There was another chunk earmarked for municipal transit systems.
Buses.
CBC reported at the time that "Newfoundland and Labrador did not apply for that [transit] money". Apparently, "... the City of St. John's said any transit losses it experienced were minimal compared with larger cities."
"We wouldn't have a significant enough loss to make value of that," said [Mayor Danny] Breen.
Fast forward to November.
The city slashed the Metrobus budget by $800,000. As a result, the bus service will run through the winter on a reduced schedule and cut shifts for drivers. Some will get papers to allow them to file for unemployment insurance.
Neither Breen nor any other councilors would do media interviews about the cuts. The city spokesperson sent out to shoo the media away offered no explanation for the politicians' sudden silence.
Maybe it had to do with the cash they turned down last summer.
-srbp-
