped by Nova Scotia motor vehicle inspectors in Halifax on Nov. 24. The officers ordered the defective tires immediately replaced.

The driver of one of the buses told a Halifax newspaper that two worn tires on the tag axles of each bus were identified prior to departure from Sackville and a decision was made to replace them the next day.

The incident was one of concern yesterday during question period in the legislature.

"We were very lucky that our neighbours in Nova Scotia were so vigilant in forbidding the buses from going back on the highway," said Hédard Albert, the opposition critic for Education and Early Childhood Development.

"Obviously something went wrong if this bus got approval to take to the road in such a state," he said, calling on the government to provide assurance such a situation won't be repeated.

Public Safety Minister Robert Trevors said the incident is under review.

"The Department of Public Safety is investigating this matter as we speak," Trevors told the legislature.

But he said that because the company in question has been charged in Nova Scotia over the incident, his department won't comment on the matter until it has completed a full investigation.

Meanwhile, Education Minister Jody Carr said his department will provide more information on the incident as it becomes available.

"It is also the responsibility of bus drivers and the owners of the companies to adhere to the standards every single day. It was very clear that these standards had not been met while travelling in Nova Scotia. It was very clear that highway inspection services worked well," Carr said.

Carr has instructed school boards across the province not to use Prestige's services until further notice.

Click here to read the original article in the Moncton Times Transcript